A big day on a "wee hill".
Fionas: Beinn Mheadhoin (Morvern)
Date walked: 25/11/2023
Time taken: 7 hours
Distance: 21km
Ascent: 1072m
An annual November get-together normally blighted by wet, miserable weather was uncharacteristically blessed with crisp conditions and blue skies.
In a year of too few hills I'd bagged my first Corbett of the year on Friday, a cold day in the shadow of clouds on Mam na Gualain after a cosy night in Duror bothy.
Despite weary legs it was weather not to be wasted on the Saturday. Always eager to explore corners I've never been to, I opted to join some compadres on the Fiona Beinn Mheadhoin. Though tempted by talk of a leisurely stroll and an ale or too at Ardgour Ales, I managed to resist and empty a thermos on the hills rather than a pint tumbler.
No crack-of-dawn start. A leisurely breakfast before hopping on to the Corran ferry over to Ardgour, bound for the Kingairloch and the start. A lovely drive in the mid-morning sun with delightful views over Loch Linnhe.
In no time at all we were parked and getting suited and booted.
It was cool but without the wind of the previous day on the comfortable side of cold. The 4 of us trotted along the 4km or so that would take us to the start of the track up in Coire Reidh.
We opted for the good ATV track over the more direct zig-zag approach up to the ridge of Meall an Doire Dhuibh to save time. Head down and plodding up the track soon had us past the a wee dam then on to rougher track at which point we opted to move on to the rough ground for the pull up to the ridge.
Secretly hoping to come across each rise to see the other guys enjoying a rest and a snack, to no avail. Onwards and upwards I trudged. I was taken aback to hear what sounded like rock fall until I remembered about the Glensanda super quarry. I couldn't even hazard a guess at how many tonnes of rock have been removed to make such a depression.
A track along the top edge of the quarry, well away from the gigantic dumper trucks ferrying many tonnes of rock, meant for quicker progress than along the undulating ridge. Slightly conscious of the time of day, we made for the at 702m summit of the Beul Choire nan Each. At this point I would have happily turned around and let the others tick off the Grahams summit, content with my efforts. A little persuasion say me dump my rucksack, pull a jacket on over my fleece for the first time that day, shove a bag of jelly babies in my pocket and make for the summit.
Delighted to stand on the chilly summit and savour the views, though not for too long given it was 14:30 and we still had the return journey awaiting us.
With the sun dipping down the aim was to be back down off the ridge, over the rough stuff and back on the ATV track before we needed to break out the head torches.
We were glad to reach the track, though not for long as it was looser than we recalled in ascent. It was with much relief when we finally got to the gates on the track and back down to flat road walking, though it still took longer than I'd have liked.
At 21km and almost 7hours it was a longer day than I'd wanted to do (or had done in some time). Similarly with 1072m of ascent it was much more than I'd done in some time and I felt saitisfied that I'd manage it despite lacking hill fitness.
Just because they're smaller hills doesn't make them small hills! Or short days out!
I will choose not to include details of a forgotten boot incident that may or may not have come to light the morning after.
In a year of too few hills I'd bagged my first Corbett of the year on Friday, a cold day in the shadow of clouds on Mam na Gualain after a cosy night in Duror bothy.
Despite weary legs it was weather not to be wasted on the Saturday. Always eager to explore corners I've never been to, I opted to join some compadres on the Fiona Beinn Mheadhoin. Though tempted by talk of a leisurely stroll and an ale or too at Ardgour Ales, I managed to resist and empty a thermos on the hills rather than a pint tumbler.
No crack-of-dawn start. A leisurely breakfast before hopping on to the Corran ferry over to Ardgour, bound for the Kingairloch and the start. A lovely drive in the mid-morning sun with delightful views over Loch Linnhe.
In no time at all we were parked and getting suited and booted.
It was cool but without the wind of the previous day on the comfortable side of cold. The 4 of us trotted along the 4km or so that would take us to the start of the track up in Coire Reidh.
We opted for the good ATV track over the more direct zig-zag approach up to the ridge of Meall an Doire Dhuibh to save time. Head down and plodding up the track soon had us past the a wee dam then on to rougher track at which point we opted to move on to the rough ground for the pull up to the ridge.
Secretly hoping to come across each rise to see the other guys enjoying a rest and a snack, to no avail. Onwards and upwards I trudged. I was taken aback to hear what sounded like rock fall until I remembered about the Glensanda super quarry. I couldn't even hazard a guess at how many tonnes of rock have been removed to make such a depression.
A track along the top edge of the quarry, well away from the gigantic dumper trucks ferrying many tonnes of rock, meant for quicker progress than along the undulating ridge. Slightly conscious of the time of day, we made for the at 702m summit of the Beul Choire nan Each. At this point I would have happily turned around and let the others tick off the Grahams summit, content with my efforts. A little persuasion say me dump my rucksack, pull a jacket on over my fleece for the first time that day, shove a bag of jelly babies in my pocket and make for the summit.
Delighted to stand on the chilly summit and savour the views, though not for too long given it was 14:30 and we still had the return journey awaiting us.
With the sun dipping down the aim was to be back down off the ridge, over the rough stuff and back on the ATV track before we needed to break out the head torches.
We were glad to reach the track, though not for long as it was looser than we recalled in ascent. It was with much relief when we finally got to the gates on the track and back down to flat road walking, though it still took longer than I'd have liked.
At 21km and almost 7hours it was a longer day than I'd wanted to do (or had done in some time). Similarly with 1072m of ascent it was much more than I'd done in some time and I felt saitisfied that I'd manage it despite lacking hill fitness.
Just because they're smaller hills doesn't make them small hills! Or short days out!
I will choose not to include details of a forgotten boot incident that may or may not have come to light the morning after.
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Comments: 1
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nathan79
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