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Thanks

An Ruadh Stac and Beinn Damh

Beinn Damh from the summit

Across to the Torridon giants

Matt

Anyway, we do get out in the poor weather as well, it just doesn’t always make on to the blog…normally as a result of not having any good photos to show.

Local wet weather, low level options include a circuit of Loch Oich, a 10 mile loop starting at the hostel and finishing conveniently at the pub.

Loch Oich in the mizzle

In Glencoe in poor weather you could try the two laraigs, an 8 mile mid level loop around Buachaille Etive Beag among great surroundings. If anyone fancies this, we recommend a clockwise direction – a better path on the way back.

Looking down to Loch Etive

And most recently, in what turned out to be very poor conditions…horizontal rain and deep bog (Ian went in up to his waist within 5 minutes) we got the train to Corrour and ran the 15 miles (16 if you take a poor route choice through the final forest) back to Spean Bridge. I’m not sure our dog Dylan has forgiven me for taking him on this one yet.

Unfortunately it’s not all sun and blue skies in Scotland but you can always find something to do….and it makes you appreciate the good days even more!

–Matt

I would never claim to be able to run 45 mph but the facts seem to suggest I can. Lets look at the evidence.

1. Wind speeds were 45mph with gusts up to 70mph.

2. I was running downhill from the summit of Stob Choire Claurigh with the wind behind me.

3. I slowed down to help Dylan over some slippery rocks and it started raining on me.

4. Looking back it was very grey and I was about to get soaked.

5. I set off running again and was soon out of the rain and stayed dry all the way back to the car.

I’ve done a quick technical diagram to help explain.

One thing that doesn’t quite add up though – If I can run 45mph, how come it took me 3 hours to do 11 miles and two munros?

Oh, I nearly forgot the obligatory mountain photo…Stob Ban from the bothy

Sgurr nan Eugallt is a Corbett (2946m high) between Loch Hourn and Loch Quoich, basically the last hill on the left as you head down the joyous 25 mile dead end road to Kinlochhourn.

A quick little hill, only 4km form the road to the summit, I was up and down in about 2 hours 20 minutes including plenty of time to take in the views, and what views…..a fantastically placed hill.

Looking back to Loch Quoich munros

Dyls enjoying the view

Looking across Loch Hourn to the Saddle

And finally, sun rays over Sgurr na Ciche on the way home

A stalkers path zigzags up to about 650m which is pretty boggy (makes for a good descent) and then just follow the ridge up to the trig point. The true summit lies 600 m beyond the trip point so make sure you continue along the ridge for the tick…you’ll probably want to anyway for the views!

–Matt

Ian and I (and his dog Isla) caught the train to Corrour and then headed back to Tulloch over Beinn Na Lap, then over to Chno Dearg continuing to Stob Coire Sgriodain. It worked out about 14 1/2 miles and was a good day out, would have been even better if I’d had remembered to bring my running shoes! The trainers I had on turned out to be OK for most of the run but I slipped and fell over at least half a dozen times on the final (boggy) descent.

The view from Beinn Na Lap

Ian (the triathlete) – note proper hill running footwear!

Heading up to Chno Dearg

And the view from the final munro across loch Treig

Finally, a note to anyone considering the same route… the path that is supposed to follow the train tracks for the last 2 km back to the station doesn’t seem to exist where it is supposed to, we ended up following the tracks.

It felt good to be out yesterday but doesn’t feel too good today after all those falls!

-Matt

This is exactly the type of day I had yesterday on the North Shiel ridge, the long, steep, pathless ascent (although I did have Dylan to help pull me up) was soon forgotten as the gradient levelled and the ridge narrowed and got more interesting. Terrific views in every direction and wonderful light on the hills that my little point and shoot camera can not do justice. I won’t dwell on the route (it’s the one in Ralph Storer’s book) and I’ll just show you a few photos…

Along the ridge to the Five sisters of Kintail

Back towards Mullach Fraoch Choire

A’Chralaig and a wee Am Bathach in front

The South Shiel Ridge

–Matt

Am Bathach is a great little hill for a quick ascent or as part of a route up the munro Ciste Dhubh and provides a great viewpoint of the surrounding Munros. Up and down in 1 1/2 hours, a real shame I had to head back so soon, Ciste Dhubh was looking very inviting!

Oh, and make sure you check out the new fangled 360 interactive panorama thingymabob. Click on the icon on the right at the bottom for full screen goodness!

–Matt

From here round to Stob ban was lovely ground for running but unfortunately covered in cloud today and we took a battering from the horizontal rain before we reached the summit of Stob Ban.

Things brightened on Stob Ban but neither of us was much up for Devils ridge on a day like today so at the bealach we darted off north and followed the Allt Coire a’Mhusgain back down to the car….4km of fantastic downhill running that finished far too soon as far as I was concerned.

A great quick route among amazing hills but not much else to report and not a great day for photographs unfortunately. The hostel pc has packed up – along with our panorama making software – but whilst looking on the web I discovered this nifty software…what do you think? I wish i’d taken more than 3 shots now.

–Matt

First up, the very family friendly Greenfield circuit which goes right through the forest and back along Loch Garry. We cheated a little and missed out the road section back to Invergarry but had a pleasant ride and enjoyed great views.

Secondly, we did the Loch Lundie circuit, about 10 miles on easy but fun landrover track above Invergarry with some single track in the last 3 miles. Slightly less family friendly but lots of fun. The hardest part is a short boggy loose section of up near the beginning and is soon over.

Both routes can be seen on this google map (yeah, I know i linked to it last time!)

View Bike Routes Invergarry in a larger map