walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Daytrip to Mull

Daytrip to Mull


Postby rockhopper » Sun Feb 19, 2017 2:08 pm

Route description: Dùn da Ghaoithe, near Craignure

Corbetts included on this walk: Dùn da Ghaoithe

Date walked: 11/02/2017

Time taken: 6.25 hours

Distance: 21.3 km

Ascent: 950m

15 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Decent looking forecast for the west of the country. Left the house just after 0500hrs for the drive to Oban.

Image

Parked in the Longsdale Road car park, donned my boots, got my stuff ready then walked down to the ferry terminal for the 0800hrs ferry to Craignure.

Image

Image

Image

Disembarked at Craignure then set off for the walk southwards along the A849 heading towards Lochdon. Two walkers were behind me who were heading for the same hill and I was to meet them later at the summit. Turned right at the start of the radio mast track to Upper Achnacroish then followed the track.

Image

Image

Further up I met and passed another walker. He had also been on the ferry and his two friends were further ahead – they had all taken the bus round from the ferry (I hadn’t thought of that). Issues with his knee/leg meant that he’d only be going as far as the snow line then turning back.

Image

Up past the first mast then the second mast before getting on to more open ground – couldn’t see much of a track but the way ahead was fairly obvious.

Image

Image

Image

Distant hills – approx northerly direction but still not sure which though

Image

Past the snow line and the going was OK. A little further on and I could see some steeper sections ahead before the trig pint – just in case, opted to stop to get the ice axe and put on crampons rather than wait until too late.

Then up to the trig point, past the cairn before the walk along the ridge to the summit.

Image

Image

It was very cold with an extremely strong wind at the trig but strangely calm and warm in the middle of the ridge. Then at the summit cairn it was so windy as to make taking photos difficult and very cold again.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Met the two walkers from the party of three at the summit cairn but they left before me. Then met the couple who had been behind me while on my way back along the ridge.

Again half way along the ridge the wind disappeared and it got quite warm so stopped for a break and to unpack my lunch. Took some time out to reflect and unpacked my hip flask for a wee toast to the memory of a work colleague.

Image

Image

Self portrait

Image

Stopped for quite a while – wasn’t in a rush as I knew I had plenty of time before the 1700hrs ferry.

Image

Had it been summer, I may have thought about the detour to the graham, Sgurr Dearg, but not for today.

Image

Took some more photos

Image

Image

Image

Lochaline

Image

Image

Eventually decided to go and set off towards the cairn and trig point

Image

Looking back

Image

View from the top of the cairn

Image

Image

Then back down the ascent route towards the track

Image

Image

Image

Met the two walkers from the party of three on the way back down – they had stopped and were having their lunch. Got back to Craignure at about 1500hrs and then met the friend back again.

Just a couple of hours to wait for the ferry – wandered around, had some food and a coffee. Nice day if a bit on the cold side.

Uneventful trip back to Oban on the ferry

Image

Image

Walked back to the car, got changed then drove back home for a late tea – quite happy with how the day had turned out.
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7446
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby Sunset tripper » Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:34 pm

Great pictures, report and great hill rockhopper. When I was up there I took the bike across on the ferry and cycled (mostly pushed) up to the 2nd mast. Great for coming back down though. I normally park in tescos when I go to Craignure as a foot passenger I reckon I've spent enough in tescos to use a parking space on the odd occasion. :D . Brilliant views from the hill. I love Mull and the ferry trip. Even better now they have reduced the fares.
All the best :D
User avatar
Sunset tripper
 
Posts: 2965
Joined: Nov 3, 2013
Location: Inverness

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby roscoT » Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:23 pm

Great report and pictures, Rockhopper. Visibility was good in the west but the wind was a killer!

Will definitely be keeping this one in mind for my trip to Mull in April. Cheers :)
User avatar
roscoT
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 307
Munros:188   Corbetts:33
Fionas:20   Donalds:37
Sub 2000:17   Hewitts:8
Wainwrights:5   Islands:15
Joined: Jul 26, 2014
Location: Glasgow

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby Sunset tripper » Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:54 pm

I think that might be the hills on Rum to the north.
User avatar
Sunset tripper
 
Posts: 2965
Joined: Nov 3, 2013
Location: Inverness

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby rockhopper » Sun Feb 19, 2017 6:57 pm

Sunset tripper wrote:I think that might be the hills on Rum to the north.

Thanks - I didn't think I was looking that far west but could be - cheers :)

pic1.jpg
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7446
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby litljortindan » Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:18 pm

Some great pictures, got me thinking about Mull again. I did the same walk on a winter's day quite a few years ago and also thought at the time that Sgurr Dearg looked quite enticing.
User avatar
litljortindan
Ambler
 
Posts: 2378
Munros:153   Corbetts:67
Fionas:29   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:47   Hewitts:12
Wainwrights:10   
Joined: Dec 11, 2011

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby Cairngorm creeper » Sun Feb 19, 2017 8:48 pm

That looked very beautiful, love the pictures, :clap: and just when I had come to terms with the mild weather in the north you have created a new longing for snow :lol:
User avatar
Cairngorm creeper
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 716
Munros:147   Corbetts:24
Fionas:6   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:1   Hewitts:15
Wainwrights:9   
Joined: Jun 4, 2013
Location: Grantown-on-spey

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby Collaciotach » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:10 pm

Aye distant hills Rum :D

I was ón Sgurr nan Coireachan that day and wind beat mé back at about 700m ... you had better luck :D
User avatar
Collaciotach
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1896
Munros:282   Corbetts:219
Fionas:47   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:25   
Islands:28
Joined: Aug 8, 2011
Location: Gàidhealtachd an Iar

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby simon-b » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:13 pm

Lovely island, great hill and superb views. A nice ferry trip too. Mull is a place well worth visiting.
User avatar
simon-b
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2347
Munros:282   Corbetts:30
Fionas:7   Donalds:12
Sub 2000:1   Hewitts:155
Wainwrights:214   Islands:4
Joined: Jan 2, 2012
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby teaandpies » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:20 pm

I fancy a day trip to Mull now...

How do ya stop photographs from looking washed out?
teaandpies
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 970
Munros:116   Corbetts:22
Fionas:9   Donalds:2
Sub 2000:9   Hewitts:6
Joined: Mar 19, 2014
Location: Glasgow

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby denfinella » Mon Feb 20, 2017 9:59 pm

Ahh so this is where you went! Lovely snowy pics - not sure I could manage a 5am start though :shock:
User avatar
denfinella
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1394
Munros:88   Corbetts:40
Fionas:37   Donalds:24
Sub 2000:72   Hewitts:14
Wainwrights:6   Islands:46
Joined: Mar 19, 2012
Location: Edinburgh

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby rockhopper » Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:37 am

Cheers all :D

teaandpies wrote:How do ya stop photographs from looking washed out?
Nothing technical I'm afraid - camera generally on program mode, underexpose about 1/3 - 2/3 of an f stop then some contrast enhancement if needed afterwards with a free online program
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7446
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby dav2930 » Thu Feb 23, 2017 12:24 pm

Looked a fabulous day out with wonderful views RH. Nice to have plenty of time to reflect and soak in the character of the place. Great report and really excellent photos showing how impressive the hills are on Mull. :clap:

I'm looking forward to visiting the island for the first time; might save Ben More for my final Munro. :)
User avatar
dav2930
Ambler
 
Posts: 1615
Munros:244   Corbetts:14
Fionas:18   Donalds:56
Sub 2000:1   Hewitts:164
Wainwrights:214   Islands:2
Joined: Feb 13, 2015
Location: Cumbria

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby mamoset » Sat Feb 25, 2017 12:10 pm

Looks a good adventure that, with some nice moody dramatic pics :clap:
mamoset
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1674
Munros:256   Corbetts:6
Donalds:1
Hewitts:115
Wainwrights:214   Islands:5
Joined: Feb 12, 2011

Re: Daytrip to Mull

Postby Alteknacker » Sun Feb 26, 2017 12:27 am

Cairngorm creeper wrote:That looked very beautiful, love the pictures, :clap: and just when I had come to terms with the mild weather in the north you have created a new longing for snow :lol:


I was going to comment, but this says it all. :clap: :clap: :clap:

My memory of Mull is a week in the 70s when the cloud was down at about 5 metres, and it rained incessantly every day.....

I need to plan a trip - carefully ...
User avatar
Alteknacker
Scrambler
 
Posts: 3473
Munros:176   Corbetts:33
Fionas:1   
Hewitts:264
Wainwrights:118   
Joined: May 25, 2013
Location: Effete South (of WIgan, anyway)

15 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Next



Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: debbiesdoughnuts and 62 guests