Hillwalking Thread

[Dunning1874]

Did my first munros since last June yesterday with Mayar and Dreish. Was fully prepared for both poor weather and the paths through woodland essentially being gone after all the storm damage last year, but even knowing it's coming and sensibly preparing for it my legs are killing me having that as my first big walk in such a long time.

Knew there was a chance it was coming with the forecast and time of year so was aware of my bearings as a result, but when you've done most of your hillwalking in the summer it's still an experience to see how quickly the weather turns for the first time. A strong wind heading up to the summit of Mayar but nothing ridiculous, got stronger heading onto Dreish then pretty much as soon as we got to the summit cairn the snow started. Luckily it didn't affect visibility much but no fucking about in that, descended quickly then the rain lower down made clambering through the fallen trees more of a trudge than it might have been. Certainly the most knackered I've ever been since starting on hillwalking, but a rewarding day.

[Swello]

On 30/04/2022 at 09:13, Day of the Lords said:

Eventually sacked the summit camp and just pitched at Lochan Fada which is a sensational spot. Climbed Tarsuinn then saw how far A'Mhaighdean and RSM were. f**k that. Brilliant outing nonetheless.

Looks brilliant - a trip into Fisherfield of some sort is in my plans for the summer and that's put me in the mood.

How bikable was it into Loch Fada?

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Looks brilliant - a trip into Fisherfield of some sort is in my plans for the summer and that's put me in the mood.
How bikable was it into Loch Fada?

It was tremendous. Something I've wanted to do basically since I found out about the area.

Very cyclable from Incheril. The section in the attachment was shite and involved a lot of pushing (steep and really rubbly). After that it's good single track. It'd be awesome on a full Sus but fine on a Hardtail. I got a out 6 miles and dumped the bike at an old ruin. No point in a long descent on a deteriorating track when you've just got to climb it the next day. The cycle back out is glorious and almost entirely downhill.

When the path finishes at the loch there's a perfect tent pitch about 20 yards to the right side of the stream which flows into Fada. The shingle beach is left of it.

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Seana Braigh today. Decided to approach by bike from the north rather than what appeared a tedious as f**k route from Inverlael. Pretty easy MTB in (with added distance as we somehow missed the Schoolhouse Bothy track [emoji1787]), great hill with glorious views, especially down into Luchd Choire and a piss easy MTB back out. Tremendous day.

[Benjamin_Nevis]

A return to the F*nnaichs yesterday for s repeat of Sgurr Breac and A'Chailleach which I'd done in constant drizzle and about 20ft visibility 4 years ago. Early clag cleared and we got sone decent views and even sunshine after the second one. Plans to head up the other ridge were binned as my mate was fucked so it was the delight of that unending walk back to destitution road. For the third fucking time [emoji23]

Thankfully for my knees hills were binned off for the day in favour of kayaking around the glorious Loch Lurgainn.

[Benjamin_Nevis]

A rest day today partly because the weather's shite in Ullapool and also my gear is all still drying out after a total soaking Glas Beinn, my 40th Corbett. Straight up and down the "baggers route" as early "it might stay dry after all" optimism was replaced with horizontal rain and a total fucking soaking. Consoled myself with some Lochinver pies. Tremendous.

[Florentine_Pogen]

^^^ Four pies ? You greedy sod............................

[Benjamin_Nevis]

^^^ Four pies ? You greedy sod............................

Three. I'm under instruction to take one back home to my other half [emoji23]

[Swello]

5 hours ago, Day of the Lords said:

A rest day today partly because the weather's shite in Ullapool and also my gear is all still drying out after a total soaking Glas Beinn, my 40th Corbett. Straight up and down the "baggers route" as early "it might stay dry after all" optimism was replaced with horizontal rain and a total fucking soaking. Consoled myself with some Lochinver pies. Tremendous.


 

Main problem with Glas Beinn is all the other hills that are near there - it's hard to pick it over them unless you're in the area for a few days....

+1 for Lochinver Pies

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Main problem with Glas Beinn is all the other hills that are near there - it's hard to pick it over them unless you're in the area for a few days....
+1 for Lochinver Pies

I've rubbered it every time I've been up here, however apart from Cul Beag it was the only shit-forecast-quick-walk option I had left in the area. I'm hoping tomorrow improves and i can get a decent sized day to counteract the fish supper I will be having [emoji23]

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Last day up here and took a walk into Shenavall with a vague notion of Beinn a'Chlameidh which was sacked within a mile of the bothy as the heavens opened. f**k that. Fantastic situation for a bothy though, can't wait to get back there.

[Swello]

1 hour ago, Day of the Lords said:

Last day up here and took a walk into Shenavall with a vague notion of Beinn a'Chlameidh which was sacked within a mile of the bothy as the heavens opened. f**k that. Fantastic situation for a bothy though, can't wait to get back there.

I did Beinn a'Chlameidh when it was still a Munro and that was actually a surprisingly tough day - the climb from Strath na Sealga back up and over to Corriehallie was an utter b*****d after the slog up the hill. 

I've been in Shenevall a number of times but never stayed there as it's always been totally mobbed....

[Benjamin_Nevis]

I did Beinn a'Chlameidh when it was still a Munro and that was actually a surprisingly tough day - the climb from Strath na Sealga back up and over to Corriehallie was an utter b*****d after the slog up the hill. 
I've been in Shenevall a number of times but never stayed there as it's always been totally mobbed....

We just stopped in for lunch and to get out the pishing rain. Quite a few sleeping bags around no doubt belonging to folk getting an absolute drenching high up.

The walk out from the bothy is a pretty tortuous 4.5 miles. I can't imagine how dreadful it would be after the Fisherfield 6 [emoji23]

[Benjamin_Nevis]

Last hillwalk for a wee while: stopped off on the way home to cycle into the remote-ish Gaick Corbetts of An Dun and A'Chaornich. Easy 5 mile cycle each way, with two utterly punishing ascents to two hills with massive flat tops. The descent off An Dun was particularly shite. Steep AF grass and heather followed by peat hags and bog.

[Swello]

I like it when a plan comes together. Was hugely swithering about heading up for the County-'Well game as it's a lot of time & money for 1 game when we're in the midst of a shite run - so I added some mountain action to the weekend.

An hour after I walked out of Victoria Park, I pulled up at Coulags near Strathcarron where I would pick up the right of way to Torridon. It was a gloriously sunny evening, so it was a pleasure to be out for a wander. I soon caught sight of Fionn Coire bothy - a place I've stayed a couple of times but I was focussed on the next part of the plan, so didn't even head in for a nosy.

 

The next part was a climb on a good stalkers path that would take me up to Bealach a Coire Garbh. I had been up here once in the past to climb the Munro Maol Chean-Dearg but it had been a while.

I haven't done as much wild camping as normal this year and the stuff that I have done has all been low key local stuff - so I was in the mood for something a bit more exciting - and I really got it (despite my fear that I wouldn't find a decent pitch in such a rocky place)

The extent of my plan had been to get the tent up and tan my hip flask but I'd made really good time and got the tent done quickly and I still had around 90 mins of usable light left. I debated about climbing my target - An Ruadh Stac - for sunset but as I'm a bit risk averse when I'm on my own, I finally decided not to as it would be *really* easy to get into trouble in the dark on that hill. Freeze Dried curry and some Caol Ila later and I was asleep by 10.

I was up with the light at 5am and trying to get my climbing head on. This mountain isn't difficult as such (you need to use your hands occasionally) but it is *really* steep, a bit exposed and needs a little bit of attention paid to it. The climb was great fun, the views were stunning and as it was bone dry, it was as hassle free as it could be (it would a b*****d in the wet because of so much smooth quartzite slab)

After a careful descent, I had the tent packed up in 15 mins and made it back to the car for 9am just as the parking area began to fill up. Absolutely top weekend and one of my favourite Corbetts so far...

 

[Benjamin_Nevis]

I like it when a plan comes together. Was hugely swithering about heading up for the County-'Well game as it's a lot of time & money for 1 game when we're in the midst of a shite run - so I added some mountain action to the weekend.
An hour after I walked out of Victoria Park, I pulled up at Coulags near Strathcarron where I would pick up the right of way to Torridon. It was a gloriously sunny evening, so it was a pleasure to be out for a wander. I soon caught sight of Fionn Coire bothy - a place I've stayed a couple of times but I was focussed on the next part of the plan, so didn't even head in for a nosy.
 
The next part was a climb on a good stalkers path that would take me up to Bealach a Coire Garbh. I had been up here once in the past to climb the Munro Maol Chean-Dearg but it had been a while.

I haven't done as much wild camping as normal this year and the stuff that I have done has all been low key local stuff - so I was in the mood for something a bit more exciting - and I really got it (despite my fear that I wouldn't find a decent pitch in such a rocky place)



The extent of my plan had been to get the tent up and tan my hip flask but I'd made really good time and got the tent done quickly and I still had around 90 mins of usable light left. I debated about climbing my target - An Ruadh Stac - for sunset but as I'm a bit risk averse when I'm on my own, I finally decided not to as it would be *really* easy to get into trouble in the dark on that hill. Freeze Dried curry and some Caol Ila later and I was asleep by 10.
I was up with the light at 5am and trying to get my climbing head on. This mountain isn't difficult as such (you need to use your hands occasionally) but it is *really* steep, a bit exposed and needs a little bit of attention paid to it. The climb was great fun, the views were stunning and as it was bone dry, it was as hassle free as it could be (it would a b*****d in the wet because of so much smooth quartzite slab)


After a careful descent, I had the tent packed up in 15 mins and made it back to the car for 9am just as the parking area began to fill up. Absolutely top weekend and one of my favourite Corbetts so far...
 

Magnificent. That's up there with the best hill I've done. Definitely top five material anyway

[Swello]

2 hours ago, Day of the Lords said:

3 hours ago, Swello said:

I like it when a plan comes together. Was hugely swithering about heading up for the County-'Well game as it's a lot of time & money for 1 game when we're in the midst of a shite run - so I added some mountain action to the weekend.
An hour after I walked out of Victoria Park, I pulled up at Coulags near Strathcarron where I would pick up the right of way to Torridon. It was a gloriously sunny evening, so it was a pleasure to be out for a wander. I soon caught sight of Fionn Coire bothy - a place I've stayed a couple of times but I was focussed on the next part of the plan, so didn't even head in for a nosy.
 
The next part was a climb on a good stalkers path that would take me up to Bealach a Coire Garbh. I had been up here once in the past to climb the Munro Maol Chean-Dearg but it had been a while.

I haven't done as much wild camping as normal this year and the stuff that I have done has all been low key local stuff - so I was in the mood for something a bit more exciting - and I really got it (despite my fear that I wouldn't find a decent pitch in such a rocky place)



The extent of my plan had been to get the tent up and tan my hip flask but I'd made really good time and got the tent done quickly and I still had around 90 mins of usable light left. I debated about climbing my target - An Ruadh Stac - for sunset but as I'm a bit risk averse when I'm on my own, I finally decided not to as it would be *really* easy to get into trouble in the dark on that hill. Freeze Dried curry and some Caol Ila later and I was asleep by 10.
I was up with the light at 5am and trying to get my climbing head on. This mountain isn't difficult as such (you need to use your hands occasionally) but it is *really* steep, a bit exposed and needs a little bit of attention paid to it. The climb was great fun, the views were stunning and as it was bone dry, it was as hassle free as it could be (it would a b*****d in the wet because of so much smooth quartzite slab)


After a careful descent, I had the tent packed up in 15 mins and made it back to the car for 9am just as the parking area began to fill up. Absolutely top weekend and one of my favourite Corbetts so far...
 

Magnificent. That's up there with the best hill I've done. Definitely top five material anyway

I did Maol Chean-Dearg really early on in my munros and hadn't done anything remotely difficult at that point - I remember looking at Ruadh Stac and wondering how anyone got up there, so it was nice to do it.

Another one that 80% of people who end up at the junction in the path will climb the poorer hill because it's a Munro (and I'm as guilty as anyone for that)

[Benjamin_Nevis]

I did Maol Chean-Dearg really early on in my munros and hadn't done anything remotely difficult at that point - I remember looking at Ruadh Stac and wondering how anyone got up there, so it was nice to do it.
Another one that 80% of people who end up at the junction in the path will climb the poorer hill because it's a Munro (and I'm as guilty as anyone for that)

Aye I climbed MCD in winter a few years back. We were going to try and get up An Ruadh Stac as well but only had an hour of light left. So we naturally decided to get back to the bothy, light the fire and get in about the drams. I went back and did it on a glorious day 3 years ago.

[Snobot]

On 06/05/2022 at 19:44, Day of the Lords said:

Last day up here and took a walk into Shenavall with a vague notion of Beinn a'Chlameidh which was sacked within a mile of the bothy as the heavens opened. f**k that. Fantastic situation for a bothy though, can't wait to get back there.

The last people to live there were a stalker and his family. If you read 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miss-MacKenzie-couldnt-see-wind-ebook/dp/B0071KXXA6

According to my old man, old Angus would get on the drams in the Dundonnell Hotel and they’d stick him on his horse which would walk home over Corriehallie to Sheanavall whilst its master was out for the count.

James Hogg the Ettrick Shepherd visited Srath na Sealga in 1803 when there were still growing crops of the settlements cleared that year. A few generations later, all that was left was the Urquharts, who had been cleared themselves to Scoraig, but eventually brought back to do the estate’s bidding. I think some of my forebearers were from Srath na Sealga too.

[Benjamin_Nevis]

7 hours ago, Snobot said:

The last people to live there were a stalker and his family. If you read 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miss-MacKenzie-couldnt-see-wind-ebook/dp/B0071KXXA6

According to my old man, old Angus would get on the drams in the Dundonnell Hotel and they’d stick him on his horse which would walk home over Corriehallie to Sheanavall whilst its master was out for the count.

James Hogg the Ettrick Shepherd visited Srath na Sealga in 1803 when there were still growing crops of the settlements cleared that year. A few generations later, all that was left was the Urquharts, who had been cleared themselves to Scoraig, but eventually brought back to do the estate’s bidding. I think some of my forebearers were from Srath na Sealga too.

Aye there's a fair few ruins in both this side of Loch na Sealga and also the Gruinard Bay side. The cottage at Achnegie looked like it was habitable in more recent decades - some of the roof has fallen in and i think the estate use the remaining bit as a private bothy.