The Great Cluanie Marathon 2017

[ere1]

It’s exactly 10 years ago that I first set foot on Scottish soil. This anniversary needed to be celebrated in a grand way and it turned out to be a wonderful week in the Highlands. Everything worked out fine: the weather, the mountains, the people and the public transport. It started in Cluanie. Last spring I climbed the Creag a’ Mhaim with my youngest daughter. The rest of the South Glen Shiel ridge, the Saddle and the Sgurr na Sgine had to wait another year for me, but on the 3rd of May I was ready for the battle. I closed the Cluanie Inn door at 4.30 in the morning to walk by an empty A87 in the direction of the Malagan Bridge. After a beautiful walk of about 2 hours I reached the stalker’s path. My first goal was the Saddle. To save time I took the route by the dry stone wall and the bealach. The Forcan Ridge can wait. The view was overwhelming. Skye, Knoydart, Ben Nevis and Torridon could all be seen. After having sat for some time at the trig point I left for my second Munro on this day. It was a piece of cake to reach the summit of Sgurr na Sgine. Afterwards the long walk with a lot of breaks to take pictures towards to the Cluanie Inn started. At Druim Shionnach, the last Munro of this day, I took the steep north ridge where I due found a walking path next to the rocks. When I was on the old road towards Tomdoum I kissed the sacred ground of Cluanie. I was so thankful for this unforgettable beautiful day.

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[Alteknacker]

It's surely a wonderful ridge walk, and you certainly picked the ideal day for it! Absolutely perfect!

I took more or less the identical route myself when I did it in May 2014, with the slight difference that I cycled down to the start . Cheating perhaps, but I hate metalled roads

[rockhopper]

Would agree with alteknacker, it's a great walk esp on a good day. Walked the 7+2 a few years back but left a bike in woods at the west end, started at Cluanie and went east to west just in case I couldn't manage the "+2" - managed them but then had an uphill cycle to the car at Cluanie In those days Sgurr a'Bhac Chaolais was a corbett (albeit twinned but it has been demoted in favour of its former twin).
Like you I've still to go back for the Forcan Ridge - cheers

[Petr Dakota]

Great ! Well done Peter
I'm really happy that you had such a good condition for this trip especially after some previous misty or wet trips. Really glad...I know you were planning the trip in advance and the weather played for you
Great walk in great area...sure you enjoyed the views in that visibility ! You deserved that.
Beautiful photos and something to remember
Greetings to the Netherlands !

[ere1]

Hi there Alteknacker, Rockhopper and Petr,

Thank you for all your responses. The more I look at the picture’s, the more I realise that I am quite a lucky man. The weather was simply great! That way, you were able to see so many beautiful things. Everywhere you looked, you saw mountains, sun and blue skies. Views I will never forget.

I thoroughly enjoyed walking alongside the A87. I was a little a afraid of the traffic. Afterwards, there was no need to worry. Luckily I started walking very early in the morning, so there wasn’t a lot of traffic. Cycling would have been easier, but I decided to leave my bicycle in Holland. My personal goal is to reach the foot of all the Munro’s by walking or by public transport. I’m doing great so fear, but I have still got a long way to go.

You can find a few pictures of the journey in the attachment down below.

Greetings from the Netherlands

Peter