Saturday 22 July
A much brighter day, with just a few of the previous day's clouds lingering over the hills. I climbed Ben Klibreck through cloud, but it lifted as I reached the summit. Then I drove south as far as Conon Bridge to stay for a week with my friends who were renting a farmhouse there.
Ben Klibreck from the nearest road (photo taken in the afternoon, when the cloud had lifted). After crossing the little footbridge over the River Vagastie there is about 3km of boggy ground to squelch over before reaching the mountain.
Me on top of Ben Klibreck.
A typical main road in northern Scotland. This is the A836, 40 miles of single track road with (occasional) passing places, going from Tongue to Lairg.
Sunday 23 July
Fine warm day. Bob and I drove up the narrow lane to the top end of Glen Strathconon and climbed two of the hills there, Meallan nan Uan and Sgurr a'Mhuilinn.
Bob on Meallan nan Uam with Sgurr a'Mhuilinn beyond
(and Loch Coire a'Mhuilinn in between)...
... and conversely, me on Sgurr a'Mhuilinn with Meallan nan Uam beyond (and the Strathfarrar hills on the skyline).
Monday 24 July
Rest day. I did some shopping in Dingwall since I was on the cooking rota for that evening, then drove to Contin and walked along the forest trail to the Rogie Falls.
Rogie Falls.
Tuesday 25 July
Another fine, warm day. With Allan, Pat, Alison and Bob, climbed Am Faochagach. It was a delightful climb, with a good path all the way up and amazing views in all directions. The usual obstacle to climbing Am Faochagach is that you first have to cross the Abhainn a'Gharbhrain. According to the book, "In normal conditions this crossing will entail wet feet; in wet conditions (which some might regard as normal) the crossing is likely to be impossible." In fact, it has been so dry recently that the river was reduced to a trickle and we crossed it without any difficulty. (Even so, I managed to slip on a wet rock and got a nasty crack on the shin. That might account for what happened three days later, on the Friday, when I chickened out of a somewhat trickier river crossing.)
The view westwards from Am Faochagach, with Beinn Dearg on the right and the distinctive notches of An Teallach in the distance.
Bob, Pat, Allan and Alison on Am Faochagach.
Trivia question: Is there anywhere on the British mainland from which you can see the sea on both sides of the country? Answer: Yes. From the summit of Am Faochagach we could see the Moray Firth to the east, about 35 miles away, and to the northwest the open sea somewhere near Lochinver, a similar distance away.
Bob crossing the Abhainn a'Gharbhrain without getting his feet wet.
Wednesday 26 July
With Allan, Pat, Bob, Chris S. and Lionel, climbed the two westmost Fannichs. In the morning it was oppressively hot and still as we followed the path leading over the pass towards Loch Fannich. When we climbed out of the valley it was much fresher, and once again we had magnificent views. In the evening we went out for dinner to the Plough Inn at Rosemarkie, where I had a very good venison steak.
Lunch atop Sgurr Breac (Lionel, Chris S., Allan, Pat, Bob).
Making our way down the slopes of A'Chailleach...
... and across several kilometres of rough ground back to the cars.
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