Date: Friday 2nd September 2022
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 8.75km, Ascent: 900m
Time: 4Hrs
The MWIS forecast suggested 20mph winds and 80% cloud-free Munros with the weather deteriorating as the day went on. We therefore started walking around 7.15am in order to get the best of the weather. The forecast however turned out to be far from accurate with winds averaging at least 30-40mph, several hours of rain and with the summits capped in cloud throughout. Seriously disappointing forecast from MWIS.
Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
Having ascended Sgurr na Banachdich five times previously, a sixth ascent was not my main objective of the walk. My real objective was to ascend Sgurr na Banachdich's South Top and Sgurr Thormaid.
We set off via the standard ascent route starting at the Youth Hostel and up via Coir an Eich, the easiest ascent route to the summit of a Cuillin Munro. I will not describe the walk in detail in this report as I have already done so in previous reports.
Waterfall above Glen Brittle Youth Hostel:
Heading towards Coir' an Eich:
Coir' an Eich:
Ascending a path through the scree:
Sgurr nan Gobhar:
Once into the cloud, visibility was poor with the wind sufficiently strong to physically move me.
Approaching the summit area:
Alas, ascending the South Top and Sgurr Thormaid would need to await another day as I was not venturing into unknown territory with almost zero visibility in gale force winds with someone who had not previously been on the Cuillin. Looks like a seventh ascent will be necessary to get these Munro Tops.
At the summit of Sgurr na Banachdich:
An Diallaid:
Sgurr nan Gabhar:
Looking back to Coir' an Eich:
By the time we got back to the Glen Brittle Hut we were soaked through and I was thoroughly p'd off with MWIS. Friends who walked later in the day had a good day as the weather improved and did not deteriorate as had been forecast.