I'm going slightly mhad
Date walked: 30/06/2022
Time taken: 4.2 hours
Distance: 13.9km
Ascent: 440m
Between the majestic bulk of Ben Hope and the high crowns of Ben Loyal, the Kinloch River burbles its way past miles lochs, foothills and bog to empty into the Kyle of Tongue. The picture must be a delight to the few human residents of that well-watered land.
It was certainly a delight to this visitor as he made his way from the old Tongue road to Carn a' Mhadaidh on a wet Thursday evening.
The parking space had been recently resurfaced and the various estate tracks were in reasonable condition. I spent maybe half an hour tussock-bashing to find a track that was going my way, then followed it into the wilds. The weather was humid and showery with dark clouds threatening an early nightfall.
Meallan Liath looked large and round on the right, sometimes topped by clouds that reached down towards the ground as the mood took them. The track stayed low for a while then turned up and right, passing over a small ridge and along the side of a slope. Somewhere far behind I heard what sounded like a single clap of thunder.
Soon the sky began to lighten. On the left a bright, stubby rainbow appeared, rising in or near Loch an Dithreibh and improving the mood of the whole area. I admired it for a while and wondered, according to legend, whether this was the end that marked a pot of gold or the end that emanated from the hind quarters of a unicorn. Probably the latter, as it grew from there to spread across the landscape.
There were a few frogs and tadpoles to be seen, and a toad for good measure.
The track lead into a corrie with a high back wall and a little waterfall. From there it turned and petered out a few tens of metres from the little peak of Carn a' Mhadaidh, which is a minor top of Meallan Liath (which is arguably a minor top of Ben Hope, but who's counting?)
The top turned out to be right next to the abyss: the whole area below the crag was obscured by mist.
By now, though, some of the mist was beginning to clear and there was a fine view to the south.
The east side of the hill was steep and rocky, with a few trees. I found a way down the rocky side of a corrie, turned north and joined an estate track just after it crossed the river.
The route back was a perfect evening stroll, with the Queen of the Scottish mountains on the right and the setting sun somewhere behind the hills to the left. The track went through woods, past Kinloch Lodge with its windows lit like a Kinkaid paining, and close to the Cottage where an enthusiastic Jack Russel ran out to announce my presence to the world. Finally I walked along the quiet road in the gathering dusk, listening to the occasional splash as something jumped into the water behind the trees.
And there you have it.
It was certainly a delight to this visitor as he made his way from the old Tongue road to Carn a' Mhadaidh on a wet Thursday evening.
The parking space had been recently resurfaced and the various estate tracks were in reasonable condition. I spent maybe half an hour tussock-bashing to find a track that was going my way, then followed it into the wilds. The weather was humid and showery with dark clouds threatening an early nightfall.
Meallan Liath looked large and round on the right, sometimes topped by clouds that reached down towards the ground as the mood took them. The track stayed low for a while then turned up and right, passing over a small ridge and along the side of a slope. Somewhere far behind I heard what sounded like a single clap of thunder.
Soon the sky began to lighten. On the left a bright, stubby rainbow appeared, rising in or near Loch an Dithreibh and improving the mood of the whole area. I admired it for a while and wondered, according to legend, whether this was the end that marked a pot of gold or the end that emanated from the hind quarters of a unicorn. Probably the latter, as it grew from there to spread across the landscape.
There were a few frogs and tadpoles to be seen, and a toad for good measure.
The track lead into a corrie with a high back wall and a little waterfall. From there it turned and petered out a few tens of metres from the little peak of Carn a' Mhadaidh, which is a minor top of Meallan Liath (which is arguably a minor top of Ben Hope, but who's counting?)
The top turned out to be right next to the abyss: the whole area below the crag was obscured by mist.
By now, though, some of the mist was beginning to clear and there was a fine view to the south.
The east side of the hill was steep and rocky, with a few trees. I found a way down the rocky side of a corrie, turned north and joined an estate track just after it crossed the river.
The route back was a perfect evening stroll, with the Queen of the Scottish mountains on the right and the setting sun somewhere behind the hills to the left. The track went through woods, past Kinloch Lodge with its windows lit like a Kinkaid paining, and close to the Cottage where an enthusiastic Jack Russel ran out to announce my presence to the world. Finally I walked along the quiet road in the gathering dusk, listening to the occasional splash as something jumped into the water behind the trees.
And there you have it.
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Pastychomper
- Occupation: Quadrupole jockey
- Activity: Wanderer
- Pub: Any pouring Adam's Ale
- Mountain: Foinaven
- Place: Hammock
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- Filter reports
- Trips: 4
- Distance: 52.6 km
- Ascent: 1886m
- Corbetts: 1
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- Trips: 7
- Distance: 69.07 km
- Ascent: 2589m
- Corbetts: 1
- Trips: 8
- Distance: 70 km
- Ascent: 4055m
- Corbetts: 2
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- Distance: 116.6 km
- Ascent: 5162m
- Munros: 3
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- Trips: 11
- Distance: 111.68 km
- Ascent: 6116m
- Munros: 2
- Fionas: 1
- Sub2000s: 3
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 8 km
- Ascent: 231m
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 22.5 km
- Ascent: 1213m
- Munros: 1
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- Joined: Jan 02, 2018
- Last visited: Apr 18, 2024
- Total posts: 216 | Search posts