This area covers the peaks north of Loch Mullardoch and south of the A890/A832 Strathcarron to Garve road. The fourteen Munros in the area are handily split into two ridges either side of Glen Strathfarrar and a cluster of five to the north and west of Loch Monar. Sgurr na Lapaich (1150m) and An Riabhachan (1129) are the highest peaks on the southern side while Sgurr a’ Choire Ghlais (1083m) is the tallest on the northern side. Mountains in the list are all about 900m. The area to the south of this is Glen Affric and Kintail.
The day started unpromisingly with cloud covering the hills so, despite a good forecast, I decided to leave behind sunscreen, which was a mistake. Appropriately there were goats at the foot of Carn nan Gobhar, before I went up the southern spur on a sometimes path. Going down to the col, the east ridge of Sgurr na Lapaich looked quite intimidating but, perhaps a result of my avoiding action yesterday, I took it head on & found it straightforward. This was the 10th day this winter when I have used crampons, compared with none last year & very few the previous, both due to Covid. However, I was already feeling weary & worrying about the long walk out along the loch. Nevertheless, I was keeping to a satisfactory 11hr schedule (walk highlands says 11 - 14hr in summer). I reckoned I had 12hr daylight. Another deep col & then a narrow ridge to An Riabhachan that was snowy in part but ok without spikes. Still on schedule but I decided that An Socach was just too far out on a limb & the ridges looked narrow so that it would not be quick, and another deep col. So I retraced to the east top & dropped straight down into the corrie with Golden Plover & a herd of 40+ deer. I still had the full length of the loch to return, which took a dispiriting 2.5hr, especially the first half when you can't see your objective. Reached the car in 9.5hr, so the 11hr schedule would have been tight but not crazy. (26)
