
I have done the other 6 in this group last year and had two great days out on the hills

First was a taster on Mullach nan Coirean and Stob Ban



All that was left were the final four hills of Sgurr Eilde Mor, Binnien Beag, Binnein Mor and Na Gruagaichean - and hopefully in that order, so that I could enjoy the delights of the steep descent off Na Gruagaichean's summit


But I wanted good weather again for these four, as the views were going to be a big reason for going there. It's been a long wait



The MWIS forecast for the area had been improving as th weekend approached, with suggestion of cloud free tops and excellent conditions, and so I made the decision that the Eastern Mamores was the walk of choice. Despite a less than optimistic start with a heavy shower early doors I was not to disappointed on any counts. Weather






I'd driven up overnight on the Saturday, kipping in the car at the Grey Mares car park (I was starting this walk from the lowest point possible, rather than miss abit of the height gain by parking at the Mamores Lodge



Starting off from the Grey Mares fall I thought the start to the route would be easy - and I suppose it was, although at times there seemed to be a myriad of paths and off-shoots to choose from. My approach was to follow my nose and choose the route that was heading up and vaguely to my right. Turns out my nose is a pretty good one, as I was soon finding myself joining up with the landrover track coming from the Lodge at a wonderful view point looking back down Loch Leven to the Pap

I stood here for a while soaking the view up. There was a cracking stone bench at this view point, but is was a tad wet what with the earlier rain. But the view was incredible. Had I gone back to the car now, just having had that view would have been enough for me. But I had much more walking to do yet (I discovered later I'd underestimated how long this whole route was


I followed the landrover track for a short while, until a small cairn on the left at a right hand bend marked the point where it was time to move onto the stalkers path. This path, as with all of the stalkers paths in this area, was excellent. The super keen, super fit amongst you will say it makes easy going to the plateau at Coire an Lochain, and you'd be right. I couldn't get my rhythm going though and so it probably took me longer than it should (got passed by a chap at one point who was fair fleeing up the track). But I got there in my own time.
Walking up the path gave some great views back in the direction I had come, looking over toward the hills of Glencoe

Eventually my first target revealed itself, as I reached the plateau and the cloud was finally breaking up for good

I took a route to the right of the lochan, aiming for the obvious path I could see up onto the southern ridge. It was a bit of a slog up onto the summit, although I did manage to locate traces of path which improved as I got higher. I had feared it would be a clamber over big boulders all the way. Although I had to do this in healthy doses there was also a section of unexpected scrambling (nothing difficult), which improved the experience. Got passed by another chap on this section and although we were doing our own thing tended to bump into each other on an off for some while after.
Arriving at the summit the views were starting to open up for me. There was still some low cloud, but there were good views to Binnein Beag and across to Sgurr Eilde Beag


The path from this point on is maybe something of an acquired taste

But it was great fun

It's only 650 ft to the top



But again the views were worth the effort. On the way up the view of Binnein Mor opened up superbly

Also got a view of the Big Boochil as well

At the summit the views all round were fantastic (I seem to run out of superlatives to describe the hills and the views when writing up reports and whatever word I do use really can't do them justice. Nor can my point-and-click camera either

Had great views of the Grey Corries, Ben Nevis, the Aonachs, Glencoe, the Easains and the seemingly ever present Schiehallion





It was another fairly steep descent off the hill on scree and boulders and a walk across the saddle toward #3 of the day - Binnein Mor. On the saddle the views of the Ben, CMD and Aonachs were brilliant

By now my legs were done



Got nice views back toward Binnein Beag and the Grey Corries

Met a chap out with his small dog, which he had in a harness so that he could simply pick it up when it couldn't scale the boulders we were walking over to get to the path. Kept me amused at the time


On the way up the north ridge views toward the other Mamores started to open up, as well as views toward Na Gruagaichean. I had read about the descent from that hill being steep and slippery, even if the worst of it was only a short section. The view as I made my way up Binnein Mor wasn't really helping me much


And then I arrived on the summit

Suddenly it was a case of a short airy trot along to the summit - possibly the smallest cairn you will ever see and completely out of keeping with the size of the hill whose summit it marked


All round, there were great views from Binnein Mor, toward Binnein Beag and the Grey Corries and the general Glencoe area


From the Binnein Mor summit the ridge route leading to the final munro of the day, Na Gruagaichean, was also set out before me. Despite my knees complaining loudly every time I tried to walk all of a sudden my enthusiasm for the walk had returned (well, it had never really left, but was just struggling to be heard over the noise of my complaining knees


I really enjoyed the walk along the ridge to Na Gruagaichean. It was all easy going along a great path. The views all round were fantastic and the walking was suddenly much easier

And for the view down Loch Leven alone it was worth the effort

The view to the north west top was pretty good too
Note the by-pass path to the left if you want to avoid the scramble. I completely ignored it when I was there and simply went up the ridge. Loved it



But first there was the descent of Na Gruagaichean



The two chaps who had passed me on the way up to the Binnein Mor summit were just ahead of me on Na Gruagaichean, and we made our way down off the summit together - they then motored back to Mamore Lodage ahead of me.
From the north west top the views toward the rest of the Mamores was immense







Coming off the north west top was a bit steep in places, but never too bad. I took it slowly and eventually got onto the saddle with Stob Coire a' Chairn on the Ring of Steall. At this point I decided to ignore the stalkers path and simply make my way off the hill in as direct a route as I could (the path wanders off to the left to eventually come back on itself and I coudn't be doing with that!!). I'm sure I saved all of about 5 minutes





All in all a fantastic walk. Yeah it was tough on my legs (took at least three days to get over this one














