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Having written up last week's walk on Beinn Laith Mhor it's time I got Sgorr Ruadh written up from a similarly fab day in July!
We parked opposite the reassuring red phone box (the rarer they become the more I like to see them) and set off up the track with dogs on lead until after we crossed the line at the station. We turned sharp left and not long after that got the great view of the Corbett Fuar Tholl that always sets the pulses racing.
We were so busy blethering (Evelyn and me
) we walked right past the tiny cairn that was there then and into the woods at the end of the track. When the path petered out
we realised what we'd done and retraced our steps to find the proper path down to the dog gate. Then we followed the path through the woods beside the river and up the good slabby path to where it levels out and we got our first proper view of our objective for the day - Sgorr Ruadh.
I love these massive round rocks - so weathered and smooth.
Here's another view of Sgorr Ruadh from a cloudless day in October 2011.
This was a good point to check the map for where our path turned off to the left. That's the ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor straight ahead.
We crossed the River Lair (no problem) and followed the path up below the dramatic Mainnichean Buttress of Fuar Tholl.
Fuar Tholl from Coire Lair
As we headed right off the stalkers' path to climb Sgorr Ruadh we passed several tiny lochans. This was bliss for the dogs who used them to cool off as although cloudy it was quite warm.
As we climbed higher up the slopes of Ruadh we got our first view down into Loch Carron so out came the cameras again.
Think this is my best side
Oh go on then, take another!
Walking buddy Evelyn
We got our money's worth out of this rock
Liathach from top of Sgorr Ruadh
Other peaks of Coulin Forest and Loch Torridon
Beinn Alligin and Liathach
Beinn Alligin
Maol Cheann-dearg and Loch an Eion
Evelyn at summit of Sgorr Ruadh, Fuar Tholl behind
On summit cairn of Sgorr Ruadh
The cloud lulled us into a sense of complacency about the need for reapplying sun screen. So by the time we got back to the car we were sporting redder knees than we realised - but appropriate enough after a fabulous day's walking on the red peak.
