A small group of ten eventually assembled at the cosy and characterful Smiddy on Friday evening though several had already spent a day on the hills, enjoying the somewhat unusual ‘heavy persistent sunshine’.
The Smiddy… full of character(s) [Faye, Simon and Ray]
Evelyn enjoyed a low level walk along the Gruinard river watching the fishermen and fisherwomen trying their luck with the elusive salmon and the native woodlands.
Adrian had spent the day on Slioch while, Robert Ross had flown up from London on Thursday and spent the day, I think, on Beinn Dearg.
On Saturday An Teallach by various routes was the unanimous choice. Jan and Dan drove down the road and started off with the Corbett of Sail Mhor seeing an eagle and twenty goats as well as the Stornoway ferry. Then along the ridge to Sgurr Ruadh and Sgurr Creag an Eich before topping out on Sgurr Fiona and enjoying the superb views. Dan nipped up Bidein a Ghlas Thuill while Jan traversed around from the Bealach. Wondering why her pack had felt heavy all day she realised she was carry some of her work with her so Dan had to wait while she digested pages 2 to 9 of Management by Crystals.
Jan’s office
Most of the others, Ray, Simon, Evelyn, Faye, Adrian and Robert plus three dogs went up the path by the hut to Bidein a Ghlas Thuill, reminiscing about the hardness of the ice they had encountered last time they were there on a bus meet. Then on to Sgurr Fiona, a very satisfactory tick in the book for Evelyn, now down to her final sixty Munros. The wind dropped, the temperature rose and we all enjoyed the superb views. Robert and Simon continued on to do the circuit of the pinnacles and the interminable descent of the boulder slopes of Sail Liath and finally reaching the welcome sight of Ray waiting for them at the Corrie Hallie car park. Dogs not being too good at climbing, the others returned by the ascent route. Brent and Gus have left no account for posterity but took in some of the other outlying tops.
Faye on An Teallach
All in all a ten out of ten day.
Sunshine continued on Sunday morning. Faye and Teresa went walking on the hills near Braemore Junction, Dan and Simon did a couple of routes on the excellent Jetty Buttress near Gruinard Bay and Adrian cycled up An Faogach but little more is known