I opted to ascend A' Chioch, a Munro Top I purposefully missed-out during my previous ascent of A' Chralaig, three years ago, due to large cornices of snow.
Hill: A' Chioch
Date: Wednesday 18th June 2025
Company: Just myself
Distance: 14.7km, Ascent: 910m
Time: 5Hrs 25Mins
I parked a few kilometres east of the Cluanie Inn and opted to again take the zig-zagging stalkers path that appears on the OS 1:25000 map but not the OS 1:50000.
Route:
The start of the stalker's path is about 50m up from the road. As I commenced up the track I could hear 'chat' 'chat' and initially thought it was Stonechats. However, the song was different. These were Whinchats, a new bird for my 2025 Year List
.Loch Cluanie:
Loch Cluanie and Clachaig Inn:
Having not hillwalked in such a long time, I expected my hill fitness to have completely gone. I was wrong as I managed to ascend at my normal pace. By the time I got to the top, I did however have aching thighs, something I've not had in maybe 25 years!
Looking back towards Loch Cluanie:
Beyond the stalker's path, the ascent became much easier once onto the wide ridge leading to A' Chralaig's summit. The weather was not as good as anticipated. Having packed suncream, instead it was thick fleece and waterproof jacket.
Loch Cluanie and Glen Shiel:
Ascending A' Chralaig:
Ascending A' Chralaig:
Ascending A' Chralaig:
On reaching the 1051m top, and the start of the ridge leading out to A' Chioch, I was in mist and was apprehensive to commence a very steep descent without seeing what was below. Instead, I returned a hundred metres or so distance and found the start of a faint path skirting round onto the A' Chioch ridge
.The grass was steep and wet and I was wishing I hadn't forgotten my walking poles. I therefore just took my time to avoid slipping.
Skirting descent to the col between A' Chralaig and A' Chioch:
Once onto the ridge leading out to A' Chioch, it was pleasant walking. A' Chioch is a good distance out from A' Chralaig.
Onto the ridge leading to A' Chioch:
Sgurr nan Conbhairean:
Heading out to the summit of A' Chioch:
On reaching a small cairn, I walked past it thinking the top beyond looked higher. I decided to check the map and could see that these hills have been measured accurately as the height is stated to one decimal point. The small cairn is the summit. Regardless, I decided to continue along the ridge to also visit the furthest out top which I hoped might be a good viewpoint.
At the summit of A' Chioch:
From the furthest out top I had expected to see Loch Affric but alas I could only see Gleann na Ciche.
Gleann na Ciche:
I then retraced my route back along the ridge towards A' Chralaig.
Back at the summit of A' Chioch:
I didn't fancy having to ascend steeply back to the 1051m top of A' Chralaig so instead made up a route which allowed me to regain the ridge at a height of c.800m.
During the descent, I stumbled across a fox. We both saw each other at the same time and on seeing me, it tore off at speed. I have seen many urban foxes, however this hill fox was a real beauty. I wished I had carried my DSLR. I think this is only the third time I have seen a fox on the hill. Once in England, once in the Himalaya and this was my first in Scotland.
It was also nice to see so many wild flowers during the walk: mountain thyme, bird'sfoot trefoil, milkwort, butterwort, cotton grass, bog ashpodel, alpine ladysmantle, blaeberry (not yet with fruit), tormentil, ...
Once back on A' Chralaig's wide ridge, I returned to the car via my inbound route.
Loch Cluanie:
Back at the erratics passed during the ascent:
Great to get back out on the hills!!!