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Loch Mullardoch Round

Route: The Loch Mullardoch Munros

Munros: An Riabhachan, An Socach (Affric), An Socach (Mullardoch), Beinn Fhionnlaidh (Càrn Eige), Càrn Eige, Càrn nan Gobhar (Loch Mullardoch), Màm Sodhail, Mullach na Dheiragain, Sgùrr na Lapaich, Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan, Toll Creagach, Tom a' Chòinich

Date walked: 12/05/2017

Time taken: 74 hours

Distance: 66.2km

Ascent: 6047m

This trip has been some time in the making. As I work my way through the Munros I am always looking for opportunities to create multi day trips that will last long in the memory ... and a round of Loch Mullardoch had already been on my mind for five years.

Having had amazing weather over the early May Bank Holiday in the past, I targeted the same week and started to contact friends to see who was up for it. Much to my surprise I found three willing volunteers, dates were set, flights booked, kit packed. It was on.

Having spent the first half of the week 'breaking ourselves in' on some of the Kintail Munros, we set off for the Dam at the end of Loch Mullardoch. Our original intention had been to leave on Wednesday 3rd May arriving back at the Dam on Friday 5th May, but with the weather having vastly improved from earlier in the week, we decided to head off on the Tuesday evening and get the first 5km under out belt.

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So ... we parked the van in the north car park and set off up the track at 1645. There is some construction work in the area and what looks like a fairly new and substantial track which runs along side the Allt Mullardoch. We followed the stream heading for our first objective - a flat, preferably dry spot in Coire an t-Sith.

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Day Two

After a good nights sleep we woke to see cloud gathering in Glen Cannich below us. We decided to break camp and continue our way up to the saddle of Corn nan Goghar before the cloud reached us.

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This made for a relatively simple walk up to the first Munro, Carn nan Gobhar, and we were staggered as we reached the top to see that there was not a cloud in the sky in any direction.

Looking across to Sgurr na Lapaich was a little daunting. We could see the route up its rib directly in front of us but with patches of snow on what we suspected to be out route to the top and the apparent steepness (with heavy packs), we knew this was going to be one of the big elements of the day.

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We made our way down to Beach na Cloiche Duibhe (noting that it would make a cracking place to camp) and started the ascent up the other side.

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To be fair, although hard going, it was not as bad as it had looked from the other side. Negotiating the slushy snow and the boulders towards the top was a bit of a pain, but eventually we found our way through, and were rewarded (once again) with stunning views in all directions.

From here it was about 4.5km to the next Munro. The route took us across a lovely ridge made all the better by the continuing good conditions. It was whilst sitting in a sun trap at the 1129 point that we met a chap from Berwich who had come up from the Dam in the other direction, and after chatting briefly we set off again in the direction of An Riabhachan.

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The wind picked up slightly (for the first time that day) but it remained easy going to the summit and then onto our last objective of the day An Socach.

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The final stage of the day was an easy decent to Meall Shuas and then onto the Gobh-alltan in the glen below, where we had already sighted a grassy spot to pitch the tents for the night.

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Day three - and it was another belter in terms of the weather. We were up and away at 0700 in order to meet the member of the group who couldn't make the first day due to a meeting in Edinburgh. Good commitment was shown however, and she arranged with Angus to get a lift on his boat from the Dam to the end of Loch Mullardoch where we were camped.

We duly met up and started the ascent up to the Munros on the south side. There is a track which can be followed up the side of the Allt Cam from where it is a relentless (but not horrific) ascent up to Mullach na Dheiragain.

I guess this munro didn't seem so bad as it was hard to take our eyes off Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan in the background. Not only did it look massive, it looked daunting and a long long way away. :shock:


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[Eyes on the prize .... Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan}

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[Final approach to Mullach na Dheiragain with Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan looming in the background]

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[final few steps up Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan]

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[Looking back as we head on towards An Socach]


We were definitely feeling the effects of the last couple of days as we made our way down from Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan and the ridge that would take us to An Socach and eventually Mam Sodhail. We had been carefully looking after out water (as there is very little to be found on the south side of Loch Mullardoch) and still had to complete Mam Sodhail and carry on a further 2.5km to Bealach Beag where we planned to pitch the tents.

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[Looking across to Mam Sodhail from An Socach]

Two things happened that were not in the plan.

Firstly the wind picked up as we skirted round towards Mam Sodhail following a good but intermittent path. We took the decision to continue along this path rather than head for the 1068, this is where the second unexpected event took place .... we found some running water!

There were a handful of large snow patches up above us, and we had hit the jackpot. We replenished our stores of water and carried on the path until directly below the 1108 point, where we decided it was best to hack up straight up to the summit.

Wow! Windy! And suddenly our proposed camping spot was in doubt. We made the summit of Mam Sodhail (unpleasant in the wind) and decided to come down from the summit in a northerly direction and head for the (slightly) flatter area at 980m directly opposite Loch Uaine midway between Mam Sodhail and Carn Eighe

It provided sufficient shelter from the wind, and although not exactly flat, we were all sufficiently exhausted that it didn't really matter. We pitched the tents, had some food and were treated to a fantastic show as the sun went down.

End of walking: 1915hrs

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Day Four
Start 0630hrs

We all woke up in good fettle on day four having agreed we would leave at 0630 to walk over to Beinn Fhionnlaidh before returning to have some breakfast, pack the tents away and put the rucksacks on our backs.

It turned out to be a good plan. Not just because we were travelling with no rucksacks, but because we were treated to a stunning view on the summit.

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[First glimpse again of Loch Mullardoch]
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[Looking back to the tents]

Having repacked out rucksacks it was relatively straightforward to the summit of Carn Eighe and real feeling that we were on the final straight.

We followed the ridge which proved to be a real mixed back of jaggy rocks, sections of airy ridge and round grassy mounds.

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[One of the many interesting sections as we made our way between Cars Eighe and Tom a Choinnich]

That said, it was hard work, especially the down and ups between An Leth-chreag, Tom a Choinnich and Toll Creagach, and certainly few never ending on slightly tired legs.

As we reached the summit of Toll Creagach (in the heat of the day) we collapsed at the final summit and reflected on the distance travelled so far and the final descent back down to the Dam which although straightforward, was certainly not going to be easy.

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[Almost home, the lovely although boggy forest leading back to the Dam]

As expected, slow and steady progress was made. We had a wee bit of trouble finding our way through the forest back down to the track, but eventually navigated the gates and stiles to reach the road and the final march back to the vans.

Thanks to my three mates for their good humour and sense of adventure. Where shall we go next!?

Finished: Friday 1847hrs

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Comments: 12



Perfect Day on Ben Lui & Beinn a' Chleibh

Attachment(s) Munros: Beinn a' Chlèibh, Ben Lui
Date walked: 20/01/2017
Distance: 11.8km
Ascent: 1066m
Comments: 12
Views: 6005


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Attachment(s) Munros: An Socach (Braemar)
Date walked: 18/02/2016
Distance: 17.7km
Ascent: 527m
Views: 4251


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Attachment(s) Munros: An Coileachan, Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich, Meall a' Chrasgaidh, Meall Gorm, Sgùrr Mòr, Sgùrr nan Clach Geala, Sgùrr nan Each
Date walked: 19/08/2015
Distance: 49.7km
Ascent: 2152m
Comments: 1
Views: 3720

Keefers


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Activity: Munro compleatist

Munros: 282
Corbetts: 4
Fionas: 2
Donalds: 1



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Statistics

2017

Trips: 2
Distance: 78 km
Ascent: 7113m
Munros: 14

2016

Trips: 1
Distance: 17.7 km
Ascent: 527m
Munros: 1

2015

Trips: 1
Distance: 49.7 km
Ascent: 2152m
Munros: 7


Joined: Feb 20, 2015
Last visited: Feb 29, 2024
Total posts: 15 | Search posts