13 (unlucky for some - but not for me!)
Accompanyment:
Gerry
Munro Stats:
Height
3196 ft
"Scree hill"
Difficulty
7/10. Anyone could do this hill I feel.
Enjoyment
9/10. Weather made this walk, as well as the ferry at the start, the brochs and a cracking band at the Glenelg Inn.
Route:
It has been some time since I have done any proper walking so apologies. Something I hope to correct in the coming few years.Back in August my friend Gerry and I decided to go for a stomp on the west coast. After an overnight stay in Plockton (which was it's typical gorgeous self) we took the Skye route to Glenelg.
This allowed us to savour the fine weather we were having and take the little known small community run ferry to Glenelg from Kylerhea.
From there we dropped our bags in the Glenelg Inn and proceeded towards the Munro start-point. The books had us starting at some point in the road 3 miles before Arnisdale. (The other route coming from Arnisdale is a markedly steeper route by all accounts and at the end of the walk we were very glad with our decision to take our chosen route.)
We drove slowly looking for a track leading left near Eilean Rarsaidh. Thankfully we did not go up a small track we saw on our left and ran into 2 walkers who had got up early to make the climb and were heading back to Arnisdale, for they told us of a very small (but noticeable 4-5 foot) cairn that led the start of the walk that was 15 metres behind us on the hillside of the main road. Look out for this and you won't go wrong.
It was a fairly steep climb all the way through shrub and small trees for the first 1/4 of the climb. Only 1 -person wide path. I can imagine how bad this climb would be after heavy waterfall. Thankfully things had been fairly dry in the week preceding our climb. Once out of the shrub the 1st view was to be had...
The sweat was on and the 2 hills above us were now clear to see.
(Prizes are available if your description of that view matches Gerry's)From there, a good amount of steady climbing on good footing and excellent path.
Before we reached our destination...
After some lunch and a few drams I decided to pipe down the hill and had THE most comical fall on my ass as I slipped, followed by the whining out of the pipes a la 'So I Married An Axe-Murderer' (There's a piper doon!!)
After a wee dip and another wee climb to the next Cairn heading north-easterly - here is a fine view of the Munro looking back at it...
From then on the path is fairly obvious. An exceedingly steep decline again made me glad of my pacerpoles. Gerry had his first time using poles on any kind and the ease of spotting yourself down a hill really made him fancy a pair by the end of the day.
After the first big descent is a river. Follow it down following a fence right the way back to the village for Arnisdale. My legs were like jelly by the end. Annoyingly the path goes right round to the west end of the village rather than directly into the village adding an extra 15 mins or so. I say annoyingly as the midgees were out by then and I was desperate for a pint and some rest! My other half was waiting at the bottom and had already been shown the village pub...
Random collection of booze on display and a cracking stereo system too!You'd also be silly to miss the biggest brochs on mainland Scotland near Glenelg (the biggest being in Shetland).
Then it was back to the Glenelg Inn (new owners - so don't believe everything you hear on google/trip advisor. Excellent food, service and rooms which are being renovated to be top spec).
Even had the chance to join in with the band... before Gerry put a bid in for the set of pipes and 'won'... making his bar tab one of the most expensive I have ever seen! Good on ya Gerry!
