Had to come back for this pretty pair after a failed attempt in February. At the start of our walk Tom a Choinich dominates the horizon.
However this time we were graced with the presence of our No 1 son, Sam -home from Uni for Easter.....hence the "banter" thankfully Sam's banter has moved on from throwing sarky insults at his parents and now manifests itself in pithy witticisms and a LOT of Lord Of the Rings /Hobbit/ Harry Potter banter. This we can cope with.

Nudge came along too, so it was four Railtons versus two Munros...and a lot of weather.



The track at the start of the walk was clear and easy to follow and a mini cairn on the left indicated the turn for the ridge walk up to Tom a Choinich via Creag na h-Inghinn.




Ridge ascent made somewhat more challenging by the snow and ice. Really added to the drama of the day though. Sam opted to spend most of his ascent on all fours. Solidarity with the dog perhaps?





Predictably fantastic views as we climbed and fine blue skies with snow showers sweeping across Glen Affric and beyond.




Made it to the summit and a nice fat snow shower blew in. In the complete whiteout we opted to huddle in at the summit cairn as trying o find a safe way down seemed rather tricky given that the ground plummeted in the direction that we were to travel.




Eventually the skies parted a little and we made our way down the very steep rocky eastern ridge. The dog required more than one offer of help from Sam and dog lifting proved to be a good test of upper body strength.



Picking our way carefully down to Beleach Toll Easa where the nature of the walk changed abruptly from a scramble to a far less challenging hillwalk on the rounded slopes of Toll Creagach. Again as we hit the summit, the weather once more closed in and my idea of dramatic summit shots were scuppered.



The descent was straightforward and in parts like a giant astroglide. Maybe that's what prompted Sam to roll downhill, thoughtfully clearing it of deer poo as he went (he had to return home in his boxer shorts). No way was he getting in our car like that. Picked up the track and made our way back to the car being just 5mins from the end when an enormous raincloud blew in soaking us all (still at least it washed some of the deer faeces off of Sam).

Walked in 6 hrs and 15mins by Sarah David Sam and Nudge