I stayed at the Cluaunie Inn a couple of years ago and was faced with the, what looked like, sheer face of A'Chralaig out the window at breakfast and it looked relentless.

And it turned out to be!

IMG_3670 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Though I do like getting the hard work out of the way as early as possible as it means the rest of the day can less strenuous.

Worst of it is past when you get upto the start of the ridge line and the air this day was exceptionally clear other than the whisps of cloud still clinging to the hillside here and there.

IMG_3672 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

First look along the ridge line
IMG_3675 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Looking across the road to the South Glen Shiel Ridge
IMG_3678 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Summit cairn comes into view
IMG_3679 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Summit cairn of A' Chralaig (a climb in itself to touch the top!)
IMG_3681 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Looking west
IMG_3683 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Wee scrambly bit off the top
IMG_3686 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Looking back along the ridge outcrops to the summit cairn
IMG_3687 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

After this the cloud came down for a bit and didn't clear till I was down the otherside of Stob Coire na Craileig but started to lift to show the final section of the ridge up to the summit of Mullach Fraoch-choire
IMG_3689 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Little scrambly bit below the summit
IMG_3692 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Summit cairn of Mullach Fraoch-choire
IMG_3695 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

At this point a lot more cloud had appeared, filling the glens and covering some of the surrounding peaks.

View back along the ridge
IMG_3710 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

From the summit, it was a case of returning back down the ridge to when an obvious path heads off down Coire Odhar
IMG_3712 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Looking back up to Mullach Fraoch-choire
IMG_3716 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Summit of Ciste Dhubh to the west
IMG_3724 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

The trudge back down the glen, trying to find a better, well worn path!
IMG_3727 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

Eventually you hit a track back to the roadside, looking back up the glen
IMG_3728 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr

and down towards the road and lochside
IMG_3729 by matthew_chalmers, on Flickr