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Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs


Postby dav2930 » Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:04 pm

Route description: Sgùrr Mòr and the eastern Fannichs

Munros included on this walk: An Coileachan, Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich, Meall Gorm, Sgùrr Mòr

Date walked: 25/05/2016

Time taken: 10.5 hours

Distance: 24 km

Ascent: 1280m

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There was a time I thought the eastern Fannaichs were going to be awkward, since neither the SMC nor Cameron McNeish suggest in their Munro guides a route for including all four in a day. It wasn't until I started perusing the Walkhighlands site that I learned of the route described here - a walk of surprisingly reasonable distance and ascent. It was just what I was looking for to complete the Fannaichs and round off my trip to Ullapool in May. So, thanks to Walkhighlands! :clap:


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In deference to Black Panther's fine report of the same walk from not so long ago, I'll keep this one brief. In any case it was a pretty uneventful hike - just a great day's hillwalking! :D

Set off from the small car park near Torrandhu Bridge at 5.35am. Weather was overcast with cloud covering the tops, but looked slightly more promising than it had the previous day when I did Am Faochagach. Followed track past the weather station and alongside the meandering burn, heading for Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich.

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Path follows the Abhainn an Torrain Dubh to begin


Keeping to the right bank of the burn you come to the confluence of two burns at which point follow the Allt an' Loch Sgeirich for a kilometre or so until you can cross it and strike up the easy but boggy eastern slopes of Creag Dubh Fannaich. Once on the ridge a faint path emerges leading up to the summit and on to the first Munro of the day, Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich.

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Loch Broom with the Coigach hills behind


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Looking south from Creag Dubh Fannaich


The clag was down on BLMF so I didn't bother taking any photos until out of it down the other side. The steep and rough descent finds a good stalker's path at the edge of the corrie on the right and leads easily down to the Bealach at the foot of Sgurr Mor. There's a clear path to follow from there.

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Loch a' Mhadaidh from Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich


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On the way up Sgurr Mor, back in the clag


Reached summit of Sgurr Mor at 9.50am. Sat down for food break. Clag was down but the sun was almost coming through at times. A mountain hare sauntered past only a few yards away, quite slowly but still too quickly for me to get a photo of him. I waited quite a while, torn between the hope that the mist would clear and the need to get going. The mist persisted so the latter won.

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Summit of Sgurr Mor - looks like the mist might clear...?


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Meall Gorm from Meall nam Peithirian


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Sgurr Mor and Sgurr nan Clach Geala from Meall Gorm, clag finally clearing off


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Sgurr Mor


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Sgurr nan Clach Geala


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Summit of Meall Gorm


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An Coileachan from Creag Dubh a' Gorm Locha (Meall Gorm's lower eastern top)


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Summit of An Coileachan


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Sgurr nan Clach Geala and Sgurr Mor from An Coileachan


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Slioch


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The Torridons


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Sgurr nan Each


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Stac Pollaidh, Cul Beag and Cul Mor


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Beinn Dearg and Cona' Mheall


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Am Faochagach


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Loch Gorm and Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich


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Creag Dubh a' Gorm Locha


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Loch Gorm


The walk back from A' Coileachan did seem a long way, but was easy going for the most part. A footbridge over the Abhainn a' Ghiubhais Li came in handy.

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Footbridge near the forestry plantations, Beinn Dearg in background


Took the alternative track up through the plantations to vary the route and this actually gave some fine views. The sun was hot and it felt like summer had arrived.

I'd be heading home next day and was well pleased with my tally of 11 Munros over 4 days; but the real satisfaction had come from the quality of the walks themselves, which will live in my memory for a long time to come. :D
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dav2930
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby malky_c » Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:47 pm

Made the mistake of not leaving Inverness yesterday - looks like it turned out rather nice out west 8)

EDIT oops - just realized this was last month!
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby dav2930 » Mon Jun 27, 2016 5:54 pm

malky_c wrote:Made the mistake of not leaving Inverness yesterday - looks like it turned out rather nice out west 8)

EDIT oops - just realized this was last month!

Sorry to have confused you - I got a bit behind with this one!
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby ancancha » Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:05 pm

As you say a very pleasant hike around in the picturesque highlands with some nice photos :clap:
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby dav2930 » Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:54 pm

ancancha wrote:As you say a very pleasant hike around in the picturesque highlands with some nice photos :clap:

Thanks Ancancha :D
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dav2930
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby BlackPanther » Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:49 am

Brings back memories from our trip last year. There was more snow in the corries but otherwise, just as I remembered :D I'm glad that the clag lifted for you! This is a spectacular ridge, walking it without seeing the views would be such a shame...

I can't remember that last time I did 11 Munros over 4 days, if ever :lol: :lol:
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby dav2930 » Wed Jun 29, 2016 7:49 pm

BlackPanther wrote:Brings back memories from our trip last year. There was more snow in the corries but otherwise, just as I remembered :D I'm glad that the clag lifted for you! This is a spectacular ridge, walking it without seeing the views would be such a shame...

I can't remember that last time I did 11 Munros over 4 days, if ever :lol: :lol:

Thanks for that BP :D
I see now your report on this walk was from April last year - somehow I got the idea it was from this year (so that's myself as well as malky_c I've managed to confuse!) :crazy:
I probably got it mixed up with your report on the Beinn Dearg four, which I was also very interested to read.

Anyway, I'm glad my report brought back memories for you; it certainly is a spectacular ridge and it would indeed have been a shame to have missed those views - though I do wish the clag had lifted off Sgurr Mor when I was there!
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby Silverhill » Thu Jun 30, 2016 10:36 pm

A trip I'm looking forward to doing next year. Thanks for whetting my appetite! That ridge looks very tasty. :D
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Re: Turned out nice on the eastern Fannaichs

Postby dav2930 » Fri Jul 01, 2016 8:04 pm

Silverhill wrote:A trip I'm looking forward to doing next year. Thanks for whetting my appetite! That ridge looks very tasty. :D

Yes it's a lovely walk Silverhill, mostly quite gentle with just a little spice added by the fine peak of Sgurr Mor. Hope you get a good day for it! :)
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