A' Glas-bheinn

918m/3012ft

Beinn Fhada (Ben Attow)

1032m/3386ft

Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg

1036m/3399ft

Saileag

956m/3136ft

Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe

1027m/3369ft

Sgurr na Carnach

1002m/3287ft

Sgurr Fhuaran

1067m/3501ft

date climbed

10/06/09

time taken

14 hours

distance

37km

ascent

4100m

OS Map

Landranger 33

Weather

Light winds, great visibility  

Starting point : Mountain Rescue Post Car Park, Morvich GR 961210

From the car park the sign posted routed to the Falls of Glomach was followed. This lead up the Glen and through the forest until the Allt an Leoid Ghaineamhaich stream where the path headed off up into hills. The path was finally left and the steep climb up to the first Munro of the day, A' Glas-bheinn, started. After what seemed a very long struggle through heather and broken rocks, the summit was finally reached. The day was marked by a series of long descents followed by the in-evitable long ascent which the map seems to smooth out successfully in the planning stages. The rough and rocky south ridge lead to the Belach an Sgairne and then onto the north ridge of Ben Fhada. The corrie edge was followed until it was possible for make a grassy descent into Fionn Gleann. After a re-fuelling stop the next gruelling ascent was started towards the ridge that would finally lead me back to my starting point. Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg was finally reached and the traverse of the North Kintail peaks started. As usually, as the evening approached the clock seemed to speed up so that by the time the final Munro of the day was climbed I was ringing up the Youth Hostel to say I would be late. The day ended with the traverse of the lower peaks of the 5 Sisters and then a descent to the road and the return to the car.

The day was hugely satisfying but was just about on the edge of what was possible for me to accomplish comfortably in one day in terms of distance and height climbed.

Aonach Meadhoin

1001m/3284ft

Ciste Dhubh

979m/3212ft

Mullach Fraoch-choire

1102m/3615ft

A'Chralaig

1120m/3674ft

date climbed

11/06/09

time taken

8 hours

distance

20km

ascent

2700m

OS Map

Landranger 33

Weather

Light winds, high clouds and excellent  visibility  

Starting point : Cluanie Inn car park GR 076118

Another day of long ascents and big drops between the peaks. The first peak of the day, Aonach Meadhoin, was approached from the Cluanie Inn by a pathless stretch of moderately steep grassy slopes. Once on the top it was nice to see my previous day's route stretched out before me and replay the day in my mind. After retracing my steps to Sgurr an Fhuarail, I descended to Bealach a Choinich and then ascended the steep and fairly isolated peak of Ciste Dubh via  the narrow south ridge.  The descent from Ciste Dubh to the An Caorann Mor glen was grassy and quick but allowed time to pick our a suitable ascent route on the opposite side of the glen. Mullach Fraoch-choire is bounded by series of cliffs so a point on the ridge south-west of the summit was selected for goal on its ascent. Steep grassy slopes characterised the ascent and it was quite a relief to reach the ridge and then the summit shortly afterwards. The route to A'Chralaig was characterised by some fine rocky pinnacles followed by a long descent back down to the road.

Carn Ghluasaid

957m/3140ft

Sgurr nan Conbhairean

1109m/3638ft

Sail Chaorainn

1002m/3287ft

date climbed

12/06/09 (am)

time taken

5 hours

distance

16km

ascent

1100m

OS Map

Landranger 34

Weather

Light winds, high clouds and excellent  visibility  

Starting point : Lundie, Loch Cluanie GR 145103

To the north side of Loch Clanie lies a compact little group of 3 mountains, unimpressive as seen from the Loch but hiding their great wild eastern corrie in which raise the headwaters of the River Doe. A fine stalkers path lead right up to the flat plateau of Carn Ghluasaid summit, perched 50m back from the precipitous north face of the hill. Golden plovers were seen on the way trying to distract me from getting near their nests and chicks. A broad ridge of moss and stones and finally a vast expanse of smooth grass were traversed to reach Sgurr nan Conbhairean. A couple of clutches of ptarmigan mother and chicks were disturbed on the route which prompted the female bird to play wounded in an attempt again to distract from the chicks. The curving ridge to the north lead easily to the col and then onto Sail Chaorainn. The descent was made by retracing my steps to Drochaid an Tuill Easaich and descending back to the road via an easy grassy shoulder.