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Date - Sat 16/10/2010
Title - Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach
Route - Anti-clockwise circuit
Weather - Nippy N breeze but otherwise great
People - Me
Time - 7 Hours
Distance - 12.4km
Ascent - 1200m
Apart from a short jaunt up Ben Rinnes it'd been well over 2 months since my last hill outing -
far too long! Oppurtunity and a decent weather window opened and a plan was hatched to blow away the cobwebs prior to the upcoming WH meet. I'd eyed up these hills as we went along the South Glen Shiel Ridge earlier in the year. A stunning area and this route, being reasonable length and fairly easy going terrain, was just what I wanted to revive the legs.
Parked up and walking by 8am. Had a quick chat with a couple of other pairs at the start - all going clockwise round the circuit. Perfect - apart from passing half way round it felt like I was on my own all day. Easy enough route (easy to say now - I was huffing and puffing on the way up!). Paths most of the way, a keen eye shouldn't lose it but it's possible.
Nice views over Loch Quoich open up during the ascent toward Spidean Mialach
Plenty deer around
Coire Mheil
Coire Dubh
S to Ben Nevis
Gained the ridge and headed E toward the summit of Spidean Mialach
E from Spidean Mialach summit
W over Loch Quoich and into Knoydart
Summit pano - Loch Qouich (left), my route along ridge to Gleouraich (centre), South Glen Shiel Ridge (right).
Click image to open large SW over Loch Quoich
W to Ladhar Bheinn
The Ben beginning to hold on to the cloud
Pushed on along the ridge - a few simple scrambles (and some harder optional if you like...), past the 1006m top and what felt a steep ascent up to the summit of Gleouraich.
Looking back E along the ridge from Gleouraich
W over Loch Quoich
Looking W - zoomed in - I'm guessing this is the Isle of Rum in distant centre?
Glen Quoich
Loch Quoich
Time to get down. Began the steep descent (on a good zig-zagging path) toward the car
Allt Coire Peitireach
Nearly back at the car. Looking over Loch Quoich to Gairich
A cracking day out
Stopped at various points on the drive out of the glen...... no rush to leave this...
Moon
Sunset