It's grand up north - part 1 - Ben Klibreck

[mrssanta]

It's been a long time since we went up a Munro (Last September to be precise) and leaving us (me in particular) not very fit.
I had a week and a day off work (including the Bank Holiday) and the forecast looked good for the far north, so we decided a wee trip to Sutherland and Assynt was in order. In this way we could still wild camp but drive from one hill to the next and not have to carry four days worth of gear in one go.
Of course this brought up some interesting questions in my Yorkshire/Scottish hybrid mind about what "up north" means. Here in Yorkshire we generally consider ourselves Northern (and we are north of the Geographical Centre of Great Britain according to the OS) but in comparison to what really counts we are in the deep south. Anyroad, as they say, there are some in the North of Englandshire who would be grateful for an SNP candidate in elections and would possibly like to join in with the devolution revolution - but that isn't really a discussion for this site!!

Having got those musings out of the way, to the Munro-bagging! We left our house on Saturday morning, dropping in for lunch with CWH in her Edinburgh halls of residence, whence we nipped to Aldi to buy some eggs to hard boil to replace the ones we had forgotten to bring. Then we drove to Perth to Tiso's to buy walking socks to replace the ones that had been left on the bed at home. Then we drove to Tiso's in Inverness arriving just ten minutes before closing time, having remembered we had forgotten to bring gaiters. With the wallets somewhat lighter our next mission was to find the most northerly fish and chips on our route, which we duly did at Lairg. We stopped and ate them by the side of the road overlooking Loch Shin getting excited about our adventures to come.

Arriving at the parking place just before Vagastie Bridge we set up our tent a short way up the path out of sight of the road and were soon fast asleep, to the sound of snipe whirring. It was a beautiful spot with views all around

It was a cold, clear night and there was frost on the tent in the morning but the sun was shining and just a wee cap of cloud sat like a chinese hat on top of the peak of Ben Klibreck. There was a small patch of snow that we could see over where we thought the path went but it looked easily avoidable so we left the crampons and axes behind.

Ben Hee from our camping place

Ben More Assynt across the moor

Ben Loyal with a bit of cloud on the top

We followed the walkhighlands route. It was good to have the uphill sections split up by a bit of along. There was a good path traversing the side of the mountain which was very pleasant. On the way up we weren't troubled by too much bog as the ground was a little bit crunchy with ice.

Ben Klibreck from just above the camp site. The path traverses below the long snow patch

looking roughly north from the first cairn on Cnoc Sgriodain

... and from the second cairn, Ben Hope has now appeared on the left with cloud on it, Ben Loyal on the right

Still a wee puff of cloud on the top of the hill, we crossed the snow patch on the extreme right, but could have avoided it. The path went below the long snow patch.

This cairn is found just after starting the second "up" section - Looking over to Ben Hope in the distance.

Making the small snow patch look big, with a view to Ben Loyal on the right, Hope in the middle and Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh I think on the left

a frozen bootprint

nice path traversing below Creag an Lochan to the 688 bealach

Pair of ptarmigan

There was a nice patch of snow just before the final climb up the summit cone which was easily crossed, with a lovely mildly scrambly bit to provide a treat before the steep pull up to the top.

at the start of the final climb up

Rudolph playing in the snow. Reindeer like snow, there was a much easier bit to cross

Here comes a bit of weather

Looking south to Creag an Lochain

The cap of cloud had left the top of the hill, but just a few minutes before we reached the summit a bit of weather blew in from the East and it was cold and claggy on the top.

Rudolph on the summit. Ah well, Scotland's Favourite View again!

It looks like the remains of two trig points on this summit!

We didn't hang around much but quickly descended and stopped a few minutes below the summit to have our lunch. By this point the summit was clear again and it was a gorgeous sunny afternoon with virtually no wind. But we didn't go back up again

Happy Mugs

The descent was distinctly more muddy than the ascent but it was a lovely afternoon with clear skies and lots of singing larks.

No cloud on top now!

Almost back now, Ben Hee in the background, Vagastie is the little green patch in the middle of the brown expanse of Strath Vagastie

we were quickly back at the tent to set off for the next part of our adventure, Ben Hope, of which more in a later instalment. Link to part 2: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=80238

Klibreck.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[malky_c]

I'm afraid you're definitely down south, but this is further north than I've been in a long while!

This corner of the far north doesn't get as much love as the hills further west, but the big open spaces are quite unique. Not a bad looking day .

[gammy leg walker]

Nice wee start to your raid on this side of the boarder

[Alteknacker]

I reckon this reasonably qualifies as "oop north"!

Good to see the happy mugs enjoying what looks like pretty fair weather indeed from the pics.

Assynt looks just wonderful - and I've still got to get there

[mrssanta]

I'm afraid you're definitely down south, but this is further north than I've been in a long while!

This corner of the far north doesn't get as much love as the hills further west, but the big open spaces are quite unique. Not a bad looking day .

It was lovely I would have liked to spend longer - lots of space.

Nice wee start to your raid on this side of the boarder

thanks, and it got better and better. Back home now, but another trip planned in 2 weeks.

I reckon this reasonably qualifies as "oop north"!

Good to see the happy mugs enjoying what looks like pretty fair weather indeed from the pics.

Assynt looks just wonderful - and I've still got to get there

considering the awful weather and what has felt like a really long winter, it was great to get some dry days and sunshine.
No arguing about the "oop north"ness of Assynt and Sutherland right enough! Although I still claim to be a Northerner by some standard or another!