Beinn a'Bheithir: My first munros on a great summer day!

[Grisu]

After several years of walking holidays with HF Holidays in different places in England working my way up from Dartmoor and some coastal walks on Jersey, the Isle of Wight, in Northumberland and around Whitby, then from the lovely Dales to Cumbria and the Lake District eventually I arrived in Scotland! YEAH! And this week I did my first munros, too!
I am coming from a flat and featureless country where dykes are the only heights , and therefrore I was very excited nevertheless a bit scared about scrambling over boulders and scree .
The word scramble I heard for the first time from an american women on my walks on the Isle of Wight. She just has come form Glen Coe and was very exicted about her walks in the mountains. At this time I hardly ever could imagine to walk up mountains and a bit intimidated I asked if HF was offering some "normal" walks as well in Scotland -

Again I was walking with guided groups of HF Holidays and on the evening briefings I heard for the first time about munros, but hardly understood anything . It took me two more summer holidays in Scotland until I have understand at least the main features about the munro-system and what the difference is between munros, Corbetts, Wainwrights 🤯 ... And all the time someone was talking about midges

The day before we had a little warm up on Ardgour. Today the bus dropped two of three walking parties at the little church at the A 82 from where we started our walk following the description of SMC's: The MunroS which is the other way round than the description on WH and we had been expertly guided by Alan👍.
At the sign the groups parted and we went up the forest track towards the west ridge of Sgorr Dhonuill.

One group went for Sgorr Dhearg only, the other started over Sgorr Dhonuill

After a time consuming scramble over the loose scree we had a nice break before we started the final climb to the summit of Sgorr Dhonuill.

Coire Dearg

The visibility was very good and we enjoyed superb views towards the islands and the surroundings in all directions throughout the day.

Loch Linnhe and the islands towards Lismore & Mull with Ben More

North Ballachulish and the bridge

The descent was steep and rocky, but I was too busy with taking pictures of the stunning scenery to notice any struggle.

View towards Ardgour

more views

Descending from Sgorr Dhonuill and view towards Sgorr Dhearg

steep steep

stoney stoney

At the bealach the two groups rejoined

The bealach

and a decision had to be made now: either to do the second munro or to go back to the house and have an early finish.

Thinking

Only a small group continued the walk up Sgorr Dhearg. At the summit we enjoyed again great views in all direction on this midge-free-super-summer-sunny day.

Loch Linnhe, Loch Leven, Ardgour

North Ballachulish

Then we returned to the bealach

Starting the descent

from where we descended the boggy field which was quite a struggle. The day took its toll finally with burning feet, pain in my knees and an aching back.

The steep and boggy field

Finally we were back to a propper path

But at the end I forgot all about it and I was only happily excited about my first two munros and a new passion developing from now on😊.

Loch Leven

View back over Ballachulish Bridge towards Beinn a'Bheithir

[Coop]

2 fantastic munros. Always love looking at these everytime I drive past