Ascending Leitir Fhearna

The pre Christmas sales started early, with forty-six would-be mountaineers queuing behind the coach doors, waiting for the Fannichs PLC to open.

First out of the lift and heading for the boot department was Graham Milton, making Beinn Liath Mhor Ghiubhais his destination: it has taken longer to write this than for him to climb it. He had a nice easy day with good views (wasn’t he the lucky one). Graham did a sterling job with his entry for the diary, placing it in the November 2010 to Drumochter section – this took a wee while to find. (Nice one Graham).

On the second floor and heading for the rucksack department at Lochdrum, Ray Harron, Lisa Taylor, Bob Laughton, Corinne Ferguson, Stephen Linturn, Malcolm Campbell, Paul Chappell and John Henderson.  They walked over the dam, and then followed the path in towards Loch a Mhadaidh before going up the scrambly northern ridge of Sgurr Mor.  After a damp, claggy clamber to the summit, they met Tish, Jenny Graham and Katie Griffiths, who arrived via Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich.  Malcolm and Paul then went in pursuit of this Munro, whilst the rest of the group headed over to Meall a Chrasgaidh.  They had some welcome refreshment in a small shelter, to avoid the worst of the wind – and then thankfully the clouds parted to give a clear view of the bus!  

Leitir Fhearna

The lift stopped on the third floor, fleeces and waterproofs, at Loch a Bhraoin. No pepper spray was deployed during the final stampede for the hills.

Tom Summerscales bagged himself the bargain of the day, taking in all five of the Munros – Meall a’ Chrasgaidh, Sgurr nan Clach Geala, Sgurr nan Each, Sgurr Breac and A’ Chailleach.

Also looking for bargains and heading over Leitir Fhearna were Dan Moysey, Chris Harding, Andy Taylor, Bill Lindsay, Donnie Maclennan, Graeme Morrison and Kenneth Bews. They contoured around the ridge to Loch Toll an Lochan, then climbing to the bealach and up onto A’ Chailleach and Sgurr Breac. Low cloud and high winds led to some interesting navigation problems whilst on the ridge.

Following up Leitir Fhearna Dave & Kate Whitelock, Fiona Cuninghame and Illona Morrice continued up the ridge Druim Reidh and on to Toman Coinnich.  From the top they broke southeast and up onto Sgurr Breac. Fiona and Illona headed down the ridge to Allt Breabeag, whilst Dave & Kate retraced their steps back to Toman Coinnich before forging west in the strong wind to A’ Chailleach. Following on over Sorn na Goibhre, with the cloud now breaking, they descended east to Loch Toll an Lochan and finally down to Loch a Bhraoin.

Claire Procter and Duncan May followed Allt Breabeag up onto Sgurr Breac, continuing on to Toman Coinnich where they met Kate and Dave. Claire & Duncan decided to follow down the ridge, Druim Reidh, over Leitir Fhearna and back to the bus.

Sandy Murray, Dagmar, Elliott Harbottle and Nick & Pip Molnar romped up Allt Breabeag, turning east onto Meall a Chrasgaidh and up onto Carn na Criche. They continued over Sgurr nan Clach Geala, then south to Sgurr nan Each before descending west to the bealach and down Allt Breabeag. They arrived back at 16.28, pretty good timing.

Also on the same route, but not up Carn na Criche, were Stephen Linturn, Donna Nash, Barry Clarke, Dave Jones, Graeme Gillespie and Hillary Ford.

Don Asher and Alistair & Gosia Meikle toiled up Allt Breabeag to the bealach, travelling east onto the saddle before scaling Sgurr nan Clach Geala and returning the same route.  (No mention in the book if they all walked together though?)

Bob MacDonald and Sheena Forsyth followed the same route but, instead of retracing their steps, continued over Meall a Chrasgaidh before dropping down off the hill.

Graeme Bartlett and Greg Muir walked up Allt Breabeag to the bealach before parting company. Graeme went up the ridge to Sgurr Breac and A’ Chailleach, then dropped down to Loch a Bhraoin and round to Lochivraon Bothy. He then followed the loch side path back.

Greg went up onto Sgurr nan Each where the cloud descended, making an about turn north to Sgurr nan Clach Geala and finally back to the bus, arriving at 14.55.

Joanne Chappell and bump had a troll along Loch a Bhraoin and Ken Ross got off the bus at Lochdrum and wandered north.

A long and enjoyable Pub stop at the Aultguish Inn rounded the day off nicely.

Dave Whitelock