walkhighlands

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.
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The outward pathway rises
The weather was humid and showery with dark clouds threatening an early nightfall.

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and the Meallan is... partly clear
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.
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Unicorn dung?
Probably the latter, as it grew from there to spread across the landscape.
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There were a few frogs and tadpoles to be seen, and a toad for good measure.
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1001 brown amphibians...
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...begin to dance in front of you...                          ...oh, dear

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?)

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It finally happened
The top turned out to be right next to the abyss: the whole area below the crag was obscured by mist.
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Oh, dear
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By now, though, some of the mist was beginning to clear and there was a fine view to the south.
Top-S.jpg
I'm some miles north of a Klibreck
Top-E.jpg
and the clouds are thinning
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One hour short of a sunset
Top-Hope.jpg
Ben Hope, as usual, has top billing

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.

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Coming down by a boulder
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Somewhere that way's the sea
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Ben Loyal is boiling over
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This isn't a banana tree
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I imagine it would be hard to drive these tracks in a three-wheeler...
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...how about you?

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.


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And there you have it.

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Well, blow me down!

Attachment(s) Fionas: Càrn an Tionail
Date walked: 17/06/2022
Distance: 15.6km
Ascent: 645m
Comments: 2
Views: 781


Keeping it real

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill
Date walked: 02/04/2022
Distance: 20.6km
Ascent: 801m
Comments: 2
Views: 911


Seeing the point

Attachment(s) Date walked: 09/02/2022
Distance: 2.5km
Views: 657


Breakfast at Bruar

Attachment(s) Date walked: 23/10/2021
Distance: 2.5km
Ascent: 150m
Views: 1272


Foinaven: Four jewels on a string of scree

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Foinaven
Date walked: 16/09/2021
Distance: 24.4km
Ascent: 1020m
Comments: 9
Views: 2521


Shortest night of the year on Beinn Ratha

Attachment(s) Date walked: 20/06/2021
Distance: 8.7km
Ascent: 283m
Views: 466


Ben Bhraggie

Attachment(s) Date walked: 05/06/2021
Distance: 7.87km
Ascent: 350m
Views: 920


What does Spotty eat?

Attachment(s) Date walked: 01/05/2021
Distance: 15km
Ascent: 450m
Views: 498


Wondering around the Foyer

Attachment(s) Date walked: 10/04/2021
Views: 640

Pastychomper


User avatar
Occupation: Quadrupole jockey
Activity: Wanderer
Pub: Any pouring Adam's Ale
Mountain: Foinaven
Place: Hammock
Ambition: Unknown

Munros: 5
Corbetts: 4
Fionas: 4
Sub 2000: 8
Islands: 5



Filter reports


Statistics

2022

Trips: 4
Distance: 52.6 km
Ascent: 1886m
Corbetts: 1
Fionas: 1

2021

Trips: 7
Distance: 69.07 km
Ascent: 2589m
Corbetts: 1

2020

Trips: 8
Distance: 70 km
Ascent: 4055m
Corbetts: 2
Sub2000s: 2

2019

Trips: 10
Distance: 116.6 km
Ascent: 5162m
Munros: 3
Sub2000s: 2

2018

Trips: 11
Distance: 111.68 km
Ascent: 6116m
Munros: 2
Fionas: 1
Sub2000s: 3

2017

Trips: 1
Distance: 8 km
Ascent: 231m

2008

Trips: 1
Distance: 22.5 km
Ascent: 1213m
Munros: 1

2003

Trips: 1
Corbetts: 1
Sub2000s: 2


Joined: Jan 02, 2018
Last visited: Mar 14, 2024
Total posts: 216 | Search posts