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For the last 18 months or so every time I went on a long walk I have said “This is good training for the Fisherfield Six!” I was going to do them last year but I never got around to it. And then I remembered that somewhere at the back of a cupboard I did actually have one!
- A Round Tuit
And so it was that after a few days in the Fannichs we parked at Corrie Hallie and started the walk in through the woods, past An Teallach
- Starting out
- An Teallach
and down to an easy crossing of the Abhainn Loch an Nid.
- Crossing the river
Then the hard work started as we ascended above Creag Ghlas.
- Beinn a'Chlaidheimh
- Loch an Nid
A short rest was in order before we followed a very steep, narrow path up on to the rocky ridge of Beinn a’Chlaidhaim.
- Ridge and An Teallach
- An Tealach
Four hours after starting out we reached the summit.
- Summit Fisherfield 1
Looking northwest I asked Katie “What’s that hill over there?” “I think it’s Ruadh Stac Mor “she said without looking at the map. This was rapidly becoming the Fisherfield Five! I was never going to make it up there after carrying camping gear for two days over 5 other Munros. How was I going to break the news to Katie? Fortunately the same thought was going through her mind and she checked the map. “No, you’re OK, that’s Beinn Dearg Mor – it’s a Corbett”. What a relief!!!
- Beinn Dearg Mor
- Lochan and Sgurr Ban
Spurred on by a description of the ascent of Sgurr Ban (“ascend easily up grassy slopes”) we soon realised that the writer of this advice must have only been carrying a day sack!
- Easy grassy slopes
That training was certainly coming in handy. Then steeply down to the next bealach to encounter the daunting sight of the scree slope leading to Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair.
- Scree - my favourite!
This was most unpleasant but fortunately only about 200m of ascent.
The views of Lochan Fada, Slioch and our next target, Beinn Tarsuinn were magnificent as we made another steep descent
- Doing it with style?
before following a narrow path beneath the crags of Meall Garbh to Bealach Odhar.
- Beinn Tarsuinn
Then we tackled the last up of the day to the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn. The rocky, pinnacled ridge leading northwest looked interesting but, being very tired we opted for the easier path below, dropping down to a boggy bealach where we found a reasonable spot to pitch the tent beside a small burn.
- Camp site
This was full of small fish and it was difficult to obtain water without adding to the protein content of our meal but after a splendid 3 course dinner followed by hot chocolate we collapsed into our sleeping bags.
It was another beautiful sunny day when we set off up A’Mhaighdean at about 8am. This was a very pleasant climb with spectacular views all round, especially across to Torridon.
- Slioch
And then the view from the summit! Nothing can prepare you for the view from the summit. Absolutely brilliant.
- That view
- That view
But looking across to Ruadh Stac Mor we could not imagine how we were going to get up there.
- Ruadh Stac Mor
The crags looked impenetrable. The path however led to the bottom of a slanting rocky path (rather loose!) up which we scrambled and then made our way over boulders to the trig point.
- Trig point
Two Munros done before 10.30am! All downhill from here! But with creaking knees there was a huge boulder field to cross to reach the twin lochans below. We made our way across to the path at Clach na Fritheallaidh and then on down to Loch Beinn Dearg. The going was then much easier in the hot sun and we crossed the burn at Larechantivore, made our way across the strath and crossed the Abhainn Srath na Sealga to reach Shenavall. The river crossings were all very easy due to lack of rain. In my celebrations on Ruadh Stac Mor I had forgotten the uphill slog from Shenavall,
- Walking back from Shenavall
past An Teallach (the only An Teallach I wanted at this stage came in a pint glass!) again and finally downhill to Corrie Hallie.
I found this a very tough and challenging expedition but worth every minute of the effort involved. I never would have managed it without all that training though.