Being Eighe

As my wee daughter grows, it becomes easier to get time away and re-acquaint myself with old friends i.e. the Munros. The last 3 years have seen the Munros take a back seat, while I watch the wee one become an impudent, loveable rogue. And so it was, I had the full day to explore Torridon and my target for the day, Being Eighe. I arrived at the car park directly below the first summit of the day. I spoke to a Danish family over on holiday who were mesmerised by the majesty of the surroundings - easy to see when the highest hill in Denmark is a towering 175m. It was glorious with a wee wind to keep the insects awa'. I was going light and started the walk on to the excellent path. As I climbed higher, the North-facing corries started to creep into view at the far Eastern end. Within 45 minutes, I was standing at the first cairn, having caught up with a couple of German damen. We looked South and saw a couple of stags along the ridge - I had never seen deer so high - perhaps 850m up? I showed the girls the way over the hill if they chose (they had no map) and sensibly they retreated the way back down. I fairly steamed up to the main ridge proper and was absolutely blown away by the surroundings West, North and East. From the cairn, the view was probably one of the best I have encountered on a hill.

I headed along to the main summit and relished the airiness. I didn't hang about and returned to my original perch before then beginning the descent and along to the next part of the day. I spied the small cairn showing the way down to the Lochain for later and then headed up and along to the 2nd Munro of the day. I passed an English couple along the way and once again stood at one of Beinn Eighe Munro summits, blown away. The view across Torridon to the vast landscape was sublime. I returned reluctantly to head down and eventually get back to the scree chute, which by keeping to the right, was relatively straightforward. The walk back along the lochain was peaceful and what an amphitheatre it is, with the Triple Buttress at the back. From here, the walk became a run back along the excellent path and to the road, where I had a final jog back to the car. Without doubt this should be one of your five in a lifetime. Hard to think of a better day in all honesty. Simply magic.

Braeriach

Brindled high upland is the apparent English translation for this hill. I prefer the Gaelic Braigh-Riach (I think!). Fresh from a Munro only 3 weeks ago, the unprecedented summer weather meant that the opportunity to head North again couldn't be turned down. I was up at 0330 (also unprecedented) and away by 0345, where surprisingly roads had a few cars on them. Once past Perth though, the road was more or less to myself and I arrived at the Allt Mhor car park in Glenmore in relative silence. I changed quickly and was away by 0630. The initial road walk allowed me time to get some salted crisps down me before what would be a hot day.

It was actually quite chilly (9C) in my shorts and t-shirt but the skies were brilliant blue. I was up at the Chalamain gap within 40 minutes and chose to ascend the bypass path since I was not keen to repeat the awkward climb through. This allowed me early sight of the shoulder of my intended mountain. It had been 18 months since I'd run through here with Darren on an epic 50-km day down the Lairig an Laoigh and up the Lairig Ghru. Being back here brought back that familiarity but total respect for an area that I adore. I feel like I belong in the Cairngorms.

I skipped over the stepping stones at the river and began the ascent of the hill proper. 250m ascent in a 1-km distance showed that it was relatively steep but the gradient soon levelled off, although the boulders meant for careful treading. Eventually, I was high above the Lairig Ghru and staring across to Carn a Mhaim and the Devil's point, which were dwarfed by the massif of Braeriach. I scared a ptarmigan and its 2 chicks and it did its best to persuade me to follow it, with its fake injury. I naturally avoided the chicks and eventually the ptarmigan had led me a good 50m up the hill before it flew back to re-join its young family. Wee wildlife moments like that stick with you forever. I was now looking over the vast Garbh Choire and then at the summit. I moved round to the coire lip and sat taking in the amazing view and peace. The wind was both cold and wondrous.

My return down the hill was complete with those hoping to ascend before it got too hot. I was back at the car 4.5 hours after setting off with another Munro, 25km, and a fantastic hill experience.

A-Ghlas Bheinn

Finally at the 3rd time of asking! It was a day in the hills for me and after some fantastic weather, I was glad that the gods did not play with me. Indeed, the weather was ideal for a long run in the hills, not too warm but plenty of visibility. I was running light and expected to take several hours, with the possibility of either combining it with the Corbett Sgor Gaorsaic, or the Falls of Glomach.

My intended hills were in the distance and the track made for excellent running, really right up to the bealach an sgairne. From there, it was a much steeper trek but with excellent views over to Sgor Gaorsaic and beyond.

However, it was becoming increasingly clear that if I was to combine Gaorsaic and this Munro, it would be a double-back exercise and I didn't really fancy that. If anything, a long run over the bealach from Morvich would be a good run so I made the decision to continue on to the Falls of Glomach once over the summit. I rested at the summit, my 254th Munro. I enjoyed some food and drink before reluctanctly setting off down the mountain.

Once down at the excellent path, I headed East and down towards the Falls of Glomach. It was doubtful that I'd be down this way again so I wanted to really take this part of Scotland in and wasn't to be disappointed. The photo doesn't do it justice but the drop down into the gorge was impressive, especially considering there hadn't been rain for several weeks. In Winter, this would be something else. Maybe I will come back!

All that remained was to re-trace my steps back up to the bealach and head back out and down the path back to the car, with a 21-km route completed in just under 3.5 hours. A superb outing and good to finally compleat all my Kintail Munros.

Sgurr Fhuaran - in between the sisters

I had tried to tick this hill off on three separate occasions, all coming from the South and over Spainteach. This time, I set off from Loch Shiel and started up past the deer fence, having parked at the camp-site. I was trialling my new Berghaus poles, which I had used on the LM27 race and they were excellent in getting up the relatively steep plod. Already the views were great with my intended destination just sticking out back down the glen. This was an airy walk/run, which was quite spectacular and had great views back to the Saddle, across to the South Glen Shiel Ridge and over the large body of water to the North-west. As the snow fields were present near the top of Sgurr Fhuaran, I chose to descend straight off the North-West ridge back to the glen floor. It was a brutal descent and very tough on the knees. I got back to the car in 3.5 hours, with some serious ascent of 1200m in that 7.5 mile distance.