Beinn a Bheithir

Forecast - mince. Enthusiasm - total. Shaz and I proceeded to head for Ballachulish without the flu-stricken duo of Fraser and Dave C. We had long admired these 2 hills and both felt the pressure of the book's description "these 2 Munro's are ALWAYS done together". Failure was not an option. We decided to tackle the two M-points as described in the SMC guide, not as Shaz had read in Cameron McNeish's guide. Shaz doesn't have a copy of the former (hint to any Rannoch members about potential Xmas presents). We headed up the forest road and arrived at the posts which would indicate the path through the forest. Excellent. A scramble up the red scree and we were on the ridge, 1 km West of the actual summit of Sgorr Dhonuill. The views down to the Atlantic were stunning, wisps of cloud and turquoise waters making for a beautiful panorama (quelle bollocks). We ascended to the first M-point of the day and were told by a couple of FEBs that "it was a bit scary further on". Pah! No mention of this in the book so on we went confident in our abilities and supreme experience. What was this? A path right beside a 200 ft drop, straight down? Exposure, here, with my reputation? Indeed, a very dramatic vista and on we proceeded to the bealach between the two hills. Lunch was had and on we climbed towards Sgorr Dhearg while Shaz was convinced she saw a duck in a lochan, which turned out to be a stone. Perhaps influenced by the hill just descended (Donald's peak?), perhaps too many Nurofen for the arthritis-riddled toe? Who knows what goes on in Shaz's mind? We disappeared into the clouds of Sgorr Dhearg and eventually summited to meet a couple who had a stove going for a cuppa?!! Tea anyone? The descent was straightforward enough until we took an interesting meander* through the forest but eventually got back on track and hit the road for the car. *got lost. All in all, a great day out and some good craic. Once again, my sandwiches won the 'sandwich du jour' competition with cajun chicken breast and dijon moutard on 'la fierte de la mere' bread. To top it off, a fine pint in the Lade Inn before I got in at 2100 but nae tea made! 'Twas enough to make you go quackers.