This Bus meet should have been one of the classic trips of the season, to one of the best walking areas in Scotland, but the weather decided otherwise! High winds and constant heavy rain made for an impossible days walking and despite the dire warnings, 23 people (including 6 guests), turned up for this meet (or forgot to cancel!). The original plan was for a traverse from the Beinn Eighe car park northwards to the Green barn (which used to be red!), but with prior knowledge of the terrain to cross it was easy to decide this would be a non-starter. There are not many easy, sheltered walks in this area, which do not include difficult ground or rivers crossings, so we all decided to get very wet and see if Goretex was any better than Paramo! Needless to say neither were as great as the manufacturers claim.

Sue Beardmore was the first to brave the elements as she began her walk from Kinlochewe up the “Heights” track towards Loch Fada. Despite passing some spectacular waterfalls, she made an early return to the welcome comfort of the Hotel and a nice pot of tea. Next off the Bus were the “Local knowledge” team of Heavy, Steve and Denise Price and Bernie Foran, who were heading for the Corbett, Meall a’ Ghiuthais. A nice walk on a good day, but despite the wet, slippery, rocky and scrambly ascent they managed to get to the view point at 550m before calling it a day, and then dodging the cars on the road walk back to the pub.

The remaining 18 hopefuls continued on the Bus to the Green barn and then formed the “Peleton” for the optimistic trek up the track towards the Corbett Beinn an Eoin. Andy, John, Ray H, Ray N, Bob, Graham, Bill, Andy, Alastair, Brent, Derrick, Tish, Malcolm, Chris, Aaron, David B, Helen and Jo followed the wet and rocky route for 6kms until finally coming to an abrupt stop at the river and realising it would be impossible and dangerous to try and cross it. Can they not build a flood alleviation scheme up here so that walkers can get to the hills? A slow traipse back to the bus was the only choice as the whole area appeared flooded and getting worse as the rain continued to fall very heavily.

Despite the conditions, most people had an enjoyable day and enjoyed getting soaked in a perverse sort of way! Everyone managed to re-locate to the Kinlochewe Hotel around 1.30pm for a drink and dry-out and a chance to catch up. Some of the guests even started to fill in a membership form! The 5.30pm return to Elgin was probably the earliest in living memory?

Next month there is another great traverse planned from Ben Mor Coigach to Achiltibuie (other walks are available). The traverse of Ben Mor Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir is one of the finest hillwalking jaunts in the north-western Highlands. If the weather is kind there are superb views of many of the classic hills in the Assynt area, including Stac Pollaidh and Suilven to the north and the Summer Isles to the west. Not to be missed?

Author: John Henderson
Photos: Andy and Heavy