ROUTE: Expedition to tick off the Glen Affric An Socach. We chose the option of approaching from Loch Cluanie and using the "winter room" in Alltbeithe Youth Hostel rather than camping, as the forecast had deteriorated at the last minute. Munro ascent was via the Allt na Faing path .
MEMBERS OF PARTY: With my wife Marion.
CONDITIONS: Persistent wet snow and rain on walk-in. Clag. Some lying snow on the summit ridge.
DURATION: Main walk c. 5 hrs. Walk -in and walk out c. 3hrs each way.
SKILLS PRACTISED: Navigation with map and compass. "Bothying" skills.
MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT: Lovely rich autumn colour in An Caorann Mor - deer grass and wet heath was a splendid contrast with some frsh lying snow.
KEY LEARNING POINTS/CONTRIBUTION TO EXPERIENCE: More practise keeping comfortable, warm, and well-fed on a 3-day trip through wild country.
The walk-in along the An Caorann Mor was "atmospheric", but the path was generally quite obvious and we were happy to find the door into the hostel annex indeed open! Using our 4-season high altitude bags we had two cosy nights' sleep, however having omitted to bring any reading material to save weight, we were happy to walk out briskly early on day 3!
Area :
Glen Affric and Kintail
South of Loch Mullardoch you will find the Glen Affric and Kintail area whose southern boundary is the A87 road to Inverness. The Five Sisters of Kintail, Beinn Fhada, Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan and Carn Eighe are just some of the impressive peaks in this area, and all have their own unique selling points such as remoteness, size, steepness or height. As a result, peaks in the list are all over 900m.
