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Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?


Postby mrssanta » Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:40 pm

Munros included on this walk: Ruadh-stac Mòr (Beinn Eighe), Spidean Coire nan Clach (Beinn Eighe)

Date walked: 30/08/2018

Distance: 18 km

Ascent: 1480m

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This was the day in which Rudolph and Mrssanta equalised on the Munro count, Rudolph now having climbed all the ones that Mrssanta did before we met.
The last time I was on Beinn Eighe was on a school trip in 1981 - it was my first Munro-Bagging experience and was a fantastic week. We climbed Bidean on the way to Torridon; Alligin, Liathach, Eighe and Slioch while there, and Ben Nevis on the way home.
We had lovely weather for the whole week except for one day, which was the day we went up Beinn Eighe. It was a day of low cloud, heavy rain but no wind. We saw very little, walked up to the summit (it was only one Munro in those days) and back again. When we reached the Youth Hostel we were soaked, our cotton T-shirts steamed and our non-breathable waterproofs dripped!
This time we were in for an absolute treat. We pondered whether heaven would be a bit like this (only without the midges) and decided it would not be far off. It was clear with virtually no wind, high cloud and the occasional shaft of sunshine. I took dozens of photos and it is far to hard to select just a few for this report. So I am going to spill over into a second post!

Anyway back to the walking.
We camped the previous night next to the small ruin near the campsite. It was sheltered and warm. but the MIDGES!! they were not so bad when we got up but when it warmed up a little, they were truly the worst I have ever seen. We smidged up and put nets on and got into the tent quick to eat our breakfast, packed up as quickly as possible and got going. They got into every little nook and cranny despite the sun shining!
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camping place near the car park

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Rudolph looking like a squaddie in his midge net.

Anyway it gave us a good reason to get walking quickly. We took the WH route so I will not post a route here. As we climbed we got clear of the midges and the cloud base gradually lifted. The path up Coire nan Laoigh is lovely and not as steep as you might expect until you get to the last little bit which is loose scree, but then you come out onto the ridge and it's just marvellous!
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deer looking down from the horizon at the top of Coire an Laoigh

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Looking down to Loch Clair and Loch Coulin, with a shaft of sunlight through the cloud

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dwarf cornel berries

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some scary looking cliffs on the eastern tops of Beinn Eighe, I hope nobody promotes these to munros!

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Looking back down Coire an Laoigh towards Loch Coulin again

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reached the ridge, Stuc Coire an Laoigh

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clouds and Liathach

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From the trig point looking along the ridge, Liathach on the left and Alligin at the back.

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Ruadh stac Mor and beyond to Baosbheinn I think

First stop Spidean Coire nan Clach with a lovely rocky top and nice little scrambly bit just as a treat. And leaving the rucksacks at the trig point.
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Rudolph on the small summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach, looking north to Ruadh-stac Beag

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Coire Ruadh-Staca

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Rocky ridge back to the trig point

Then along the ridge and a stop for lunch on a nice flat bit of the ridge. Fantastic views to Liathach just getting better and better.
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change of rock underfoot from quartz to sandstone

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lunch stop looking over to ruadh-stac Mor

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pano from our lunch place with the Fisherfields in the distance

Then on to Ruadh-Stac Mor for another brew.
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Looking east

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descending to the bealach 868

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First glimpse of Coire Mhic Fhearchair

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east again

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Rudolph at the top of Ruadh-Stac Mor

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and me

And at last we had to tear ourselves away and make the descent down the scree into Coire Mhic Fhearchair which was actually fine because if you keep well to the right you can descend on solid rock like a staircase - right down to the area of large rocks that have to be crossed. then we sort of lost the path and wandered around a bit among the amazing terraces and lochans with waterfalls and pools - and bits of the Lancaster that crashed on the triple buttress in 1951.

This was a day that just kept on giving - and even the long walk out was a pleasure (although the midges started again) and the day was polished off with tea at the Kinlochewe hotel! mmm
Last edited by mrssanta on Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby mrssanta » Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:53 pm

and some more pics
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Looking over Coinneach Mor with Sail Mor on the extreme right

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Eastern summits of Beinn Eighe

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Beinn Dearg with Beinn Alligin behind

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Happy mugs on Ruadh-stac Mor

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starting the descent into Coire Mhic Fhearchair

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Scree looks scary but it isn't too bad

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Looking up the scree - it's just like a crazy staircase really

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a lochan

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little cascades and pools, we saw dippers

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This looks like the pool in Voyage of the Dawn Treader where everything turned to gold, but it didn't, I tried it!

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the edge of the world?

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Triple Buttress

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and again

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crossing the outflow of the loch on stepping stones

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...and then it's gone.

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Stepping stones across Allt a' Choire Dhuibh Mhoir

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Lovely evening sun

.
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby prog99 » Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:26 pm

Nice looking day out. I think I'm still missing a view from the two munros but have had one from all the tops I think.

some scary looking cliffs on the eastern tops of Beinn Eighe, I hope nobody promotes these to munros!

The Black Carls aren't as tricky as they look and are well worth a trip.
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby Alteknacker » Tue Sep 11, 2018 11:23 pm

Beinn Eighe is superb - even if it weren't so spectacular in its own right, the views it affords - of Liathach, Beinn Alligin, and all the surrounding area would qualify it as one of the best. Glad you had such good weather for it :D - it would be a tragedy to travel so far and then miss them. I just hope the weather plays ball for the WH meet in November so I can get up there again.

As Prog99 says, the Black Carls aren't really problematic. I walked BE from the extreme east (I'd never heard of the Black Carls then) and I don't recall anything especially tricky - just especially brilliant!
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby malky_c » Wed Sep 12, 2018 5:28 pm

Lovely 8) . I think you were due some good weather at some point - you seem to have earned it over the previous set of reports/walks :lol: .
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby Huff_n_Puff » Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:34 pm

Lovely report - and one that really made me smile because you must have stood in exactly the same places as I did to take photos :lol: Beinn Eighe is just superb thanks for reminding me! :clap:
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby mrssanta » Wed Sep 12, 2018 10:05 pm

@prog99 maybe we will have a trip up there one day after all.
@alteknacker it was a treat right enough. I'm sure would be spectacular on a beautiful winter day.
@malky too right we were! This was truly the icing on the cake and made everything else worthwhile. Unforgettable!
@sgurr It's a pleasure. I enjoyed writing this the pictures did all the work!
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby MotherGoose » Sun Oct 14, 2018 3:54 pm

Thanks for sharing these spectacular views. Living vicariously through your toils, as ever!
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby mrssanta » Tue Oct 16, 2018 7:02 pm

MotherGoose wrote:Thanks for sharing these spectacular views. Living vicariously through your toils, as ever!

It's a pleasure! thanks for sharing your food! :D
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Re: Is this heaven or Beinn Eighe?

Postby dogplodder » Thu Oct 18, 2018 7:18 pm

Brings back great memories - just fab! :D
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