free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Previous installmentWednesday 12th JulySgurr Mhic Bharraich
9.1km
813m ascent
3 hours
It was with a heavy heart that I left Skye, but the weather was set to break the next day and I was hoping to get to Kintail in order to break the long journey home. I stopped in Broadford for a few supplies and to enjoy the views.
The Kylerhea Hills
Beinn na Cailleach
The Skye Bridge
I had a leisurely drive down the road and decided to stay at Shiel Bridge Campsite purely because I really really really needed a shower
I had the tent pitched and everything set up…my watch read 4.45….
It was such a lovely evening, so I chucked on my boots, grabbed a map and went for an evening wander. The Corbett, Sgurr Mhic Bharraich, behind the campsite was my target. Why not, I was right there?!
I followed the track alongside the burn before taking the stalkers path uphill over the rocky ground. Through the “gate” which consisted of one of those packing pallets and across the bridge and I was into Gleann Undalainn.
It was very warm and I was really glad I had chosen my lighter boots for this excursion. Until I stepped into a bog that is
Fortunately the views ahead were excellent – the Forcan Ridge and the Saddle
After a while, the path split and I took the right fork which started climbing easily uphill and soon met the Allt na h-Innse Gairbhe. I followed this path for a while before leaving it and heading straight uphill. In hindsight I think I left it a bit early, but hey…who doesn’t love a bit of steep off-roading
Looking back to the Forcan Ridge
This straight uphill went on for some time before I finally found myself on something resembling a ridge. There were even smatterings of a path
The Five Sisters
Looking down to Morvich
Eventually reaching a shallow dip (I had got exciting thinking it was the summit
) I crossed it and dragged my poor aching legs up the final pull to the summit where a large cairn left me in no doubt that I was really there
The views were absolutely stunning, I could see all the way back to Skye
Beinn Sgritheall looked majestic
And tomorrow morning’s potential target of Sgurr an Airgid was in view on the right with the Lochcarron hills in the distance
Summit pose
I was starting to get hungry so followed the shortcut return route directly back down to the Gleann Undalainn path. It turned out to be a quick and direct but fairly unpleasant route – very steep, healthery at the top and then lots of bracken nearer the bottom. I was very relieved to reach the path in one piece
The Forcan
Looking back up what I’d just come down – not quite wheat fields but…
From here it was an easy walk along the path back to the campsite.
The Campsite, which had filled up significantly!
Loch Duich
I had time for a shower, some dinner and hot chocolate before a nice early night.
Thursday 13th JulySgurr an Airgid
11km
916m ascent
3 hours 30 mins
The next morning I woke up, packed my things up and decided I felt like I had another hill in me. The weather still looked good – it was forecast to break around lunchtime.
A drove a couple of miles back down the road towards Morvich and parked at the burial ground car park. There was a car covered in police tape but nobody else to be seen…
Beinn Fhada
Boots on, I grabbed my pack and headed through the gate on the opposite side of the road. A decent track led me steadily upwards. My legs were feeling pretty tired but a steady pace saw me gaining height quickly.
Looking back to Loch Duich and last night’s summit – Sgurr Mhic Bharraich
Strath Coe
After zig-zagging for a while, I met the deer fence, squeezed through a gateway and continued along what was now a footpath but continued gaining height through a series of zig zags.
Eventually I reached the top of the ridge! Here a cairn marks a path leading off to the left.
Looking back
Initially this was flat and boggy before climbing more steeply up the ridge, over a few false summits and finally to the top of Sgurr an Airgid, marked by a slightly worse for wear trig point
Looking out across Loch Duich
Nice light
Windy selfie!
The wind had picked up significantly and I didn’t really fancy hanging around too much. I decided to have a wander over to the cairn at the 824 spot to see if the views were any better. Although it was still dry and the sun was around and about, I could see the weather starting to close in on some of the higher hills.
Kyle of Lochalsh and the Skye Bridge
North – Affric and Lochcarron
Beinn Sgritheall starting to hide
It was time to go. The route down was uneventful as I just retraced my steps, although I did notice that the zig zags were really steep – no wonder my legs felt tired on the way up
I arrived back at the car and chilled out for a few minutes before driving to the Cluanie to see my friend Adam and have a big plate of the best mac n cheese in the highlands (in my opinion) before the long drive home.
Not a bad trip
