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4 Most Northernly Munros.

4 Most Northernly Munros.


Postby dooterbang » Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:44 pm

Route description: Ben Hope

Munros included on this walk: Ben Hope, Ben Klibreck, Ben More Assynt, Conival

Date walked: 21/09/2010

Time taken: 16 hours

Distance: 39 km

Ascent: 2961m

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My mate Stevie and i set of Monday 1.30pm to attempt the 4 most Northenly Munros. Nice 5hr drive to the Altnaharra B&B, £20 a night plus 3 course dinner for a £10. Lovely welcoming couple that run it. We set of 7am on the 21st, arriving at Ben Hope 7.45am. It was raining lightly so we put on the waterproofs. The ascent starts immediately and follows a stream before reaching the wide boggy ridge which flattens out. From here it gets steeper again to the top. Cloud was between 600-800m so we had some views at the top, which was very windy. Descended same route and drove 1hr 15mins to start of Klibreck, Ben Hope had taken 3hrs.

Klibreck walk in took an hour over very wet boggy ground, another hour was spent reaching the ridge. From here on visibility was non existent and winds at 50mph, but i was loving it....when you wear the correct clothing it's great fun!. Reached the summit n 2hr 45mins, quick photo and headed back same way. We did cut down the west face of Klibreck which was steep and pathless. After going through the bog again we got to car, 4hr 45mins. Washed boots and gaiters in the river. Headed to Crask Inn, 10mins away, and had a drink. Back in car and headed for Inchnadamph, stopping on route at the Bridge of Oykel for dinner....a hotel for retired military fisherman, old boy!! Got to Inchnadamph before 9pm. £25 each for a private twin room, and there was a bath....bliss.

Woke at 7am, i was ready for 8am....mate Stevie woke at same time but wasn't ready for 9am, some messing about this guy does!! Inchnadamph was a great hostel with great facilities, although my boots hadn't dried yet!! It was on with walking shoes and gaiters. The rain was heavy and unrelenting on this walk. The path to bottom of ascent was really nice, the ascent was extremely boggy though!. 2hrs 45min we had reached summit of Conival, utterly soaked!. Amazingly at the summit the rain stopped and we got views for about 5mins, changed our baselayers, got some photos and had a bite to eat. It was another 45mins to reach summit of Ben More Assynt, we actually thought it wasn't the summit due to size of the cairn. After checking map over and walking 5 mins in a couple directions we were confident it was summit....remember we had no visibility!. We took it easy on way back, same route. When at the bottom of Conival the sun shone for 30mins and the midge was out in force, just what we needed....i was so hot i had the urge to take all my gear off, but then i may have been eaten alive!!. When back at hostel the heavens opened again!!.

We seriously deliberated driving to Ullapool to get digs then do Ben Wyvis on way home next day, but our gear was soaked and stinking....we decided to head home. It took 5hrs to drive home, arrived in Glasgow 11pm. We did stop at Bonar to eat, found a cracking little take away that did curries....chickpea for veggie boy here!!.

I had driven for 14hrs, we walked 24.25miles, ascended 2061m through horrendous weather....but we loved it. The isolation, remoteness, beauty, warmth of the few people we met (altnaharra has a population of 32 within a 6mile radius) made it all worthwhile....below is a video of our mini adventure, best viewed in 720p HD and in full screen.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XELD27EWDxc&feature=channel[/youtube]
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dooterbang
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1828
Munros:262   Corbetts:58
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Sub 2000:10   Hewitts:18
Wainwrights:21   Islands:19
Joined: Oct 27, 2009
Location: Isle of Skye from Feb 2019 (Originally Glasgow)

Re: 4 Most Northernly Munros.

Postby doogz » Fri Sep 24, 2010 5:50 pm

Well done ....we done these as part of a week away...my first with my now mates...which went on to include AnTeallach,Beinn Eighe Beinn Alligin and fionn Bheinn added to your 4 a brill week


Glad you got something out your few days..sometimes when no views and a right soaking it can make you feel like the walks were wasted...

you dont sound deflated

great stuff 8)
doogz
 
Posts: 449
Joined: Sep 17, 2008

Re: 4 Most Northernly Munros.

Postby dooterbang » Fri Sep 24, 2010 6:04 pm

doogz wrote:Well done ....we done these as part of a week away...my first with my now mates...which went on to include AnTeallach,Beinn Eighe Beinn Alligin and fionn Bheinn added to your 4 a brill week


Glad you got something out your few days..sometimes when no views and a right soaking it can make you feel like the walks were wasted...

you dont sound deflated

great stuff 8)


Thanks Doogz,

I'm deflated being back in Glasgow!!. It's been a while since out in really crap weather, but i enjoyed the challenge. Did An Teallach on a previous visit to Ullapool, went over both pinnacles in the wet....scared the crap out of me, great when on the ridge though.

I'm heading to Bridge of Orchy Sunday or Monday to quench my addiction, :D .
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dooterbang
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1828
Munros:262   Corbetts:58
Fionas:18   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:10   Hewitts:18
Wainwrights:21   Islands:19
Joined: Oct 27, 2009
Location: Isle of Skye from Feb 2019 (Originally Glasgow)

Re: 4 Most Northernly Munros.

Postby mountain coward » Sat Sep 25, 2010 12:35 am

I can't imagine ever thinking 50mph winds are fun! And I'm not sure any clothing helps stop you getting hurled bodily down the crags! I couldn't do Klibreck and Ben Hope in the same day - Richard agreed with me on that when we got back down from our long squelch across Klibreck from Vagastie - we thought it was just toooo long and wet to do the same day as a nice mountain like Ben Hope! Well done anyway.

Just a quick query on your base-layer change on the hill... was that top and bottom half?? :o
mountain coward
 

Re: 4 Most Northernly Munros.

Postby dooterbang » Sat Sep 25, 2010 11:45 am

mountain coward wrote:I can't imagine ever thinking 50mph winds are fun! And I'm not sure any clothing helps stop you getting hurled bodily down the crags! I couldn't do Klibreck and Ben Hope in the same day - Richard agreed with me on that when we got back down from our long squelch across Klibreck from Vagastie - we thought it was just toooo long and wet to do the same day as a nice mountain like Ben Hope! Well done anyway.

Just a quick query on your base-layer change on the hill... was that top and bottom half?? :o

Hi, we knew Klibreck was a long ardouis bogfest so this is why we did Ben Hope first. Ben Hope was completed in 3hrs so we were warmed up for the Klibreck slog. The weather didn't bother me as i was just glad to be out, i did have on a merino wool layer, a polartec softshell and 3 layer pro-shell jacket near summit of Klibreck....i didn't really feel the cold, however the wind did slow us down and we had to be careful with our footing. On top of Conival i was wearing a merino wool baselayer and pro-shell jacket, i only changed the merino wool top to a Rab vapour rise top. We both couldn't tell if we were wet or sweating due to the humidity and effort to get to Summit. I always carry a spare merino wool top, and no matter the weather i usually put it on when at a summit or ridge once the ascent has been completed....i'm usually soaked with sweat!!.

I agree Ben Hope is a cracking little hill, i would love to go back up on a clear sunny day :D .
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dooterbang
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1828
Munros:262   Corbetts:58
Fionas:18   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:10   Hewitts:18
Wainwrights:21   Islands:19
Joined: Oct 27, 2009
Location: Isle of Skye from Feb 2019 (Originally Glasgow)

Re: 4 Most Northernly Munros.

Postby goth_angel » Sat Sep 25, 2010 1:07 pm

Hope is a nice hill but Klibreck was the boggiest walk I've ever done even though we did it in glorious sunshine - definitely one I won't do again. :(
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goth_angel
 
Posts: 350
Munros:101   Corbetts:9
Fionas:4   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:13   Hewitts:84
Wainwrights:179   
Joined: May 13, 2008
Location: Too far awav from Scotland (Kent)

Re: 4 Most Northernly Munros.

Postby doogz » Sat Sep 25, 2010 2:48 pm

goth_angel wrote:Hope is a nice hill but Klibreck was the boggiest walk I've ever done even though we did it in glorious sunshine - definitely one I won't do again. :(


NOW NOW GA...neve ever say NEVER....

What if someone invites you to a COMPLEATION....would you say no just because..you said never again? :lol: :lol:

Cheers Tessa

Doogz 8)
doogz
 
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Re: 4 Most Northernly Munros.

Postby Graeme D » Sun Sep 26, 2010 12:40 pm

Nicely done Dooterbang - these four seem to have been quite popular on here recently. Seem to recall a couple of recent reports on them.

mountain coward wrote:Just a quick query on your base-layer change on the hill... was that top and bottom half??


Honestly MC! What are you like??? Obsessed by mountain porn! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Graeme D
 
Posts: 3996
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Joined: Oct 17, 2008
Location: Perth

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