Over The Hill

Our first multi day outing since lockdown 2020. We had planned to travel Wednesday and camp overnight, walk Thursday, camp and walk out Friday. Our plans changed as we were watching the weather so we went for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Janet and I travelled together and we met Lawrie at Tarbet for 1030. We travelled in convoy to our first stop Craft and Things Coffee shop Ballachulish for coffee/tea and scone/butter and homemade jam. Second stop Spean Bridge and Bridge Café to fill up on food before our adventure.

We parked at the layby on A86 near Luiblea and managed to squeeze in. It was quite windy and overcast so waterproofs were put on not long after starting. A couple whizzed passed us on bikes on their way out, I wondered if we would be as cheery as we walked out on Sunday with all our gear on our back.

As we turned sharp right to begin the next stage of the track, which would take us up to the small reservoir and to the bridge at Lochan na h-Earba, we were met by a sign warning us that there was a bypass route before the bridge due to bridge works. Oh Dear! We carried on, wishing we had seen the cyclists before the sign and we could have made enquiries. We met another cyclist coming out and he said the bridge was there, just had no beginning and end yet, but you could get up and over the bridge. Happy days – the bridge it is. It is such a beautiful spot at Lochan na h-Earba. We decided not to camp here at the bridge but to camp higher up on the Creag Pitridh side just above the stalkers path at the confluence Allt Coire Pitridh ref. NN473805. We had fun trying to find a level(ish) area to pitch. Janet, although she had fun sliding off her sleeping mat on the Friday night, decided to move to an even more level(ish) spot. The clag was down so we could not see our hills. Had a brew and something to eat at our spot down from the tents at Allt Coire Pitridh. A very early night. It was a very windy evening and not much sleep.

Up early and the clag was still down. The forecast said it should clear and be a really nice day. We were hopeful. We pretty much followed the walk highlands route for the three munros. It was wet underfoot, turning stony near the summit. The cloud lifted to give views on the first summit Beinn a’Chlachair. A female walker who had passed us near the top took our summit picture. She was from Glasgow and had travelled down that morning and was doing all three and travelling home. The cloud was still below us as we navigated our way off the summit and along the plateau. The clouds lifted and we could see our next target Geal Charn, it was a long way away. Care was taken to come off and we chose the path further to the west, where it is just as steep but a bit grassier. We traversed to the right and met the stalkers path. The sun was out and I had to take off the thermals at this point anda well earned rest at the beallach before we started up Geal Charn, taking the opportunity to refill our water bottles on route. The sun was really hot by now and made the climb up over the boulders worse. We had to have a stop before tackling the final ascent to the summit as it still appeared quite some distance away, surprisingly the summit was not as far as it appeared. Geal Charn done.

The last munro of the day was the smallest of the three and it was still a surprise when Janet, who was up ahead, let us know she could see the summit. Creag Pitridh done. Although a long way off we could see our camping spot.

It was a busy set of hills, we met quite a lot of walkers. I think we were the last off the hill, camping meant we were in no rush and were able to take in the hills and views into the evening.

The weather was kind to us for packing up, dry with a breeze keeping the midges away. Our packs were a little lighter walking out, the pack weight for Janet and I was not too different. Lawrie’s pack weight was so light, felt lighter than the pack weight I had on the hill the previous day. We met a lot of people cycling in as we walked out on the Sunday, the sun was really out by now and had heated up the track making it a hard slog on the last stretch. We were still cheery at the end of our adventure.

Wet wiped and into clean clothes at the car and a proper coffee as Lawrie had supplies for a brew in his car. We cheered to a successful trip.

I have really missed our weekends away. Here’s to a lot more.

3 Munro Baggers, 3 New Tents, 3 Munros, 3 Glorious Days