(Munros Completed : Sgurr Breac (22) & A’Chailleach (23)).
Cloudy & Blustery…..but two more Munros bagged.
The forecast was for cloud, although a higher base than yesterday but very windy gusting up to 70mph ! Because of this I decided upon a sightseeing day. This took me along the coastal road around Gairloch, past Loch Maree & onto Kinlochewe for wonderful close up views of Beinn Eighe, eventually on toward Applecross.
On the Friday my plan was to climb Sgurr nan Clach Geala, a 20 min drive from Ullapool but on the approach Sgurr Breac & A’Chailleach presented a more appealing hike with snowy ridges. The former Munro is also a good hike but needs a good bed of snow to make it worthwhile.
I didn’t follow the Munro guide for this walk, as a far superior approach is to follow the Allt Breabaig all the way up to its source at the col between Geala & Each. Follow this for most of the way on the right as there is a fairly well defined path and about ¾ of the way up cross over to the left side (by the disused & derelict bothy with only small parts of the walls standing) where there is also a well-defined path.
On the approach the ridge up to Sgurr Breac looks imposing but as you reach the top point of this valley it becomes less intimidating & is actually a fairly easy & enjoyable climb. The path to the summit is still well defined and I arrived at 2:15 pm.
The weather was cloudy but well above the munro tops and although windy gusting to about 50mph it was not as bad as the previous two days. This did ease in the afternoon as forecast. Once on the summit the descent West to Tomain Coinich is not difficult and then there is another enjoyable ridge walk up to A’Chailleach. Follow the old metal posts to the summit though note that this summit looks closer to Sgurr Breac than it actually is.
I arrived at 4:25 pm & by this time the wisps of cloud had started to cover the tops occassionally so I didn’t hang around. I descended to Tomain Coinich again and headed North down the flattish broad ridge all the way to the nose of Leithr Fhearna. Once on the nose the descent is fairly steep, eroded in parts and boggy. However, it is far better to return by this route than ascend this way.
Again for the following day the forecast was not good with winds approaching 30-40mph gusting to 55mph on the tops. Having been buffeted almost constantly for the past two days I decided against any munro bagging today.
This time I headed North & drove to Achnahaird beach, passing Stac Pollaidh on the way, then up through Lochinver and on to Clachtoll beach. This is a beautiful beach & well worth a visit. Alas, this was the final full day of my stay and although this time I had only managed 2 days of munro bagging I never tire of visiting Scotland.
