Quality Mountain day on Beinn Sgritheall - Tuesday 18 November 2014

Loch Hourn from Arnisdale

Gary on the ascent, Beinn Sgritheall on the left, Beinn na h-Eaglaise on the right. 

Beautiful backdrop to Arnisdale on the ascent 

 Bealach Arnasdail.

Well hello there!

 Gary on the steep climb up to the 906m top with Beinn na h-Eaglaise behind.

 Looking NE from the 906m top to the distant Kintail hills.

 Looking South across Loch Hourn to the Knoydart hills.

 Looking NW to the main summit of Beinn Sgritheall.

 Magical day to be out on the NW Highlands

 Looking SE back to the 906m top

Gary enjoying the airy ridges

 Looking West towards The Cuillin of Skye.

 Loch Hourn & Knoydart.

 Gary descending the West ridge.

 Breathtaking views even at 450m

 Looking West back up to Beinn Sgritheall

 Looking out to Eigg and the wonderful sunset

Looking up the coast to Arnisdale.

I think somebody was trying to tell us something, Gary looks worried!

Last week I was out with Gary and we decided to head West to Beinn Sgritheall. Sometimes you've got to let the pictures tell the story and this was one of those days, quality day out West, well worth the early start and 3 hour drive!

Without the Rain there would be no Rainbow - 26 October 2014

 An Lochan Uaine

 Ryvoan Bothy

 All smiles on the way up the East ridge of Meall a' Bhuachaille

 Looking North West from the summit

 Phew, we've made it to the summit!

 Spectacular scenery on the descent

 Looking South East over the Allt na Feith Duibhe

 Emily and Aideen enjoying the view over to Cairngorm

Stormy on the Cairngorm plateau

On Sunday the 26th of October I was out with Aideen and Emily who had travelled North to Fort William with the intention of ascending Ben Nevis but the weather gods had other ideas, heavy rain and high winds were forecast, I might just need to have a plan B...

Whilst en route to meet the ladies I couldn't believe my eyes as an otter appeared from a side street and dashed across the road towards the shoreline, spectacular!
Sunday morning dawned and the weather was abysmal, constant driving rain along with a gusting SW gale which was forecast to be around 100mph at 914m (3000ft), Ben Nevis will almost certainly have to wait for another day.
After speaking to the ladies and with a better forecast, the decision was made to head East to Aviemore and reassess the weather and plans for the day from there.
The drive East was magical with the Autumn colours and there was a remarkable difference in the weather, although the wind hadn't abated much, it was better than the West...
After some breakfast, it was decided that given the current weather conditions we'd head up to the Glenmore forest park, walk to Ryvoan Bothy and head up the East shoulder of Meall a' Bhuachaille whilst getting some shelter from the SW side of the hill. All went to plan and Aideen and Emily made it to the summit safely, but given the strength of the wind, we were forced to retrace our steps back down the East shoulder before an alternative walk back through the Glenmore forest.
Thanks to Aideen and Emily for a grand day out...