Steven Loraine - 132580

Two (of planned three) day exped. into Glen Affric, staying at Allt Beithe hostel. Rode in from the roadhead car park. Initially stopped at Athnamulloch with the intention of climbing the little used NE ridge of Mullach Fraoch-choire to the Demoted Top at 1047m. A number of obstacles presented themselves soon after leaving my bike at a high, locked gate on the south-bound track into a side glen. First was the river, which had a very deep channel, ultimately not safe to cross. Beyond, two ranks of high deer fencing suggested the estate owners weren't keen to see anyone on this die of the mountain. I headed back to the bike and continued the ride to the hostel, arriving just after 10.00 as the manager closed the hostel for the day.
I parked the bike, left my gear in the dorm and commenced plan B, which was to do the hill planned for day two, Mullach na Dheiragain and its remote 932/3m NE Demoted Top. I had covered much of that ground on a trip form the north of the hill on a previous two day exped. a couple of years back, so headed north over new ground to the bealach at b818m below An Socach. I ascended to the 915m Demoted Top of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhain, where I knew a narrow track gave an easy descent into descent into the hanging corrie of Coire na Dearcag. I crossed this easily to the west of Loch Coire nan Dearcaig, to ascend the short slope onto the Bealach na Daoine. Ahead lies the long rolling SW ridge of Mullach na Dheiragain, over the Top of Carn na Con Dhu, 967m and on to the Munro at 982m. I then headed NNE to the previously visited Top of Mullach Sithidh, where a thin track descends NE to the short ridge of the Demoted Tops of 932m and 933m. The first is the actual Dmeoted Top, and I also visited the 933m point for completeness. The feeling of isolation here is quite pronounced, with the Mam Sodhail range to the east and the Mullardoch range to the NE. Sgurr na Ceathreamhain and its ridges fills the SW skyline.
The return route is obvious - just turn around and retrace steps to thew Munro summit and head over the ups and downs to the Bealach nan Daoine. The weather was holding, with a few sunny spells and billowing clouds but no rain, which had accompanied the first hour or so. Once at the bealach, I retraced across the hanging corrie and located the base of the thin track from the lochan up to the base of the 915m subsidiary summit. Once on to the main east ridge of SnC, it's an easy drop down to the 843m spot height and then the 818m spot height to locate the track into the upper reaches of Coire na Cloiche. The track drops height rapidly over a lip and onto the main slopes above the hostel and an easy descent.
Day 2 was the originally planned day three. Note here that I had decided not to attempt Mullach Fraoch-choire and then the Demoted Top, from Allt Beithe, via the NW ridge of the Munro, preferring to park that day out and consider alternatives to gain the Demoted Top, without going over the Munro again.
So, an early start and back up to the bealach at 818m below An Socach again to gain the main eastern ridge of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhain, this time crossing the 915m point, Stob Coire na Cloiche, the unnamed Demoted Top at 941m, the Top at 970m spot height and finally the steep pull up to the Munro summit at 1151m. There follows a really enjoyable knife-edge ridge out to the West Top at 1143m. The usual routes then head down the N ridge over other Tops. My goal however lay out to the NW, descending then gradually re-ascending to 999m and the Demoted Top. This is marked by a couple of very small slabs with no other marker of its previous Munro Top status. Again, being so rarely visited, the sense of isolation and peace is marked.
As yesterday, the return route is to retrace steps back up the West Top, along the exciting but easy ridge with its turrets and slabs, back on to the Munro. Thence the straightforward descent over the intermediate summits back to 818m and the drop back to Allt Beithe.
On day three I rode out very early and began the twelve hour drive home after two fabulous days in Glen Affric.