The Fannaichs and Ullapool Hills: Am Faochagach (210)

Walk date: 25/06/11
My Munro #'s: 206

Pronunciations - translations - heights:

Am foechakack - place of the shells - 954m

Statistics:

Duration - 13:15 - 17:45
Distance - 15.8km
Total ascent - 1005m
Weather - some light rain once at height and very windy on the top, but generally fine and ended in warm sun.

Team - with Paul P

Other hikers: a couple

No cause for concern once the river's crossed!

Paul P and George 'Daddy Team' Hiking Trip 2011

Day 1 - Saturday

Yes, despite both being Dads now, Paul and I still somehow managed to make it away hiking this year, although clearly time for the write-ups has since been lacking!

This year we opted to go to the very far north, stopping in locations as remote as Aultguise bunkhouse, Achininver and Tongue, and taking in Munros whose names conjure a certain mystique such as Seanna Bhraigh, Ben More Assynt and Ben Hope.

First up was Am Faochagach which is an isolated peak famed for it's often impossible river crossing. Fortunately Abhainn a' Gharbhrain was managable on a dry day such as this, but it was still tricky. It is a broad river, which many small slippery rocks that are just a little too far away for comfort, most of them would soon submerge with a good rain. Just to get to it means covering a wide bog land which was tough enough when it was relatively dry and our first work of the week, this is surely one to avoid if even damp out.

After the river the climbing starts at a pretty even rate over decent ground. The walking speeds up once on the long crest and it generally gives little concern while rewarding with superb views west over to Beinn Dearg and it's pals.

The only problem we had is to be overconfident leaving the summit, a little bit of cloud was all it took us to set off for a short spell down the wrong way. Ahem, compass bearings anyone?

A pint of An Teallach ale down at the Aultguise was still deserved of course...

Crossing the bog at the head of Loch Glascarnoch:

That river crossing!

Sun on the descent:

The pint!