Getting busy schedules to co-inside is hard, but Fiona and I put the date in the diary and made it stick. The plan was to spend a few days in the hills, tick a few Munros and generally get away from it all.

A good breakfast and a late start meant a pretty full car park at Inver Lael, and as we headed higher up we began to meet a few folk coming back down.  From the folk we chatted to it seems our late start paid off, we missed the early clag and rain,  and as we climbed higher the cloud began to break.

We first made for the top of Beinn Derag itself, high point of the trip, following the destitution wall to near the summit. then returning to the bealach for the climb to Cona’ Mheall. Views into rear corries from here were ace.

The summits were now cloud free, and we had views across to Seana Bhraigh, The Fannichs, Fisherfeild and into the Glencalvie Forrest. We returned to the Bealach for the final time and finished off the evening with the ascent of Meall nan Ceapraichean.

Meall nan Ceapraichean from the bealach

After crossing a steep, but mushy, snowfeild we descended North to a lochan strewn bealach below Eididh nan Clach Geala and made camp for the night.

Camping

As the sun set we were treated to spectacular views into Fisherfeild. Beinn Dearag Mor holding the eye as the sun streamed through the darkening clouds.

Into Fisherfeild

The clouds must have continued to draw in overnight, as dawn saw us waking up inside the cloud. Despite this we headed easily up to summit Eididh nan Clach Geala before 9am. The days plan had been to continue round to Seana Bhraigh, and we set off nav’ing in that direction. But enthusiasm for another night on the hill had been dampened, and Seana Bhraigh had looked so nice the day before it seemed a shame not to see her in full glory. So instead we made for the exit path and returned to the car and a house with a warm shower.

Heading home in cloud

We used day three to head to Glen Cannich and the corbett of Sgorr na Diollaid. We arrived to find company, a large group from Ayr setting off up the hill. The weather came and went, with baking sun, and cloud, but the rain mostly stayed away. Views down Loch Mulladoch ringed with massive hills whetted our appetite for future trips…

The View into Glen Cannich