Winter Hillwalking – Scotland 2007

Sun 11 Feb 2007

Started at Glenmore Lodge. Took the path leading to Ryvoan Bothy, but turned off to Bynack Stable about 400m past An Lochan Uaine. Bynack Stable was no longer there – apparently it was blown down a couple of years ago. Continued on the path to near the 818m spot height and then headed south for the summit. Stopped just before 1.00pm and used a bothy shelter to have some lunch and coffee, and put on an extra layer. Nice to get some food eaten as we had not stopped since the off and my body felt like it was running out of fuel. Very nice in the shelter out of the wind, which was quite fierce.

It was a surprisingly rocky ridge ascending to the summit – not apparent on the 1:50,000 OS map. Returned from the summit by  more or less the same route, but actually went over the 818m spot height. Glimpse of red grouse on the way back and a small herd of reindeer approached us at Bynack Stable.

This is the Munro that Vince and I attempted on 4 Feb 2002, but had to turn back due to high winds.

 

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Bynack More	1,090		Munro

Mon 12 Feb 2007

Drive to Glen Shiel in the minibus and park at the Cluanie Inn. Take the path over the western end of Loch Cluanie, skirting south of Cluanie Lodge then south to 097085. Short elevenses break here (11.20am). Cross fence and ascend hill side south-west to Coirean Eich Bhric. Follow crest of ridge south-south-west to the summit of Creag a'Mhaim (13.25). Food and coffee. Conditions overcast, but cloud clear of the tops. Just before the summit the snow was very hard and Sandy had to cut steps with the axe for a short distance - the only occasion this week when this was necessary.

From Creag a'Mhaim we headed north-west along the ridge to Druim Shionnach. A tricky, narrow section of very rocky ridge for the final pull up to the summit. Nice! Arrive at the summit at about 14.20.

Descend north ridge. Very steep in one section and had to dig in the pick of the ice-axe for security, but it was really in the ground not snow. Picked up the path below Loch a' Mhaoll Dhisnich back to the Cluanie Inn.

A possible golden eagle seen in the distance from near Cluanie Lodge at the beginning of the day, and several ptarmigan seen on Creag a'Mhaim.

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Creag a’Mhaim	947		Munro
	Druim Shionnach	987		Munro

Tue 13 Feb 2007

Drive towards Ullapool and park by the Loch Droma dam for a walk in the Fannaichs. We set off at about 10.15 and followed the track and then a path south-west to Loch a'Mhadaidh.      

                                                                             

Occasional spells of light rain. Vince saw snow bunting above Loch a'Mhadaidh, but I missed them as I had removed my specs because of the rain. Ascended to the col (very slow, tedious plod through heather for a lot of the way). Arrive at col at 13.20, near the top had to cut steps with boots in steep, icy snow. Very windy and cold at the col - put on an extra layer and my new mitts over fleece gloves. Ascend north-west to the summit of Meal a'Chrasgaidh (second time Vince and I have done this Munro). Summit at 13.40.

Retraced our route back to the col, and then continued over Carn na Criche (a Munro Top), down to another col and then ascend Sgurr Mor (15.20). Descended steeply east to the next col and then ascended north-east to Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich (16.20).  Descended north then north-east down a very steep, snowy slope, becoming a plod through heather, back to the bridge at 231748. A long trudge back to the minibus. It was dark when we got back to it.

 

Very windy on the tops with snow showers, but probably just above freezing all day.

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Meall a’Chrasgaidh	934		Munro
	Carn na Criche	961		Munro Top
	Sgurr Mor	1,110		Munro
	Bienn Liath Mhor Fannaich	954		Munro

Wed 14 Feb 2007

 

A day off from walking. Met up with Nick and drove up the east  coast to John o’Groats (it was closed!). Had lunch in the Castle Arms at Mey and then visited Dunnet Head before returning to Inverness.

After dinner went to the Snow Goose with Tina and Andy.

 

Thu 15 Feb 2007

A low level walk today as wind was forecast to gust to 85mph at high levels - far too dangerous. So a drive out towards Ullapool again for a walk near An Teallach to the Shenavall Bothy.       

Parked up by the road (A832) at NH114850 and followed a track south-west to Loch Coire Chaorachain. At a fork in the track followed the right-hand path. Very windy up to this point and some rain, but not too much. Followed this path all the way to Shenavall  Bothy, where we had a leisurely lunch. Left the bothy in a south-easterly direction past Achneigie (a private hunting house, not a bothy), and then followed a land rover track northwards to eventually join up with the outward path.

During this walk we saw raven, kestrel, many red deer and several black feral goats.

 

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	None

Fri 16 Feb 2007

A long drive to the start by Loch Quoich, last 10 miles or so along a narrow, winding road. Ascended by a well made stalker's path which lead virtually all the way to the summit of Gleouraich.  Continue east along the ridge over Craig Coire na Fiar Bhealaich (a Munro Top) and Spidean Mialach West Top (a sub-Murdo, whatever that is) to Spidean Mialach (the second Munro of the day). Descended south-west to pick up another stalker's path which returned us to the road a couple of hundred metres from the bus.

 

A great ridge. The weather was a bit drizzly and overcast at the start, but by the time we arrived at the first summit the weather had cleared and cloud lifted so we had great views, especially to the ridge we did on Monday.

Two buzzards, three ravens and a ptarmigan seen during the day.

 

	Summit	Height (m)		Status
	Gleouraich	1,035		Munro
	Craig Coire na Fiar Bhealaich	1,006		Munro Top
	Spidean Mialach	996		Munro

Walking Companions

Vince Beaney, Sandy Murray, Bryn Rees, Judith Wilden, Barbara Yule, John (from the Isle of Man).