1984 » October 1984
1984 October
Ian. Malcolm. Geraldine. Jim
We set off Friday night and possibly stayed at Pitlochry.
October 27th 1984
Ian. Malcolm. Geraldine. Jim
Three Munroes.
Sgairneach Mhor. Beinn Udlamain A Mharconaich. (A9)
It was cold, crisp and clear after a wet, cloudy start.
We set off from the A9, parking at the exit to Coire Dhomhain. We followed the burn, after a tricky crossing, a short way, then took the easy slopes of Sgairneach Mhor, which became steeper and narrower before the summit. Then a big loop on towards Udlamain, following a fence to the cairn. We added on a repeat visit to A Mharconaich for those who hadnt done it. The summit cairn is at the NE end of a plateau. Again views of Ericht were good. Bean and Jim headed on for the 4th Munro Geal Charn while Nev/Ian/Mal dropped to the car.
10 miles 2900ft. 5hours.
We headed on to our holiday chalet at Cambeltown Cottages, Leckmelm, near Ullapool. We stayed here a few times and often had difficulty in paying when we left as the proprietors were not early risers. Deer were often in the grounds.
October 28th.1984
Ian. Malcolm. Geraldine. Jim
Four Munroes.
Eididh nan Clach Geala. Meall nan Ceapraichean. Cona Mheall.
Beinn Dearg. (Ben Dearg Group. Inverlael)
Boots were on at 9.15am. We parked towards the south end of Loch Broom at Rubha Aird an Tuirc and took the forestry path to Glensquaib. From here we zigzagged up and above the trees onto the nose of Druim na Saobhaidhe, and worked our way, gently at first towards Clach Geala the first Munroe of the day. There was snow on the tops. We enjoyed views to here but the weather then deteriorated to cold and wet. By the next Munroe Meall nan Ceapraichean it was cold, wet and windy. We moved on, down an easy angled ridge, then turned SSE up a wide bouldery slope and the only good views on the detour to Cona Mheall were down into a fabulous corrie, steep walled on three sides. Returning to a col we now turned S to where a dry stone dyke led us W. Passing through a gap and bearing SSW for about three hundred metres took us across a flat dome to the summit of Dearg, but we had no views at all. We followed the wall north west over Dollaid a Mhill Bhric, where visibility improved before we had a difficult heathery descent to the River Lael just below the Eas Fionn waterfall. The track from here was much easier, with darkness descended and stags bellowing, and we soon re-entered the woods, emerging eventually onto the road at Inverlael. Walking back to the car we saw seals in the loch. We also thought we got a glimpse of the Northern Lights. It was 6.45pm as we hit the car. We returned to base for supper and probably did not have an early night.
19 miles. 5150ft. 9hours 30mins.
October 29th.1984
Ian. Jim. Malcolm. Geraldine
One Munroe.
Sgurr nan Each. (Fanaich)
Today we parked up about 4 miles from Braemore Junction along the Dundonnell road. Boots were on for 10am. We took the short track to Locha Bhraoin, then followed th burn closely, south, to the head of the valley. We passed a shepherd gathering sheep. It was unusual to see anyone at all on most days out. We also saw what we guessed to be a vole.
From the col at the head of the valley we climbed steeply east to a ridge and then an airy, extremely windy, and rather wet, promenade to the summit of a viewless Sgurr nan Each.
Our original plan was then to go on to Sgurr Breac. We set of up its nose but at 2000ft the wind was blowing us over constantly and after a brew stop we decided that conditions were definitely against us and progress was impractical. Waterfalls were blowing backwards. We beat the retreat this time following the path on the east side of the burn. Right at the end we had to paddle across as the rain had swollen the water level considerably since the morning. Back at the car for 5pm.
11 miles. 2500ft. 7hours.
October 30th 1984
Ian. Jim. Geraldine. Malcolm
One Munroe.
A'Buidheanach Bheag (A9)
Away early we headed back through Inverness and Dalwhinnie to park up near Dalnaspidal Lodge and climb the Munroe on the east side of the A9.
For our day driving home we thought we would chose a clinical hill.
The slope was gentle grass and the going easy. There was a thick mist, which wind and rain failed to move, and talking, we didn’t pay too much attention to route finding, assuming the summit would just appear. It didn’t, and we wandered round in circles trying to locate a feature, and every one we found bore no resemblance to the map, such is the extent of the tricks mist can play. After a very long time we located a fence, and this led us to the summit cairn in a disgraceful 3 hours. Going down took only an hour. We drove back to Lancashire to get home quite late.
9 miles. 1750ft. 4hours 5mins.