A' Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire

Richard, Martyn, May and Craig teamed up at Drumnadrochit and car shared, courtesy of Martyn, to Cluanie where we met Helen and four legs, Max. It was typical Kintail weather being really claggy with a fine rain. Would it improve? The really bad news was, for the first time this year and slightly earlier than usual, the presence of midges.

There was no gentle walk-in as we soon spotted the narrow track that took us up and relentlessly up  the southern nose of A' Chralaig. Once on the ridge it was a lovely open hill walk to reach the summit of this large (1120m) mountain in wonderfully atmospheric weather conditions of drizzly clag clearing at times to give spectacular views into the adjacent glens. Midday and the weather was beginning to break.

A' Chralaig is translated as the basket or creel, perhaps because of the spectacular corries on its eastern side.We continued north with more intermittent views into the glens and onto the surrounding peaks. The going was easy and we soon reached the subsidiary rounded summit of Stob Coire na Cralaig. We turned northeast and the nature of the mountain changed into a much narrower ridge walk. Richard,Helen and Max decided not to tackle the summit ridge as the wind was getting more blustery and threatened the safety of the dog. They descended west down the  steep slope into Coire Odhar and had a spectacular view of the others climbing the ridge onto Mullach Fraoch-choire the, cloud having cleared for 20 minutes . They walked on slowly down the glen following the burn An Caorann Mor, the others catching them up where the muddy track became an easier land rover track. We reached the car just before 4pm having had a great day despite (or perhaps, because of ) the weather.

Taking part: Richard, Martyn, May, Helen and prospective member Craig.

Words: Richard Photos: Helen and Craig