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Day 1 17k 1895m
At last some decent weather! Off to Loch Quoich on Thursday evening. Tent up near the dam next to a campervan where a woman in a pinny was cooking something delicious-smelling (but then she spent ages washing up – there is a downside to everything!). Up early and away across the dam
and through the bog towards the bottom of the east ridge of Gairich. The broad ridge climbed gradually enough
- Glen Kingie
until the final push up through steeper, rocky terrain to reach the summit cairn.
- Curse of the mobile phone - a message from work!
Unfortunately it was then necessary to lose almost all the height we had gained as we descended over Gairich Beag and down the bridge across the burn at the foot of the east ridge of Sgurr an Fhuarain. This seemed very daunting to me – long and steep. There was a point when I thought I would not make it (feeble or what!) but I just kept plodding on as Katie loped easily along ahead. It was desperately hot (always complaining about the weather!) but I eventually made it to the summit cairn and trig point.
- Still alive - but it was close!
Then down again and up again to Sgurr Mor.
- Sgurr Mor
Then down and up again to Sgurr Beag! Plan A had been to carry on over An Eag and then camp on the bealach between there and Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoigh. At this point my legs demanded respite and so Plan B came into force as we descended to Glen Kingie and found somewhere to camp in its upper reaches.
Day 2 21k 1462m
Another early start as we headed for the aforementioned bealach. There is, in fact, a good place to camp up there beside a small lochan sheltered by a wall. From there we followed the remains of the wall up the steep slope to the summit of Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoigh.
- Follow the wall
- The previous day's walk
The subsequent walk round the ridge to Druim a’Chuirn was excellent with great views in to Glen Dessary
- Glen Dessary
and across to Gulvain and Streap.
We dropped down the south-east ridge, crossed the burn and then climbed up past small crags to the south ridge of Fraoch Bheinn. After a spot of lunch I broke the news to Katie that there was no way I could manage another Corbett so Sgurr Mhurlagain would have to wait for another day. The descent to Glen Kingie
- Descent to Glen Kingie
down the north-east ridge was initially very pleasant over rocky knolls. But then there was a horrible, boggy, tussocky stretch down to the river. The river crossing was entertaining and involved some rather undignified manoeuvres as the bank on the other side was rather undercut but we managed to get across with dry feet and then commenced the long walk back out to the dam.
Day 3 11.5k 1280m
A short day today – Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach. We parked at the lay-by under the weather station and walked about 2km down the road towards Kinlochhourn before turning up alongside the Allt Coire Peitreach. An excellent path zig-zags up to the south-west the ridge
- Ascending Gleouraich
and then follows the very edge of it to its junction with the north ridge. The views down the loch and also of Sgurr a’Mhaoraich and the Glen Sheil hills
were magnificent. We planned future expeditions as we walked along and reminisced about previous exploits. The summit cairn of Gleouraich
- Gleouraich
was soon reached and we then headed off towards Spidean Mialach.
This was quite and interesting ridge, with huge, rocky corries to the north although it involved a lot of descent and ascent – but at least we were not carrying the camping gear this time.
- Spidean Mialach
The summit cairn occupies a superb viewpoint.
Then a good stony path leads down to the bog again passing to the west of Loch Fearna. We followed the burn down – some great skinny dipping pools here for a warmer day! – before regaining the road just west of the weather station. A great few days rounded off by tea and cakes in Fort William.