Friday 21 July 2023

Three Peaks from the house

Given there were some hills out of our back garden, this seemed too good an opportunity to miss.

Difficulty: 3.2
Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Poppy (12)
13:10, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (18)
17:25, 8.8km 4h15 572m, End (24)


Setting off we seem to have found the path, our house is in view next to the loch.

It was quite hot, so Piper was glad to find a puddle.  Turns out we weren't on the path, so it was very slow going over rough ground.

Finally up our first destination - Meall nan Cnaimhean. Great views looking north west.

Onwards to our next destination, the top of that ridge.

Piper at the top of Beinn Ghormaig.

Waiting for Caroline to catch up after taking photos of the view looking north west.

Piper at the top of our third mini-peak, Beinn Ithearlan.

From here you can make out the Cuillin Munros in the middle of the horizon

Finally heading back down to the house we found the path that we had been aiming at on the way up.  Unsurprising we lost it, since it went through thick heather with no visible signs... 

Tuesday 18 July 2023

Ben More via A'Chioch

There was only one Munro that was almost convenient, and this is also miles away from any others, so good to tick it off.  We had to get the ferry across to the Isle of Mull, then drive up to where we could park off the road for this route.  I was very keen on doing the interesting way up, so that's the way we went.

Difficulty: 5.5
Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Isabelle (21), Grace (18), Evie (15), Poppy (12)
10:27, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (-12)
14:53, 7.5km 4h25 1085m, Ben More (966, Munro)
17:08, 13.8km 6h40 1089m, End (10)


The first easy climb up to the saddle point.

Piper was very keen to go over the saddle point and explore, rather than turning right and going up.

Views back north to where we're come from.

Piper having fun climbing up to A'Chioch.


Fairly narrow paths

Piper needed helping up a couple of the bigger steps but otherwise four paw drive was vastly superior.

Now the fun ridge approaches!

We did end up splitting on the way up, with Poppy and Piper going with me, and Isabelle and Grace helping Caroline up the steeper bits.  Grace provided the soundtrack to keep everyone's spirits up, with song like 'The Only Way Is Up', you get the picture.

View from the top!  Awesome to see this view.


The much more gentle way down.  It would have really not been as fun to go up this way.