Training Log Archive: simmo

Still cloud on the tops so we decided to do a longer low-level walk to the Coire Mhic Fhearchair, otherwise known as the corrie beneath the triple buttress and Ruadh-stac Mor, the westernmost Munro of Ben Eighe. It's a nice dry path, but very stony, so feet rather sore by the end. It climbs up a valley between Liathach and Eighe to a saddle between 4 mountains, the two just mentioned plus Ben Alligin (the Munro that would have been the target) and Ben Dearg (which is about 2 feet below Munro level). A very pleasant spot which would have been good if we could have seen the tops - actually we did see them on the way back. The path then winds around a spur of Eighe and climbs up into the corrie which contains a nice loch with good waterfalls spilling out of it. From there it's possible to climb Ruadh-stac Mor (which is only 400m away as the crow flies -if it flies upwards) via a steep scree gully at the far end of the corrie, but that would be another km of walking with 400m of climb. The triple buttress was impressive, more so I guess if you are a rock climber.

It started to rain as soon as we got to the corrie. Hung around for a bit, had lunch, then returned. As we came around the spur into the saddle again the rain stopped and the sun came out. On the drive home I finally got to see the summits of Alligin and the 3 Horns.

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/coire-mhic...

No chance of going high today as knee a bit stiff and low cloud, so we hired bikes (at exorbitant rate) and rode part of the way around Loch Torridon (which is a 'sea loch', like a fiord, not a lake). The route took us along the shore on road, then continuing along the shore on a track, then a single track, before rejoining the road at Inverallighin. Then we climbed up, and up towards Diabaig, but didn't go the whole way after we got to the top of a very steep pass with good views. Fun ride back down, then stopped for late lunch at Torridon store. We were going to do more but after leaving the store the temperature dropped and it started drizzling, so just rode back to the Torridon Inn to return the bikes.

Walk from Applecross towards Sand, climbing up on a path above the coastal road with fantastic views over Applecross Bay and across to Skye with the Outer Hebrides beyond, but only just visible. Tops of the Cuillin in cloud, but otherwise patchy sun.

Earlier we drove up the road to the highest road pass in the UK, the Bealach na Ba which also has views to Skye and Hebrides. Very cold wind on top but we walked a couple of hundred metres to the cairn. The drive back around the coast was also very spectacular.

Shieldaig Peninsula walk from our B & B - which is very nice - the walk provides good views of Loch Torridon, including across to the Munros on the Torridon side - Alligin, Liathach and Eighe. At the far end of the peninsula is a cottage, still inhabited by a crofter who's lived there all his life, and with whom we had a good chat.

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Shieldaig....

In the afternoon we did the Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail, a walk that takes you up (from sea level) to a spur at 550m inside the major peaks of the mountain with 3 Munros. Very steep, both up and down, but rewarding views although all the peaks, and Slioch (another Munro across Loch Maree) were under cloud. Cold and windy at our 550m summit cairn so didn't linger.

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Mountaintr...

The observant will have noticed the common factor in these walks - bog factor negligible - but I don't know if we can maintain this and still manage to bag a Munro somehow. Plan is to attempt the two Munros on Alligin on Friday, weather permitting. Would go tomorrow, which looks promising weather wise, but I think my knees need a rest after today, so we will drive around to Applecross instead.

Loch Affric circuit, lovely day until just after we stopped for lunch at the 11km mark. As we turned towards home it started to rain and then it rained and rained until we got back to the car. Goretex failed again.

http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochness/Lochaffric...