Meall Chuaich...a re-appraisal..

Meall Chuaich from the approach path.

Meall Chuaich does not have the best reputation in our house. Claire has not impinged it in any way, shape or form - however both Mum and I have told her all about it.

Many years ago, Mum and I were in the NW of Scotland for a couple of days. I spent mine at Shenevall bothy - doing Beinn Dearg Mhor and the 'big 6' Fisherfield Munro's. On the way home, going through one of my hapless munro-bagger phases, we stopped off and did Meall Chuaich - about which I can remember nothing.


To be fair - most of the guidebooks are not that complimentary about it either! Claire and I were in Scotland having driven up on Friday in Suilvan - resplendent with his snow tyres, he has been getting lots of presents recently. Saturday we rested and went for a stroll around the lovely Glenmore Forest, before driving down to Achlean. We went to Achlean as our intention at first was to do Mullach Choir a' Blair the next day. Speaking to some hardy looking walkers who turned up at the car-park with tales of white-outs on top and 2' snow-drifts  - coupled with the lack of daylight and our lack of fitness - convinced me it would be cutting things a little fine...ergo Meall Chuaich.

It was not an auspicious start - one of my trekking poles has been playing up a lot recently and decided to muck around YET again. We have a set of these poles and the other 3 have been perfect; this one has been back to Black Diamond once and had been fixed by the wizzo's in Needle Sports on two other occasions - as I write it has gone back YET again to BD to try and fix. This not withstanding, we got out and started to walk towards the dam.

One positive aspect of Meall Chuaich, which makes it excellent for short autumn/early winter days - is the ease of approach. The march is actually some way - around 4km to the foot of the hill - but it is on a rough road that goes to the Hydro station and then turns into a very well constructed stalkers path. The Allt Chuaich bothy is now locked and not a bothy any more - shame as it has a nice fireplace and plenty of wood around!! and the path up had some sheet ice in places. It was a slow but steady climb to the top and for most of the way the sun was trying to get out and move the clouds - regrettably the clouds won and by the time we reached the very large cairn on top - the clouds were down and we were denied a view. [We were almost denied a map when a gust blew it out of my hand, however Claire managed an excellent save with the point of her trekking pole].

We descended by compass bearing as the path was largely snow-covered for the first few hundred feet, and it shaves a little close to some craglets for safe-keeping. As it turned it out; I steered us a little further south than anticipated, which caused a little confusion when the mist cleared for a bit. However, trusting the compass paid off as we descended and hit the stalkers path we had left some time before. This path encircles the south side of the hill and makes clearing the hill straightforward. However, the terrain is a desolate wasteland (Macbeth's witches would feel at home) so once again this is a mountaineering expedition as opposed to a mere walk - I have long held the view there is no such thing as winter walking in Scotland anyway.

After a quick drink we were back on the walk-out; quite nice to stretch the legs before the drive home and Claire's tick in her book!!!

nb: Claire does NOT collect Munro's - the fact she ticks them off in her new Munro's book is pure coincidence!!