1981 » Kintail and Orchy
1981.May. Kintail & Orchy. (Malcolm)
Within a year of our first sortie to the Cluanie we were back again, pleased to be able to book the bunkrooms.
The road north was not as easy in 1980's as it is 20 years on. We were glad that the Cluanie did not close promptly at 11pm (more likely 1am), and that a tasty selection of sandwiches usually stood under a glass dome at the end of the bar. Morag, a heavily built girl, was still working here, and Danny and wife were ruling the roost.
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9th May 1981
Malcolm.
Four Munros and 1 top.
Saileag. Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg. Aonach Meadhoin. Ciste Dhubh. . (The North Shiel Ridge East End).
On a perfect day that was to remain sunny and calm throughout we started off at the same place as last year when we took the gap in the trees to the ridge but this time we then turned east instead of west. Saileag was the first Munroe and then we took in the whole ridge swinging away to collect Ciste Dubh before down to the Inn for a bar snack and then walking back down the pass to collect the car.
12 miles. 5000ft.
May 10th 1981.
Malcolm
Four Munros and 3 tops.
Carn Ghluasaid (Repeat) Sgurr nan Conbhairean. A'Chralaig. Mullach Fraoch-choire. (North of Loch Cluanie).
Today the wind was from the East, there was thick cloud, and there would be no views.
We started by doing our first repeat Munroe. This was Carn Ghlusaid with its fast ascent track. From here we moved Northwest to Sgurr nan Conbhainean then west to take in A Chralaig before heading along the long ridge north to Mullach Fraoch-choire. There was snow forming a cornice on much of the route. From top 1008 metres we then dropped to the valley.
We had covered 12 miles and 5400ft. and afterwards we motored
to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel for our first overnight stay here.
May 11th.1981.
Malcolm.
Three Munros and 2 tops.
As we set off from Bridge of Orchy Hotel a rather corpulent, rather elderly gentleman appeared from the small room adjoining reception and imparted information to all and sundry on the weather forecast. This was obviously his pet hobby, and we to benefit from, or at least listen with interest to, his advice on a number of occasions. Some years later when I booked in here by telephone I had difficulties with the receptionist who didn’t seem to know if rooms were available, what the tariff was, what time the trains went etc. I became a little cross on the phone, but felt some guilt on arrival to find that the poor girl had left in tears due to hassle from customers on what was apparently her first days employment at Orchy.
Beinn a'Chreachain. Beinn Achaladair Beinn an Dothaidh. (Orchy).
Parking at Achallader we followed the railway (spotting deer) alongside the Water of Tulla for about 2 miles then headed uphill to join the ridge to Beinn a'Chreachain above Coire an Lochain. It was a perfect day. Hot and clear with a breeze on the tops. We now followed the long easy ridge back, westwards, over Beinn Achaladair until we reached Beinn an Dothaidh. Here we divided forces and I dropped down the delightful Allt Coire Achaladair, at a saunter, to collect the car, whilst Malcolm continued along to collect Beinn Dorain before descending steeply to our rendezvous at the Orchy Hotel.
12 miles. 5400ft. 7 hours.