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Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by davetherave » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:05 pm
Munros included on this walk: Ruadh-stac Mor (Beinn Eighe), Spidean Coire nan Clach (Beinn Eighe)
Date walked: 11/10/2010
Time taken: 11 hours
Distance: 23 km
Ascent: 1700m
2 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).Date. Monday 11th October 2010
Completed by. Dave, Julie and Wilson
Weather. Beautiful
Time. 11 hrs
Distance. 23 km
Ascent. 1700 m
Hills.
Munro’s x 2
Corbett’s x 0
Grahams x 0
Ruadh Stac Mor
Spidean Coire Nan Clach
Starting from.
Car park North of Lochan an Lasgair
Did the Beinn Alligin ridge yesterday, and the weather forecast was meant to be better today….. Lucky lucky us,
We got up real sharp, packed up the tent and were left our wild campsite by the river opposite Liathach by 6.30am. 5 minutes later we arrive at the car park North of the Loch ready for the start of our walk.
Was still pitch black at this time of day, and as we were not sure of the exact start point we decided to wait for day to break before commencing.
Fine time for us to have a quick brew and watch the sun set from the comfort of the car.
We planned to do the entire ridge all the way to the black Carls…Day break comes and we are up and going, heading up through Coire Dubh Mor making for the foot of Sail Mor. From here we carry on round and up past Loch Mhic Fhearchair. This was where we got our first glimpses of the Triple Buttress “ This is a spectacular place ” I said to Julie. It is easy to see why many people regard Coire Mhic Fhearchair as the best Coire in Scotland; It’s certainly the best that I have encountered.
We decide to ascend the steep slopes of Sail Mor at the South end of the Loch. The sun was out but from our location in the Coire we were not going to be seeing it for a while.
(Steep slopes first we would soon be in the sun)
Out of breath we reached Sail Mor 3hrs + after starting. Views were stunning. We now got a gentle ish stroll down to the Col before the steepness returns very rapidly, we effectively climbed round the edge of the southern Buttress this turned out to be pretty dam steep. Wilson was even struggling somewhat at this part.
From Coinneach Mhor we head North down the ridge to reach Munro no.1 Ruadh Stac Mor again the views are super, we decide on a much earned 30min break here to re-charge before heading back towards Coinneach Mhor. We then carry on our way along the ridge for a very pleasant walk. Soon we come upon the trig point at 972 m then carry on descending a bit before making a final steep ascent. Our objective
Munro no.2 Spidean Coire Nan Clach is reached
Even from here we get good views east along the ridge. The peak of Sgurr Ban looks mighty close, but the black Carls look a step to far…. Would we have time? Don’t want to be getting the head torches out again,
I was not even sure at this stage how we were going to come down off the hill. Had originally planned to head for Cromasaig, but this would have left a huge walk back to the car. Not enough hours in the day.
We did however get good views of the Col to the East of Sgurr Ban, down the Steep scree that would lead to the road next to Loch Bharranch. This would be our exit, I decided there and then.
Sgurr Ban reached we were now heading for our final top of the day Sgurr Nan Fhir Duibhe and then on to the Black Carls.
Julie decided to stay at the exit col with Wilson while I went on to the final top, again this was rather steep with bouldery terrain, I then carried on for a bit to the black Carls… trying to get down off the final top was a bit scary, very steep indeed. I safely got down in to the big “”V”” and got some pictures of the steep chute, from there I decide to turn back and head back up to the final top then back down to the col to meet up with the gang. From the col we head south down the scree, this turned out to be easier than it looked as height and distance was quickly covered at times.
Road reached we head SW up the A896 back to the car.
What a day, actually what a weekend, we had arrived on Saturday evening set up camp and chilled out with some good food, and a few beers.On Sunday we decide on doing the Beinn Alligin ridge then over the horns time about 6/7 hrs would be a short day for us.
Got back to the tent sharpish chilled out with some wine this time and BBQ salmon then settled down round the camp fire relaxing for a bit. Early bed in preparation for the Beinn Eighe ridge on the Monday.
All the above was done in shorts and T-shirt most of the way. And the weather! Well that was as good as we have had all year.
Winter here we come!
Completed by. Dave, Julie and Wilson
Weather. Beautiful
Time. 11 hrs
Distance. 23 km
Ascent. 1700 m
Hills.
Munro’s x 2
Corbett’s x 0
Grahams x 0
Ruadh Stac Mor
Spidean Coire Nan Clach
Starting from.
Car park North of Lochan an Lasgair
Did the Beinn Alligin ridge yesterday, and the weather forecast was meant to be better today….. Lucky lucky us,
We got up real sharp, packed up the tent and were left our wild campsite by the river opposite Liathach by 6.30am. 5 minutes later we arrive at the car park North of the Loch ready for the start of our walk.
Was still pitch black at this time of day, and as we were not sure of the exact start point we decided to wait for day to break before commencing.
Fine time for us to have a quick brew and watch the sun set from the comfort of the car.
We planned to do the entire ridge all the way to the black Carls…Day break comes and we are up and going, heading up through Coire Dubh Mor making for the foot of Sail Mor. From here we carry on round and up past Loch Mhic Fhearchair. This was where we got our first glimpses of the Triple Buttress “ This is a spectacular place ” I said to Julie. It is easy to see why many people regard Coire Mhic Fhearchair as the best Coire in Scotland; It’s certainly the best that I have encountered.
We decide to ascend the steep slopes of Sail Mor at the South end of the Loch. The sun was out but from our location in the Coire we were not going to be seeing it for a while.
(Steep slopes first we would soon be in the sun)
Out of breath we reached Sail Mor 3hrs + after starting. Views were stunning. We now got a gentle ish stroll down to the Col before the steepness returns very rapidly, we effectively climbed round the edge of the southern Buttress this turned out to be pretty dam steep. Wilson was even struggling somewhat at this part.
From Coinneach Mhor we head North down the ridge to reach Munro no.1 Ruadh Stac Mor again the views are super, we decide on a much earned 30min break here to re-charge before heading back towards Coinneach Mhor. We then carry on our way along the ridge for a very pleasant walk. Soon we come upon the trig point at 972 m then carry on descending a bit before making a final steep ascent. Our objective
Munro no.2 Spidean Coire Nan Clach is reached
Even from here we get good views east along the ridge. The peak of Sgurr Ban looks mighty close, but the black Carls look a step to far…. Would we have time? Don’t want to be getting the head torches out again,
I was not even sure at this stage how we were going to come down off the hill. Had originally planned to head for Cromasaig, but this would have left a huge walk back to the car. Not enough hours in the day.
We did however get good views of the Col to the East of Sgurr Ban, down the Steep scree that would lead to the road next to Loch Bharranch. This would be our exit, I decided there and then.
Sgurr Ban reached we were now heading for our final top of the day Sgurr Nan Fhir Duibhe and then on to the Black Carls.
Julie decided to stay at the exit col with Wilson while I went on to the final top, again this was rather steep with bouldery terrain, I then carried on for a bit to the black Carls… trying to get down off the final top was a bit scary, very steep indeed. I safely got down in to the big “”V”” and got some pictures of the steep chute, from there I decide to turn back and head back up to the final top then back down to the col to meet up with the gang. From the col we head south down the scree, this turned out to be easier than it looked as height and distance was quickly covered at times.
Road reached we head SW up the A896 back to the car.
What a day, actually what a weekend, we had arrived on Saturday evening set up camp and chilled out with some good food, and a few beers.On Sunday we decide on doing the Beinn Alligin ridge then over the horns time about 6/7 hrs would be a short day for us.
Got back to the tent sharpish chilled out with some wine this time and BBQ salmon then settled down round the camp fire relaxing for a bit. Early bed in preparation for the Beinn Eighe ridge on the Monday.
All the above was done in shorts and T-shirt most of the way. And the weather! Well that was as good as we have had all year.
Winter here we come!
-
davetherave - Posts: 717
- Munros:220 Corbetts:88
- Grahams:26 Donalds:5
- Joined: Apr 25, 2009
- Location: Brechin
Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by doogz » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:09 pm
Brillian..no more I can write 

- doogz
- Posts: 449
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- kinley
Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by monty » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:28 pm
Superb Dave. You are a nutter hahaha. I haven't been up these yet so hopefully pick a good day next year. Looks scary though. Wilson must think us (sorry you) humans are mad 

- monty
Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by LeithySuburbs » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:31 pm
You really extracted the maximum out if this mountain with that route
. Looks great fun
.


Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by malky_c » Sun Oct 24, 2010 10:29 pm
Brilliant
I enjoyed your Beinn Alligin report but this one is even better! Good to see you've got to experience the NW in the best weather.
Very complete route as well. I've never done the bit from Sail Mhor. I do remember reading that there was a small scrambly step in it - sounds like Wilson had fun on that
.
Some nice photos of the Black Carls too. I'm starting to find that just because I don't remember any awkward bits, doesn't mean they weren't there!

Very complete route as well. I've never done the bit from Sail Mhor. I do remember reading that there was a small scrambly step in it - sounds like Wilson had fun on that

Some nice photos of the Black Carls too. I'm starting to find that just because I don't remember any awkward bits, doesn't mean they weren't there!
Last edited by malky_c on Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by mountain coward » Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:05 am
monty wrote:Superb Dave. You are a nutter hahaha. I haven't been up these yet so hopefully pick a good day next year. Looks scary though. Wilson must think us (sorry you) humans are mad
Hi Monty,
The 2 Munros aren't scary at all, just some of the extras may be I think. Like the Bad Step from Sail Mhor - and the Black Carls.
I'm really jealous reading this report as I did this with a huge, cumbersome and very slow group and we were going to do the whole ridge (excluding Sail Mhor and The Black Carls), I wanted at least to do Sgurr Ban And the next peak and then just descend off the end. By the time we'd hung around on the hill all day just doing the 2 Munro peaks, I'd had enough and ended up leading most of the group back down and abandoning the rest of the ridge (not that I was the leader, just everyone else decided they were p***d off too!). Also it was (my) usual clag and so I didn't see any of those stupendous views along the ridge you've captured so perfectly there

While the Triple Buttress and corrie are spectacular, I prefer the corrie under An Teallach... but probably only just...
Was it horribly steep or loose up to Sail Mhor from the end of the loch? As in scary for mountain cowards? How did you find the Bad Step - got an pics of it? I'd probably like to try to get to that end of the ridge sometime... I sure won't be visiting the Black Carls though so it's great you got a pic for me to look at instead

- mountain coward
Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by foggieclimber » Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:22 pm
Nice long walk, in great weather on a fantastic hill - what more could you want.
Great stuff!
Cheers
Great stuff!
Cheers
- foggieclimber
- Posts: 1041
- Joined: Aug 9, 2009
Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by gaffr » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:21 pm
Hello,
Now that's a proper journey over Beinn Eighe
It's the sort of hill where there are at least half a dozen ways to reach the high ground. When we first went to Eighe, youthful days, we cut the corner on the path to 'coire much fiercer' which allowed us to reach, for the one and only time Sail Mhor, before reaching the higher tops of the mountain. I always find Eighe a pleasure to visit and my most bizarre journey to the tops was from Grudie bridge which allowed for a fullish traverse of the mountain, excepting S Mhor, and descending by a path to the main road, after reaching the Creag Dhubh area, for the last few road kls. back to the van. 
Now that's a proper journey over Beinn Eighe


Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by GravelInspector » Sun Jul 01, 2012 2:37 am
Hi Dave theRave,
I "did" essentially the same route many years ago (we went up to the Sail Mhor col, not straight up to the summit) and tried repeating it a couple of weeks ago with the wife. Neither of us are rock climbing types - though I have dragged my body up some Severe and VS climbs at the sharp end of a rope in the past - and my memories from the dim past were not enough to get us along the crest of the ridge.
We worked our way through to some pinnacles and collapsing (recently?) boulders overlooking "Lancaster Gully", then found ourselves in an area where I couldn't find a route that looked feasible to go up on the crest (which my memory tells me we did in 1980). We tried to traverse (hand-made GPX attached), and found a scratchy path at about the 900m contour, which took us round to a large gully, which we then ascended to pop out on the top of Coinneach Mhor. Not exactly nice - loose scrabbly and rather intimidating - but less intimidating than the quartzite noses on the crest.
Could you describe your route finding on the nose in a little more detail?
BTW, thanks for the photo of the chockstone in the Black Carls. I found a much-abused negative of the same shot from 1980, which tells me that we definitely did go as far as the Black Carls. I thought the photo was possibly another branch of Lancaster Gully, but evidently not.
We've got to go back and do it right this time. Oh woe is us.
I "did" essentially the same route many years ago (we went up to the Sail Mhor col, not straight up to the summit) and tried repeating it a couple of weeks ago with the wife. Neither of us are rock climbing types - though I have dragged my body up some Severe and VS climbs at the sharp end of a rope in the past - and my memories from the dim past were not enough to get us along the crest of the ridge.
davetherave wrote:Out of breath we reached Sail Mor 3hrs + after starting. Views were stunning. We now got a gentle ish stroll down to the Col before the steepness returns very rapidly, we effectively climbed round the edge of the southern Buttress this turned out to be pretty dam steep. Wilson was even struggling somewhat at this part.
We worked our way through to some pinnacles and collapsing (recently?) boulders overlooking "Lancaster Gully", then found ourselves in an area where I couldn't find a route that looked feasible to go up on the crest (which my memory tells me we did in 1980). We tried to traverse (hand-made GPX attached), and found a scratchy path at about the 900m contour, which took us round to a large gully, which we then ascended to pop out on the top of Coinneach Mhor. Not exactly nice - loose scrabbly and rather intimidating - but less intimidating than the quartzite noses on the crest.
Could you describe your route finding on the nose in a little more detail?
BTW, thanks for the photo of the chockstone in the Black Carls. I found a much-abused negative of the same shot from 1980, which tells me that we definitely did go as far as the Black Carls. I thought the photo was possibly another branch of Lancaster Gully, but evidently not.
We've got to go back and do it right this time. Oh woe is us.
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Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by davetherave » Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:14 pm
GravelInspector
Ahh, the west buttress, Mmmm why did i not take any photos of this part!
As for a bit more detail Im not sure i can help all that much. What i can say is that Julie and Wilson the Beardie managed okay, although Wilson had to get a hoist up now and then over the the rock blocks that were plentyfull on the west buttress.
Looking back at my pictures i actually thought that my picture titled ( Final ascent of Spidean coire nan Clach) was heading up the nose of the west buttress.. I do recall that, that picture is very similar. It was steeper on the west nose of the buttress, and the terrain was better under foot with less loose scree. Assending was made easier because of the large rock blocks that would eventually allow one to reach Coinneach Mhor. We decided early on not to keep a line to close to the edge of the buttress because of our daft Beardie.
Found this picture on the net taken from below Sail Mhor summit looking towards the west end of the Triple Buttress, i dont really know why as its not really all that helpful to you.
Ahh, the west buttress, Mmmm why did i not take any photos of this part!
As for a bit more detail Im not sure i can help all that much. What i can say is that Julie and Wilson the Beardie managed okay, although Wilson had to get a hoist up now and then over the the rock blocks that were plentyfull on the west buttress.
Looking back at my pictures i actually thought that my picture titled ( Final ascent of Spidean coire nan Clach) was heading up the nose of the west buttress.. I do recall that, that picture is very similar. It was steeper on the west nose of the buttress, and the terrain was better under foot with less loose scree. Assending was made easier because of the large rock blocks that would eventually allow one to reach Coinneach Mhor. We decided early on not to keep a line to close to the edge of the buttress because of our daft Beardie.
Found this picture on the net taken from below Sail Mhor summit looking towards the west end of the Triple Buttress, i dont really know why as its not really all that helpful to you.

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davetherave - Posts: 717
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Re: Beinn Eighe ( Sail Mhor to the Black Carls )
by Meatball » Mon Mar 18, 2013 2:00 pm
Smashing report!
I don't suppose you took a picture of your route up Sail Mhor?
I don't suppose you took a picture of your route up Sail Mhor?
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