Date: Thursday 23rd July 2020
Company: Just myself
Distance: 18.4km, Ascent: 1250m
Time: 7Hrs 40Mins
In the past twenty years, my longest break between hillwalks was a period of three weeks. During lockdown, with the exception of several ascents of my local Marilyn the Bin of Cullen, my break from the hills has been 4.5 months
. In June 2016, I tore the meniscus in my left knee while ascending a fairly dull pathless Fiona. This tear has never healed properly but the pain has been bearable. However, in March 2020, I again tore the meniscus in the same knee and have at times been struggling to walk. The government imposed lockdown has therefore served one useful purpose in that it has forced me to take a break from the hills and has provided some time for healing.
Having been away from the hills for 4.5 months, I suspected my hill fitness level would have deteriorated somewhat.
Yesterday morning, I drove to the start of the walk setting off walking around 12.40. I last walked these hills in July 2004.
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
From the parking area at Lundie, I crossed the A87 and followed the old miltary road as far as the transmitter before taking the stalker's path leading towards Carn Ghluasaid.
The weather at the outset was better than anticipated as MWIS had suggested nil chance of cloud free Munros.
Loch Cluanie from track leading to transmitter:
During the ascent it was lovely to see splashes of colour amongst the yet to blossom heather. I recognised Sundew, Bog Asphodel, Mountain Thyme, Cotton Grass, Alpine Lady's Mantle, Common Orchids as well as several other plants that I didn't recognise. In hindsight, I should have taken photos uploading them to Google Lens or Seek for identification.
Sundew:
Despite having been away from the hills for 4.5 months, I was pretty-much still ascending at my normal pace. I was soon skirting An Cruachan and making my way towards the base of Carn Ghlusaid's south-west ridge.
Carn Ghluasaid:
I did however stop several times en-route to the first Munro to take photos looking back towards Loch Cluanie. With the exception of the inappropriately-placed windfarm on the Corbett, Meall Dubh, the views towards Loch Cluanie were nicer than the views towards Carn Ghluasaid.
Looking back towards Loch Cluanie and An Cruachan (480m):
On reaching a band of rock, I stopped for my first drink and to apply more sunscreen.
Ascent of Carn Ghluasaid:
Looking back to Loch Cluanie:
Looking back to Loch Cluanie:
Once more height is gained, the quality of stalker's path improves fairly significantly.
Excellent stalker's path:
The stalker's path marked on the OS Landranger map comes to an end once easier ground is reached. The final stretch to the summit of Carn Ghluasaid was pleasant.
Onto the final stretch to the summit of Carn Ghluasaid:
The views gained on reaching the summit of Carn Ghluasaid were by far the best of the day. From the summit, I could see the task ahead to get to Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn. This was a bit daunting in that my legs were already feeling the effort of ascending Carn Ghluasaid. I was however keen to crack-on.
I reached the summit of Carn Ghluasaid five minutes slower than Naismith's time but I guess Naismith's time doesn't account for all the stopping and faffing such as taking photographs, having a drink, applying suncream, ...
Fine views from the summit of Carn Ghluasaid:
With the exception of taking photographs, I didn't stop at any of the summits as I was fully aware that I had started later in the day than I normally do and that I had a 3hr drive home subsequent to the walk.
Looking back to Carn Ghluasaid:
While Carn Ghluasaid was the best viewpoint of the day, it was also the lowest of the hills, Sgurr nan Conbhairean being 152m higher.
Ascending Creag a' Chaorainn:
It didn't take long to reach the summit of the first Munro Top of the day, Creag a' Chaorainn.
At the summit of Creag a' Chaorainn:
To get from the Munro Top to Sgurr nan Conbhairean you have to cross an area with lots of small stones. While crossing these stones, I was consciously taking care not to twist my knee and was also regretting forgetting to take my walking poles. Further, I was also starting to regret leaving my food in the car having forgotten to put it into the rucksack
. I did
however have plenty water which was arguably more important given it was
rather warm.Stony ground en-route to Sgurr nan Conbhairean:
Alas, on reaching the summit of Sgurr nan Conbhairean I got little in the way of views due to low cloud.
At the summit of Sgurr nan Conbhairean:
From Sgurr nan Conbhairean, I next made my way out to Sail Chaorainn, the third Munro of the day.
Pleasant ascent to the summit of Sail Chaorainn:
While it was great to reach the summit of Sail Chaorainn, it was already approaching 5pm and I was conscious of the long walk out and long drive home. I therefore somewhat regrettably took the decision not to head further out to do the two remote Munro Tops, albeit I had ascended one of them previously.
At the summit of Sail Chaorainn:
The re-ascent of Sgurr nan Conbhairean on the return walk was arduous but it was possible to skirt the final thirty metres or so. My next and final hill target of the day was the Munro Top, Drochaid an Tuill Easaich.
En-route to Drochaid an Tuill Easaich:
From the summit of Drochaid an Tuill Easaich, I started the descent via its south ridge.
At the summit of Drochaid an Tuill Easaich:
Gorm Lochan:
The descent via the south ridge of Drochaid an Tuill Easaich was nice and pleasant as far as Meall Breac. Beyond Meall Breac, the descent was pathless via long, and often wet, tussocky grass. On reaching level ground, I crossed the burn and soon thereafter picked up the start of the stalker's path leading down to the A87. This stalker's path is not great.
Descent via the south ridge of Drochaid an Tuill Easaich:
The final 2km walk along the A87 was just a case of head down and crack-on.
The post walk highlight was turning-on the radio to hear Nina Simone's, Feeling Good, playing on the radio. I was feeling sore but definitely also, Feeling Good.
