Knoydart and Loch Quoich: Meall Buidhe (222) and Luinne Bheinn (234)

Walk date: 26/05/10 (Wednesday)
My Munro #'s: 193 and 194

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
Myowl booee - yellow hill - 946m

Loonya vyn - hill of anger, or hill of melody - 939m

Statistics:
Duration - 09:00 - 18:30
Distance - 23.8km
Total ascent - 1707m
Weather - warm start, some cold on top including brief snow. ~1 hour of intermittent rain at end of day, but then came fine again.
Team - Paul P and Bridget
Other hikers: 8

Paul P, Bridget and George 'Knoydart and around' hiking 2010

What would you follow a big day with but another big day? Previous year's plans of alternating big and small days were not possible on Knoydart as you just have to take what there is.

Today started then with the same track passing beside the low forest and then heading out along side the Inverie River. Holding our western direction we veered off the track up Gleann Meadail. Despite trying, we couldn't see a path starting up Druim Righeanaich so after a brief spell in the glen, we were faced once again with the joy of hot and tiring drudging up steep grassy slopes. Eventually we broke out onto the top, and found a clear path along the crest, meaning that somewhere down there a path did exist, maybe next time...

As soon as we were on the path the going was easy, and I'd definitely recommend this approach as even with a drop and a climb in hot sun, Meall Buidhe came up surprisingly quickly. After a good lunch with time to spare, the good path continued along with some small scrambly sections to maintain interest.

After a good deal of fine walking in splendid surroundings, we eventually came upon the steep summit slopes of Luinne Beinn, and the path stayed good all the way up. The views were absolutely amazing in all directions, with the neighbouring Sgurr na Ciche to the south-east looking particularly fine.

The descent wasn't too clear to start with, but once down on the pass the going was very quick. Another superb day, ending with a supreme dinner in The Forge.

They're just not shy around here!

Gleann Meadail looking good in the sun:

That crest at An t-Uiriollach:

And then some:

Meall Buidhe looking good:

Strolling along:

The route over to Luinne Bheinn:

Continuing on:

Getting close:

Luinne Bheinn, another fine summit:

Coat on, must be serious:

Loch Hourn below again:

Good weather to finish on:

And a nice dinner to come:

Knoydart and Loch Quoich: Ladhar Bheinn (111)

Walk date: 25/5/10 (Tuesday)
My Munro #'s: 192

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
Laarven - hoof or claw hill - 1020m

Statistics:
Duration - 09:30 - 18:30
Distance - 23.6km
Total ascent - didn't record
Weather - some cold spells with spots of snow but largely fine, and glorious in second half of day.
Team - Paul P and Bridget
Other hikers: 5

Paul P, Bridget and George 'Knoydart and around' hiking 2010

Yes, I was sure I used to have a blog!! Well, with little Xavier arriving on the scene in April I was lucky to get any hiking in at all; the write-up was never part of the deal. The hiking was at the end of May, and I guess a 3 month delay in the write-up is (kinda) acceptable...

So this year the destination was the remote peninsula of Knoydart, staying in a bunkhouse just outside the (only) village of Inverie, accessible only by ferry from Mallaig, unless that is you want to hike in over a day or so from the mainland! There are 7 hills on the peninsula depending where you mark its boundary, we did 3 from Inverie and the rest from the westernmost access point.

The 3 hills on the western end were done in two hikes, the first up being a long, but interesting circular take on Ladhar Beinn. A good track climbs from the Inverie village roads up along side forest and out above the wide basin of the Inverie River. Although there was a choice to ascend immediately onto the southern ridge via Sgurr Coire Choinnichean, we decided to let our porridge digest for a little bit and kept low until we found more reasonable grass slopes just before Loch an Dubh-Lochain. These were still difficult however just for the effort, and it was with glad hearts we finally broke out onto the crest at Coire Dubh.

Once on the ridge progress was good although the incline didn't diminish too much. A nice turn at Aonach Sgoilte's split brought us in line with the summit ridge. A quick lunch gave way to some light scrambling sections, a fine summit and even finer views; over the mainland, Skye, the Western Isles, and the inner hebrides. Marvellous!

After all the work, the descent flew by, as steep grassy slopes proved much easier to go down on! Although the trails through the lower forest seemed to go on an age, the imminent real ale pint at The Forge kept our attention well, and sitting at the bay at the end of the day was a truly great moment.

The ferry ride out just after spotting dolphins!

The superb The Forge pub, now for sale! Anyone?

View from the beer garden.

The trail out, before the climb.

Starting up those grassy slopes!

Fine walking on the ridge.

The only way is up!

Grand scenery!

The summit ascent begins:

Steep drops to the west:

Looking back on the ascent:

Loch Hourn far below:

Satisfied hikers:

This is where it's at!

Looking out to Skye:

The sun beats down in Gleann na Guiserein:

Knoydart and Loch Quoich: Beinn Sgritheall (183)

Walk date: 07/05/07
My Munro #'s: 110

Pronunciations - translations - heights:
Byn Skreehal - hill of screes - 974m

Statistics:
Duration - 10:00 - 14:00
Distance - 8.5km
Weather - OK. Some gusty wind with rain showers but generally fine.
Team - solo
Other hikers: 2

No river problems today thank goodness:





Hiking Expedition '07 - Glen Shiel area - Day 3 (Mon 7th)

After yesterday's leviathan of a day, I was not looking forward to heading out again. Indeed, I delayed rising and packing for as long as possible! Eventually however, I found myself in the car with at least a decent drive to look forward to. I had chosen to do Beinn Sgritheall on this day as it was the simplest and shortest walk I had prepared for the holiday, and I needed a straightforward day in order to start enjoying things again.

Parking up at Arnisdale after a great drive over the Ratagan Pass, I looked up to see cloud obscuring the target, but a good path led towards it heading steeply up green slopes toward Bealach Arnasdail. This route is well signposted through a gate and quickly gets up above the village. The going is steep, but the path is good, and the views soon become impressive.


Over to Knoydart across Loch Hourn:



Better water features around here:



The weather up to the bealach was not the kindest, with strong gusts of wind and rain hitting my back from across Knoydart, making me return to some grim thoughts I'd had of abandoning the week and heading back to Aberdeen!

However, once at the bealach the way on was sheltered, and with further rain holding off, I actually found the increasingly steep route quite pleasant. Forget guidebook talk of this section being full of scree; it is a steep approach and there is loose stone about, but the path underfoot is mainly firm. Take your time and the immediate cairn of the east top is soon reached.


Fine views north from the bealach into Rosdail:


Beinn na h-Eaglaise from the rise to Beinn Sgritheall:



Onward, the back of the mountain opens out and includes some welcomed downhill strolling. The only sharp point is just befor the summit, and although it could be hairy in gale force conditions, it is merely the same good path without quite as much earth to either side.


The sharpest part to the summit is still fine walking:



At the summit, I sat in to the makeshift stone shelter and had some lunch, which reaffirmed the fact conditions were improving! I then started my rapid descent. The day had been exactly what I wanted; much needed encouragement from a route without problems leaving me in a positive mood with regard to the rest of the week.


Table for one sir? The happily bagged cairn & shelter: