August 23: Up at 5.30, left at 6.30, arrived at Richard’s place about 7.15, a quick transfer of my kit into his car and we were off. For some reason I can remember hardly anything about the journey, probably talking too much. We stopped in Carlisle, where Richard did his shopping for the week. I had done most of mine so felt quite virtuous, & picked up a few bit and bobs. We then carried on North, stopped in Spean Bridge for a meal, then on to Skye, and arrived at Glenbrittle at about 10.30 in the rain and dark. I then had the first grump of the week-while unloading the gear my watch caught the door of Richard’s car and the spindle of my watch came off, and the watch fell to the ground. Fortunately the watch was not damaged, and amazingly I found the spindle the next day and managed to place it back on the watch.
August 24: Nasty weather, cloud very low, Richard sensibly went off to climb Bla Bheinn, I went up Corrie a Ghreadaidh, and went on the ridge then returned to Glenbrittle. A good re introduction to Skye.
August 25: We went to different venues again, Richard attempted Mhic Choinnich. I set off to climb the mountain almost visible from the Youth Hostel, Sgurr Thuilm, but turned round after a) very strong winds and b) rain & hail which soaked me within seconds, I was not wearing my over trousers at the time, a situation which I rectified immediately. I then went on up the corrie to the col below Sgurr Thuilm with the intention of climbing Sgurr a Mhadaidh. As it was a) still raining, b) misty, c) windy, and d) it looked terrifying, I decided to head for the gap at An Dorus and go up Mhadaidh the easy way (from the East) very pleasant and my first top of the week, I then went down to the gap and up the other side and climbed Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, and was on the top at 3.30. I then went on to the lower top after leaving my rucksack. I headed back as the clouds were coming down again, and back to base, got back to Glenbrittle at about 7pm- a beautiful evening. A great day.
August 26: We left Skye and headed to Glen Affric, after restocking on food, and a visit to the Jacobite Café to refuel, we set off walking with big packs at about 12.00. We arrived at the Youth Hostel at about 4.30, where there was a Dutch family in residence, we had some tea, sorted our gear out, dried our wet clothing and then tried to eat all the food we had brought with us, which we managed quite easily. We chatted with the Dutch pere, he asked us what we were doing tomorrow & when we told him, he asked us how many Munros there were-1200 he asked?! Was he taking the ****? Heavens know where he got that figure from. Richard thought this was a trick question. If so, how devious some people can be.
August 27th: We got off early the next day about 8.30, but my pack did not feel much lighter. I opted out of the first top Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, as I had climbed it some years previously, and cut across the corrie to the col below Ceathreamhnan, and waited for Richard, who I could see walking along the ridge. We met up again at about 10.45, and I left my rucksack at the col after eating and putting all my spare clothes on. The first top was a series of up and down which took ages to get past, and then the weather deteriorated, it started lashing down with rain and visibility was just a few yards. We then started the long drag up to the main summit. We overshot slightly, and had a good view of the lower top. We turned back and were on the main top in a few minutes at about 1.20. We did not longer long there and retraced our steps. Fortunately the weather improved and we collected my rucksack, set off across the corrie to the main ridge and back down to the hut which we reached at about 4.30. We then started the long trudge back to the car which we reached at 8.40. A long day. We drove to the Youth Hostel at Ratagan, fortunately very close by and then started cooking and sorting out the gear. A very late night and I did not sleep too well because of being over tired and some appalling snoring. Ear plugs did not keep the noise out!
Aug 28h: Richard decided to have a rest day. I started off with the intention of climbing Sgurr a Mhaoraich, but after about an hour decided that this was not a good idea and that a rest day was much more sensible. We had lunch at the Jacobite and then went back to Ratagan.
August 29th: Richard decided to have his foot looked at which had been bothering him all week, and drove to Inverness. He dropped me off at Morvich and I decided to do the Five Sisters Ridge. I set off at about 9, got to the end of Gleann Lichd at 10.45, and headed for Bealach an Lapain, which I reached just after lunch at about 1.10. Then I went on to Sgurr nan Spainteach, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe, Sgurr na Carnach and Sgurr Fhuaran which I reached at 5.25. On the descent from Fhuaran I got into the clear for the first time since leaving Bealach an Lapain, nice to see where I was going at last, but navigation had not been a problem as there was a well worn path all the way. Shame. I skirted Sgurr na Saighead, then on to Beinn Bhuidhe and then to the col above Glen Shiel and then a horribly steep descent to the Glen, followed by a walk through undergrowth to the road bridge at Shiel Bridge. I then walked to Ratagan along the road and arrived there at about 8.45. Another monster day.
August 30th: The start of the long journey home. Left Ratagan at about 8, ridculously heavily laden- one rucksack on my back, one large and one small rucksack in one hand and one holdall in the other. I made painfully slow progress to Shiel Bridge about 1½ miles away, but got there at about 8.45, my T shirt was wringing wet and so I changed it. The bus was on time and we got to Glasgow at about 14.30 after stops in Fort William and Crianlarich. Then a taxi to central station, and the train to London got me into Kings Cross more or less on time, where it felt incredibly hot and sticky. I was home at about 11.00, where the first thing I did after lugging the bags into the sitting room was to dive into the shower. A relief to get all my sweaty clothes off.
A brilliant but very tiring week.
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