Glenfinnan Weekend

Glenfinnan 12-14th May

Another weekend of strenuous activity to claim Corbetts in the area.

Again we used the sleeping coach at Glenfinnan Station, and on Friday night there was already a booking for one hill walker, who left very early on Saturday, his second day on the TGO Challenge. Obviously we chatted to him when we were all fed and watered.

On Friday seven of us, Jane, Linda, Paddy, Susan, Ruth, Ali and I, met at the start of Gleann Fhionnlighe on the A830, and cycled up the glen to the forest edge, then up to the ridge Na h-Uamhachan, and the good ridge walk to Braigh nan Uamhachan. On the way Ali and Jane found the energy to display a test of stamina (well, for a few seconds) , as seen on this picture.

Approach to Braigh nan Uamhachan

At the summit a long rest was enjoyed, since the weather was good, then we descended, cycled out, and to the accommodation. Linda and Paddy, and Jane, parked their campervans in the station car park (by prior arrangement with the Glenfinnan station Museum proprietor), and used these, and the rest of us were in the sleeper. Shona and daughter Amy arrived later, and finally Graham, somewhat subdued after watching some unsatisfactory football match.

Plans were made, discussed, and remade, for Saturday. Shona and Amy to Braigh nan Uamhachan, Linda and Paddy to Sgurr an Utha, and the rest of us to the Lochailort triple, our route being to An Stac, Rois-Bheinn, and finally to Sgurr na Ba Glaise. The weather was cloudy, at about 800m, and rain threatened finally arriving at c. 1340hr while we were on the second Corbett, Rois-Bheinn. We climbed the third hill, Sgurr na Ba Glaise in the rain, then descended gently, finding our way through rocky outcrops into the Coire a’Bhuiridh, and down to the new road (serving waterworks, presumably for Marine Harvest’s massive salmon hatchery shed). The overcast skies had not really given us any good views, as you can see from the plain background on the photo (below). A long, strenuous day, but enjoyed by all for the challenge. Back to the sleeper, where the others were already washed and polished, for our own showers, then to the Glenfinnan House Hotel for a good dinner.

Summit of An Stac

Paddy and Linda had climbed Sgurr nan Utha, and you can see the relief on Linda’s face in this “after the summit” photo.

Sunday morning was overcast again, and there had been rain in the night. Our plans were varied, again; Graham, Linda & Paddy to Beinn Resipol, Shona & Amy to Streap, Ali, Ruth and Susan to Stob a’Bhealach Sgriodain, Jane to home (she has had a good week here in the west, in her campervan), and me to Sgurr Ghiubhsachain. Those of us on the hills at the time on Sunday (c. 1100hr) suffered a severe hailstorm, which caused me to abort my outing, so I became the only failure, since I had found my rate of climbing on Sunday morning to be slower than normal, and coupled with the headlong hailstorm to the first summit I estimated that if I completed the planned circuit I would be very late for dinner! Linda, Paddy and Graham had a good walk on Beinn Resipol, with latterly good views, as on the panorama photo, from somewhere on Ben Resipol.