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This one was from the wed walk and is Sgurr Mor (at 1110m the highest point of the Fannich range) with Carn na Criche to its left. Our walk goes left to right and off into the distance!!
Well, a nice early start at the bunkhouse saw us parked up and ready to go at 8.10 which is pretty good. The forecast was good and the mist was starting to clear off the hills as we followed an excellent stalkers path into the hills. Claire's leg was
still causing her problems and was heavily strapped [later consulting with a physio meant that she shouldn't really have done this work - mega props for having the guts to do it my lovely] and the good walking underfoot was great. Regrettably, it couldn't go on for ever and we soon got a junction where we had a choice of paths, a walkers path which we knew went to Loch a' Mhadaidh (our first destination) and the stalkers path which went off towards a ridge. We took the walkers path - which turned out to be an error; although it didn't become apparent for another couple of hours.
Our path was narrow and did vanish once in a while, however it deposited us at the Loch which is at the heart of the range. Our next objective was the col between Carn na Criche and Meall a' Chrasgaidh (the final peak we had ascended on wed). We were initially really lucky to pick a small but very usable path through the heather to the base of the corrie headwall, where a gruesomely steep and quite midgy ascent would put us on the main ridge and MUCH easier going. The last part of this ascent was really tough for Claire with her injured leg, and it was much to our relief and somewhat to our amazement that we met a good traversing path coming in from the ridge to our right. Looking down from the top it linked up with the stalkers path on the ridge of Creag Raineach Mor (a 600m peak next to the col). With hindsight we should clearly have stayed on the stalkers path.....it's easy to say it is a wonderful thing but I should probably have trusted my instincts which were to use this ridge in the first place (when planning the route at the bunkhouse). Not a great decision, especially for poor Claire who suffered a lot with her leg...
Once on the path; it was a weary wander up to the summit of Carn na Criche, where a lunch stop in the sun helped no end. A steady plod up Sgurr Mor led to the main decision of the day - descend over Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich (the way we had gone down on Sunday) or go further along the ridge - very easy walking but an unsure descent off the Belach Ban. Claire chose the latter (to her immense credit) and we descended and then re-ascended (not much) over Meall nan Peithirean before a final drag onto the munro of Meall Gorm. From there our route lay over its SE top and thence to the Belach. The sight of a path starting next to Loch Gorm and taking us through the first part of the heather bash was VERY welcome...and it made a lot of difference. When it vanished it was hard going; however our decision to head to the river was correct (for once on this trip) as we picked up a small path along it which sped our progress. Once we had hit ground we knew from Sunday I pushed on ahead so as to walk/hitch the 2 miles along the road to get the car (oh yeah - missed this bit out, by committing to do more walking Claire knowingly risked adding 2 more miles on as well). Luckily I got a lift almost immediately and was able to be at the car park when Claire arrived (not that long after me it must be said).
The day did have one final good part...upon arriving back at the bunkhouse, Ian told us that we could have the second b and b bedroom, complete with its own bathroom and showers.....RESULT!!
A fantastic end to a great trip....even the drive back, we took the scenic route down Loch Ness, the next day went ok....
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