Suilven seen from Cul Mor in evening light

On An Teallach looking south to the pinnacles and the Fisherfield Forest

It was the first time in two months that I had been in Scotland and boy I was glad to return. This time I travelled up by train from Sussex to Inverness - a journey time of 10 hours. I camped by the roadside at the weather station I camped at last time. This time though, the air was warmer and the grass was longer. I got the tent up just before the breeze died. The midges then came out in their millions! Fortunately the numbers were prevented from entering the tent. Nonetheless it dented my morale as I would have to face them sooner or later.

Sunday morning dawned still and cloudy. The midges were still out in some kind of thick dense fog! You could breathe them! I lied in preferring the comfort of my midge free zone but eventually I faced the inevitable and was certainly tempted to quit and go home now! Despite that, a slight breeze developed into the morning enabling to think more rationally. My plan for the day was An Teallach and pick up where I left on the previous trip.

Sail Mhor seen in the west from An Teallach

Corrag Bhuidie seen from Sgurr Fiona

I hitchhiked fairly easily round to Dundonnell where I picked up a stalkers track that headed up to a northern corrie. It was easy to follow and progress was swift. I camped at 650m beneath the northern slopes of Glas Meall Mhor, dumped surplus gear and continued up to the first summit. Medium altitude cloud was building blocking out large amounts of sunlight preventing me from taking some decent pictures. The northern ridge of the first summit was pleasant with an easy path to follow. There were some rocky steps but they were all easy and not at all exposed.

I reached the first summit to be greeted with my first view of the Corrag Bhuidie pinnacles. The east ridge of the summit I was on looked like a definite scramble on its final section that broadened out further out. The ridge between here and the next summit - Sgurr Fiona was no problem at all. It descends nicely to the bealach before a steep pull on a good path to Sgurr Fiona. No problem. I was almost tempted to go out to Corrag Bhuide - looked easy from here - but had to return to my tent.

Fisherfield sillouettes

The first summit seen from Sgurr Fiona

On the return I cut across the western stony slopes of the first summit to cut out a complete reascent. The wind by now had died to nothing I was still on the ridge and there were the odd few midges when I stopped. I hoped it would be like that when I returned to the tent but no! They were out in droves. Despite that, I found I parched stony patch of land to cook on and here they gave me less bother. A better morning next day

Coire Ghranda - the only
'alf decent view today

A nice breeze kept the midges off this morning however, there was a slight drizzle. Despite that, I was full of energy ready to tackle the Beinn Dearg summits east of Ullapool. I dropped down to the road quickly but then had some trouble hitchhiking from Dundonnell to Loch Broom. After an hour I reached the start of my walk.

The going for me this morning was slow. It took four hours to reach the bealach at the end of the glen. Despite that, the going was very good along a forest track to begin with and an excellent stalkers track in the open valley. The problem was with stifling humidity and no wind. The walk up to Beinn Dearg followed a stone wall up most of the way. The summit itself was shrouded in mist and today wasn't generally a good photo day. I got one cloudy photo of Coire Ghranda and that's it.

I returned to the pack to pickup some waterproofs. Today had so far been dry but now showers appeared imminent. Off to the next summit where the showers hit. I was soon back to my pack where the cloud had descended further. I now hauled my sack over the final two summits. The showers varied between light and drizzly to torrential. The wind picked up as I made my way steeply off the third summit.

The going was chiefly over small rocks at chiefly easy gradients but the final summit was more grassy and the clouds appeared as though they were finally trying to part. After the final summit, I headed north to Coire an Lachain Sgeirich where I camped in a strong cold breeze. No chance of midges here tonight! The day finished with some bright patches at last!

Morning sun enroute to Sean Braigh

This morning was still breezy but much brighter though darker clouds loomed out to the west. I was off at 7am up a Stalkers track to a broad saddle before walking round the rim of Cadha Dearg. It was now time for the ascent of Seana Bhraigh. The ascent was up grassy slopes that were fairly homogeneous though the view of Cadha Dearg did provide some compensation though. Seana Braigh was reached after a walk over the grassy plateau where the huge northern cliffs came into view with Loch Lucha Choire seen far below.

An Faochgach seen from the northwest

Inverpolly peaks seen from Cadha Dearg

Looking south to the Beinn Dearg group

That was my final munro for this trip now I was left with some Inverpolly summits to climb now. I returned to my tent with an eye always on the clouds. They looked dark out to the west but then that has so far always been the case. I packed up and headed down the excellent stalkers track where I met a mountain rescue bloke who I also met on Sunday. He was out doing a leg of the RAF Penzance to Cape Wrath charity walk.

Cadha Dearg cliffs

The principle summit of Seana Bhraigh seen from the east

The expansive plateau of Seana Bhraigh seen from the principle summit

The day was set fair as I descended down to the road. Upon reaching the road, the first car that came along actually gave me a lift! Wow! I got into Ullapool shortly after but was left with waiting 30mins for a lift to Strath Canaird.

Loch Lucha Choire overshadowed by Creag an Dunie

Big northern cliffs

An Teallach seen on the way down from Seana Bhraigh

The day was now very bright out on the edge of Inverpolly while showers grew big inland. I was very lucky with the weather today! My target for tomorrow was Ben More Coigach so the afternoon was spent walking up via the River Runie to a camping spot just beneath the eastern ridge of the mountain. The ridge appeared very steep when seen on the approach and I set up camp slightly nervous at tomorrows prospect. The midges were out once more that evening.

Beinn Dearg seen from Gleann na Sguaib

Ben More Coigach seen on the approach

The eastern view of Ben More Coigach