Creag Ruadh; and Aonach Shasuinn
Creag Ruadh, Kinloch Laggan
Seven of us fancied a leisurely day exploring Creag Ruadh near Kinloch Laggan. With an improving forecast as the day went on we were in no hurry. Thankfully there was enough of a breeze to keep the midges at bay.
We set off from Sherrabeg up the northerly ridge towards the summit. Almost immediately, we had terrific views up towards the Corrieyarick Pass. We followed the undulating ridge which provided a pleasant but quick route up. We had many pleasant stops to admire the views. Tim also kindly helped us to suss out the differences between Cowberry, Crowberry and Cloudberry. Whether we remember for next time is another matter!
We were surprised to encounter two people not long before the summit. We had lunch on the summit whilst looking down Loch Laggan and over towards Ben Alder to the south, the Grey Corries to the west and nearby Creag Meagaidh. The visibility was very clear picking out the details on the crags on Creag Meagaidh.
After lunch we descended eastwards down into the Scots pinewood and followed the ridge to Dùn da Lamh Pictish hill fort. Whilst not the highest peak in the area, its central location afforded spectacular views down all the glens radiatating out from its location. Its obvious to see why the Picts chose this area to place a Dùn.
We met a surprising number of other people as we made our way down but given the views from the Fort itself this is maybe no surprise.
We walked back along the forestry track then public road before returning to Sherrabeg. A few of us then fancied a something to eat so stopped in Newtonmore for a wee bite. A pleasant end to a very pleasant day.
Taking part: Catherine, Helen, Stella, Michael, Cerian and prospective members Calum and Tim
Words: Cerian
Photos: Cerian, Michael and Tim
Aonach Shasuinn, Glen Affric
Six of us including two prospective members gathered quite early in the Glen Affric car-park to feed the midges. So many windy days this year that we'd rather forgotten about midges. Many midges fed, we set off along the track to the hills. There was some confusion early on as to which hills we were actually intending to do (Aonach Shasuinn and Carn a'Choire Ghairbh), so we were on Plan B, a clockwise circuit. Aonach Shasuinn gets fairly steep and the weather, as promised, turned fairly horrid before the summit, although the rain did stop in time for a summit lunch. Progress has been slow, so now it was Plan C, to descend the other ridge, via Carn nan Corieachan Cruidh (the cairn of the hard/tough corries) and Cnap na StrÌ (lumpy hill of the struggle), the latter living up to its name - distinctly steep all round. It's a fine broad ridge though, and the sun came out. And so back to the cars.
Taking part: John, Nell, Margaret, Brian and prospective members Chris and Carmen.
Words: John
Photos Nell and Chris
