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I'd clocked Beinn Mheadhoin when I tackled Bynack More last summer and thought what a mighty fine looking mountain it was. While it is doable from the south via Derry Lodge the northern approach looked much more interesting. And this approach also provided the opportunity to get in some scrambling practise ahead of my upcoming attempt on the Forcan ridge. So with a fine forecast & the opportunity to escape the wedding coverage headed off earlyish and was on my way by 8:45.
So the Fiacaill ridge... I'd seen
malky_c's excellent & detailed report on this arête and it didn't look too bad. However when I got there the wind was blowing some from the east so I made for the shelter of the west. So I didn't go over all the pinnacles. The west way leads to a steep gully that doesn't have any exposure but does require you to use your hands the whole way up (so no photos I'm afraid). There were a couple of walkers half a k ahead of me and I would have liked to catch up with them to see which way they went. Unfortunately I didn't catch up, but from what I could see it looked liked they also took the west way. No mind, this was still more scrambling than I've managed to date so it was well worth while.
Fiacaill Arête Conquered - two climbers top the Fiacaill arete ahead of me.
Fiacaill Arête (West)
Fiacaill Arête (East)
Now on the plateau it was easy to pick out a direct route across a large patch of snow down to Coire Domhain. Kept the Allt Coire Domhain to my left as I headed down into Glen Avon. Once down out of the wind I stopped for lunch #1. The descend of Coire Domhain was quite tricky. The stream isn't a simple affair with bits popping up all over the place plus it's pretty steep. I kept fairly west so as to employ a divide & conquer strategy when in came to crossing the streams. This proved a doddle. Once over these I descended further to pick up a path to the Stone Shelter. Hard to believe 17 clansmen took shelter here - but I didn't venture in. There were also 2 or 3 other similar shelters in the vicinity. Had lunch #2 here and watched various groups making their way about. A group of four made short work of crossing the stream that flows into the head of Loch Avon.
Allt Coire Domhain - looking across the head of Glen Avon towards the cliffs of Carn Etchachan.
The Head Of Glen Avon
Feith Buidhe Cascade
Castlegates Gully (I think)
The ascent out off the glen (is this known as the Goat track?) crossed one large steep patch of snow but that was the sole difficulty on the way to Beinn Mheadhoin. The plateau was amazingly desert like and the barns are quite something. The wind was fairly strong up here and I had to take my usual me-at-the-summit photo sitting down. On the way back I made for the crags to the south to try and get a photo looking down Glen Derry, but when I got there the blast of wind coming up the valley was so great that I had difficulty standing yet alone take a photo. In hind-sight I should have headed north for the Top of Stacca Dubha which would have given me excellent views of Loch Avon.
Beinn Mheadhoin Panorama
Beinn Mheadhoin Saddle
The Barns Of Beinn Mheadhoin
Beinn Mheadhoin Tor #1
Beinn Mheadhoin Tor #2
Beinn Mheadhoin Summit Tor - not a great photo but it shows the easy way up the back
Approaching Pilgrims
So back via Coire Raibeirt. The crossing of the stream flowing into the loch was a snitch. Kept my boots & didn't get any water in them. Meet a group of eight here on their way to the Hutchison hut (having failed to get a place the previous evening at the Ryvoan bothy). And I thought the scrambling was over but the way up (the east side of) the stream involved more use of hands.
Loch Avon Beach - there are stepping stones across the stream and with the recent dry spell it looked like you could get across without getting your feet wet.
Loch Avon Beach Panorama
Taking A Breather
Allt Coire Raibeirt
So: 1,500 metres of ascent despite the 600m start - truly one for the price of three - but still well worth it
Flickr set over
here.