Sun 7 Feb 2010
Our first day of a week of winter hillwalking with
Osprey Adventures based at
Dunhallin Guest House in Inverness. Our objectives today were the two Munros A’Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire, which are adjacent to the mountains we did on the last day of our 2008 trip (Sgurr nan Conbhairean etc). This was not planned, but purely a coincidence.
It was about an hour’s drive from Dunhallin to the start at the small parking area on the A87 about 1.5km east of the Cluanie Inn (NH091121). We began walking at 10ish and immediately started a fairly steep climb on the grassy south ridge of A’Chralaig. As the slope eased we moved off the grass and onto snow. The weather was overcast, and as we got higher the views began to disappear in the mist. There was quite a brisk easterly wind most of the time, but there were some sections on the ridge that were quite windless. After a brief stop for elevenses we continued up to the summit, reaching it at 1.00pm. I found it a comfortable pace and had no problems until we neared the summit, when I felt I had used up all the porridge and needed refuelling. Lunch at the summit.
We continued on the ridge towards our next objective, Mullach Fraoch-choire. About 400m from
A’Chralaig’s summit, at the point where the ridge turns to the left, Sandy decided we needed ice axes as the narrowing ridge was beginning to get icy. I also took the opportunity to put on overtrousers at this point, as my legs were beginning to feel cold in the wind. Visibility was now down to about 50m, so our views of what must be an impressive ridge were very restricted.
After passing over the Munro Top of Stob Coire na Cralaig we descended to the col above Coire Odhar (our intended descent route for later) before beginning the final ascent to Mullach Fraoch-choire. As the ridge narrowed we stopped to put on crampons. As we were doing this a lone walker caught up with us and stayed with us for the rest of the walk. We continued up the ridge, at one point traversing under the crest on a steep snow slope on the left. Soon after this Sandy climbed a pinnacle but said not to bother following him as it was impassable due to the snow/ice and suggested we would have to go round the side. I looked over to the right where he had indicated and did not like the look of his suggestion. It was a very steep snow slope disappearing downwards into the mist. So Sandy went to check the route on the left hand side. When he came back he said I would not like that route either. I went to have a look and it certainly looked more difficult, with crags as well as a steep slope. We were probably no more than about 400m from the summit but we had no alternative but to turn around and retrace our steps.
Back at the Coire Odhar col Sandy suggested that we continued back over the summit of A’Chralaig rather than descend into the corrie. Looking at the steep descent into the corrie we readily agreed, even though returning by this route would involve more ascent.
The walk back to A’Chralaig was one of the toughest mountain walks I have ever done. I managed to keep pace with Sandy but I do not know where I got the energy from. I felt totally exhausted when we reached the summit, and was pleased to stop and finish off almost all the food I had left. It was 5.00pm when we got back to the summit and I knew it would take us a couple of hours to get back to the car from there.
The light began to fade as we descended. My left crampon came off, but we were now on soft snow, so rather than replacing it I removed the other. Everyone else stopped 50m further on to remove their crampons. I put on my head torch at this point, but did not switch it on yet. We continued downhill, eventually switching on torches for the steep, grassy descent. We were no more than about 15 minutes away from the car when I tripped and fell. I landed on by back and then slid backwards down hill for a couple of metres. My right wrist was very painful. I must have put out my hand to save my fall but I do not recall doing this. Back at the car I struggled to collapse my walking pole as it was very difficult to grip and twist it. I hoped that it was just a sprain.
We arrived back at Dunhallin at about 8.00pm. A quick shower and then dinner at 8.30.
Mon 8 Feb 2010
Today’s plan was to do Beinn a’Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach, two Munros to the west of Creag Meagaidh, but at breakfast it was decided that it would be a good idea to get my painfully swollen right hand examined at the hospital. So I was dropped at the door of Raigmore Hospital, and whilst Vince and Sandy went to get fuel and visit an outdoor gear shop, I “checked-in” at the A&E department. The hospital was very quick and efficient and after registering at 9.00am, I left A&E at 10.05am having been examined, x-rayed, diagnosed and fitted with a plaster cast. The diagnosis was an undisplaced intra-articular fracture of the distal radius, and the advice to only do low-level walking. Met back up with Sandy and Vince outside A&E and decided to go back to Dunhallin for a coffee and to have a re-think about today’s plans.
It was now much too late for our original plan, so it was decided to do Meall Fuar-mhonaidh a low hill (699m) to the west of Loch Ness, accessed from Bunloit at the end of a single-track road from Drumnadrochit. Sandy lent me a pair of his overmits as mine would not fit over the cast. I packed an extra pair of socks in my rucksack in case I needed some additional warmth for my hand.
We started the walk just after noon and reached the summit at 2.00pm. It was a fairly easy climb but I found it tricky at times as I could only use my left hand. There were three cairns, and we eventually located the one that marked the summit. We found a sheltered spot and had a food break before retracing our route back to the car. I found the descent even more awkward and felt decidedly ill at ease not being able to switch my walking pole to my right hand when necessary. Back at the car about 4.00pm.
| Summit | Height (m) | Status |
| Meall Fuar-mhonaidh | 699 | Marilyn / Graham |
Tue 9 Feb 2010
Vince went to do a couple of Munros at Drumochter with Sandy, whilst I took the day off from walking. Phoned Easyjet to check if I was OK to travel back with them with a cast. Luckily the back slab that I had fitted was fine. Sent a few emails then walked into Inverness around 10.30am. Looked around the shops, then sat by the river to eat my sandwiches. Walked along the river to the north, then crossed over and walked a long way south. A nice sunny day. Back to Dunhallin about 2ish. Tea in room, then sent some more emails. Vince had a great day today. Lots of blue sky and snow covered mountains. My day was boring!
Wed 10 Feb 2010
Sandy dropped Vince and I at Raigmore Hospital outpatients so that I could collect a CD of my x-rays to pass on to my local fracture clinic. They were also planning to change my cast, but as a full cast would have to then be split to allow me to get on the flight home they advised to keep the back slab as this gave all the necessary support.
Had a look around the museum and had a coffee and scone in the café. Boughtsome souvenirs from the Tourist Information shop and then visited the cathedral. Finally ended up in Wetherspoons for some real ale and lunch of Cullen skink and a sandwich. Had a pint of
Isle of Skye Brewery’s Young Pretender followed by
Houston’s Horny Wee Devil. Tina then joined us and we tried another pint of Houston’s ales called Blonde Bombshell. Tina drove us back to Dunhallin, saving us a walk.
Thu 11 Feb 2010
Another drive of about an hour to get to the start of today's walk at a lay by on the A890 about 2km east of Glen Carron Lodge (NH080520). After crossing the River Carron and the railway we headed up towards Craig a'Chait, the north ridge of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean. It was a cloudy day with poor views and it began to snow gently soon after we set off. We had to negotiate the deep ravine of the Alltan na Feola, which I found very difficult as I could not use my right hand to hold my walking pole. An elevenses break was taken on Craig a'Chait and soon after we donned crampons and switched to ice axes.
The pull up to Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was fairly comfortable but the final drag up to the summit was a bit tough. A good sized cairn looked like the summit, but the ground about 80m further on seemed higher, so we moved on to that. There was another cairn here, but it was mostly buried in the snow. On leaving the summit we stopped for more food/drink once we found a spot sheltered from the wind.
The walk continued on deep, firm snow along the ridge leading to Moruisg, passing over the col at Coire an Tuill Bhain and an intermediate summit, point 854. The final pull up to Moruisg was a nice gentle slope. Again we doubted that the large cairn actually marked the summit as ground slightly further on was clearly higher. Another stop for food/drink just below the summit (but on quite a steep slope).
Descended to the west towards Creag nan Calman, but found ourselves near some large crags and we had to contour round to the right and cross a gully before finding a safe descent route. We had removed our crampons just before this and I found it very dodgy on some solid, icy snow that I could not kick steps into. A long slog down hill over heather, grass and bog, but the weather had improved and there were good views.
| Summit | Height (m) | Status |
| Sgurr nan Ceannaichean (see note) | 913 | Corbett |
| Moruisg | 928 | Munro |
Note: This was demoted to a Corbett on 10 Sep 2009 after its height was re-surveyed. Up until this date it was listed as a Munro at 915m.
Fri 12 Feb 2010
After a lot of discussion last night, Beinn Damh in Torridon was selected for today’s walk as the
weather forecast suggested better conditions on the west coast. The walk started from the A896 near the Loch Torridon Hotel at about 10.30 am. We initially followed the path beside a stream and through woodland that led us toward the corrie of Toll Ban. Light snow was falling but there were some promising blue patches in an otherwise overcast sky. The path led up heathery slopes to a col above the Toll Ban corrie. There were some icy patches amongst the heather, something which worried me as we would have to come back down the same way and I knew it would be a problem for me with my broken wrist.
Once up at the col most of the cloud had cleared and it had turned into a beautiful, sunny day. Elevenses stop at the col.
Continued up the ridge, staying below and to the right of Creagan Dubh Toll nam Biast (point 868 on
the 1:50k OS map) up to the minor summit of Spidean Toll nam Biast (not named on the 1:50k map). Lots of soft snow, so crampons were not necessary. Stopped on this minor top admiring the views and taking lots of photographs. A great view from here of the final ridge leading to the summit of Beinn Damh. 
After switching from a pole to an ice axe, a short descent to a col before the final curving ascent to Beinn Damh’s summit (named as Spidean Coir an Laoigh on the map). Another stop here for food and to admire the views.
We returned more or less the same way as the ascent, other than we actually visited point 868 that
we by-passed on the way up. A superb view of Beinn Alligin and Upper Loch Torriden from here. I found the descent from here back to the col rather tricky. I managed to slip a couple of times on some icy patches and was desperately trying not to use my right hand to save 
my fall. The descent from the col into the corrie was also very tricky for me. I was a complete wuss. We were descending with the downhill slope to my right, but I could not hold my pole in the right hand as I needed to. As I was struggling so much, Bryn swapped his ice axe for my pole, which was more effective as I could keep that in my left (uphill) hand.
Once safely back on the path it was all plain sailing back to the car, which we returned to at about 4.30pm. A fantastic day and proof that the Corbetts are just as good as the Munros.
| Summit | Height (m) | Status |
| Beinn Damh (Spidean Coir an Laoigh) | 903 | Corbett / Marilyn |
| Beinn Damh (Creagan Dubh Toll nam Biast) | 868 | Corbett Top |
Walking Companions
Vince Beaney, Sandy Murray and Bryn Rees
View the complete photo album here
Final thoughts
After breaking my wrist at the end of the first day, I feared that the hillwalking was over for me. But thanks to help from Sandy, Vince and Bryn I still managed to have a great week, though I was very anxious at times on some of the slopes only being able to use one hand. I regret not going out on the Tuesday walk, as I am sure I would have managed it ok.
Travelling through Gatwick Airport was not a pleasant experience. On the outward journey we were waiting in the departure lounge at the South Terminal when they announced that our plane was at the North Terminal. We had to wait ages for them to find a couple of coaches to transfer us across the airport. Total chaos! On the return journey we had to wait for an hour for our bags to arrive (with no useful announcements to let us know why), causing me to miss by coach back to Oxford. I’ve never enjoyed Gatwick Airport, this experience just confirms why.
Finally, a big thank you to Sandy and Margaret Murray for looking after us so well at
Dunhallin Guest House. As usual the accommodation was first class and the food delicious.
Soon after leaving the car park we saw/heard what we thought was a whinchat, but as neither of us had bins we could not see it well enough for a positive id. The first summit was that of Craig Eigiau which was reached quite easily after following the track that skirts around Clogwynyreryr, then bearing left and crossing a ladder stile, following the fence on rough grassland up to the summit. 
Aiming directly for Pen yr Helgi Du, we descended down to the old quarry at the head of Cwm Eigieau, where we stopped for a brief break. After crossing the Afon Eigiau, we followed the fairly obvious path up towards Bwlch y Tri Marchog. The path disappeared in heather and boulders as we approached the ridge, and we finally scrambled up to the ridge slightly west of the bwlch. It was now getting very hot, and I realised I would have to be careful with by water supply if I was going to make it last.
Great views in all directions from the trig pillar, which we enjoyed over a leisurely coffee break. After 20 minutes we made the short walk to the large shelter at the northern end of the peaty summit plateau ridge and then descended directly towards the car. It was much easier descending through the heather. As we neared the road the first spots of rain began to fall. This is the shortest of the Nuttall routes, taking us just two hours to complete. 
