Picture of the Month - August 2012

 MacLeod's Maidens 

Loch Bracadale

Isle of Skye

A two day trip on the north west coast of Skye.

Caves, natural arches and dramatic sea stacks,

'As good as it gets'

MacLeod's Maidens just before Idrigill Point 

Trip by Andy & Bill

Skye Scrambles - In Pinn Ascent

Classic Climbers 
on Skye

Sunday 1 May 2011

Scoffing our lunch rations we were entertained by the conveyor belt of people ascending the east ridge and abseiling the short west ridge.


Sitting on the summit of Sgurr Dearg observing the other scramblers and climbers, we realised that we didn't have much gear between us.

Nibbles over, we wandered carefully down the slabs and scree, under the south face of the Inaccesible Pinnacle, to the foot of the east ridge.

If you are a rock climber this is easy, if you are a scrambler it's about as hard a challenge you'd want, if a hillwalker - it will induce fear!

Everyone was chatty (nervous) as we stood about in the sun - some moved up the rock with more confidence than others.
Glad this wasn't the Alps - or it would have been a free for all.....
Our turn eventually came, Andy was lead.

Not a lot of protection used!
It is spectacularly narrow and exposed. There are vertical drops on either side - you need a good head for heights.

Bill  on belay - staring into the void on the Coruisk side, it's a long, long way down.
Note the lack of vegetation on the upper slopes, most of it is bare rock or unstable scree.

Looking north from the belay stance, the Bealach Coire na Banachdich is a lonely and unfrequented spot. Not a place for the ordinary pedestrian.

Once on top there comes a sense of relief. 
The east ridge is only two 'mod' rock climbing pitches, but the exposure is dramatic. Some holds are polished, some bomb proof - 
as they say, most climbing is 'mental' - aptly summing up this crazy summit.

We had a few moments to wait for our descent, and had good banter with the other groups on the top.
Everyone was totally relaxed, it was that kind of day.

The fun bit; the abseil down the short west side -
 'Just enjoy the experience'

Bill was securely clipped in to take this picture!

We took a slagging as we removed our gear on Sgurr Dearg.
That's what we get for each using our Whillans Sit Harness, with virtually no kit!
'Traditionalists' - we laughed out loud at the comments.

Must buy some modern 'shiny things' soon.....

The constant stream of ascents continued.

Our descent was down our ascent route; oh joy.
Shame not to have time to scramble round Coire Lagan - but Andy's on chef duty tonight.

Will this scree be as bad going down as it was coming up?

Go for it!

Speed was real - descent very rapid. All you need is confidence.
Turns out to be a great way down, as long as you keep the momentum going.

Hot feet deserve a refresing dunk in the coire lochan.

Bill - soaking up the sun as his scree pounded feet appreciate the icy water.

Hot rock; fantastic views; thirsty; thoughts of beer.......

Glenbrittle was an oasis of green after a day of glaring sun off rock.

......did the others wait to see if Bill and Andy returned safely? Well they did wait, but drove off 10 minutes before they arrived back at the car....


How did they arrive back at Bundalloch after Bill and Andy?


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Skye Scrambles - Inaccessible Pinnacle

Sgurr Dearg

Sunday 1 May 2011

The glorious weather looked set to hold for a few days more. 

Skye is absolute heaven in dry, sunny conditions with no midges.

Glen Brittle campsite was busy, good to see so many people enjoying themselves.

We started out as a group but soon split up as we all had different objectives. Bill and Andy had decided on 'The Round of Coire Lagan' - so strode on ahead.

The moorland path has been much improved over the years, it's no longer a soggy mess.

There is always a tingle of anticipation on first sight of Coire Lagan summits, it's a special place.

Perfect blue skies, and blazing sun - it was very warm.

Canna floated in the background like some south sea island....underfoot the rough slabs made for rapid progress, but today it was hot-hot work.

Coire Lagan definitely has WOW factor. 
Sgurr Mhic Connich, Sgurr Alasdair and the cliffs of Sgurr Sgumain all compete to grab your attention. You can clearly see the scree chute from Sgurr Alasdair is well worn.

Third breakfast spot - what a view.

The An Stac scree looked uninviting, Bill couldn't remember much about the route - just that he had been up it before........he would soon curse his lack of memory.

This was horrendous, awful, dreadful, (and much worse words)....three steps up - two back.

Soul destroying as well as sole destroying.
Head down, plod, plod, plod....

Eventually the screes eased off and a way was picked around to the base of our first target.

The Inaccessible Pinnacle sticks up like a big sharks fin from this angle, it looks awesome.

You can't help but worry about dislodged rocks hurtling toward you; neither Bill or Andy carried a helmet.

The ground underfoot isn't easy, it demands attention as a slip would see you disappearing down the An Stac cliffs.

Splendid - absolutely superb - this is what Skye's all about.

The In-Pinn summit and abseil descent

Mmmm, bit busy down there, that didn't figure in today's plans!

The queue was about 45 minutes, and a couple doing the full ridge decided to skip the In Pinn.

You have to be adaptable - we realised our Coire Lagan round wasn't feasible. 

Between the slow scree ascent in the hot sun, and a summit queue, the decision was made to 'just enjoy the experience'


Just what exactly does that mean............?


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Coire Lagan - Girlie Day Out

The Gabbro Girls

Sunday 1st May 

Skye walking at its best, an easy pace in good company with no particular target in mind.

On arrival we had struggled to squeeze our two vehicles into the parking area just before the Glen Brittle campsite entrance, and we weren't late!. Never ceases to amaze just how thoughtless/selfish, or just plain stupid, some car drivers can be - vehicles were 'abandoned' with no thought for others.

Deirdre, Roni, Julie  and Ron set off for a stroll and a blether. The path used to be a real bog trot but has been transformed into a well constructed stone track.

above Glen Brittle campsite

Bill and Andy had their sights on the In Pinn and a high level round of Corrie Lagan. They strode on ahead, Ron however wandered off into the heather for a sleep!

heading for Coire Lagan

The three 'col girls' debated the option of an ascent of Sgurr Alasdair via the stone chute, but decided no - not today.

The great stone chute of Sgurr Alasdair

Deirdre scouted ahead for a suitable coffee spot, alas not a scone shop in sight, however there were plenty of big slabs of gingerbread coloured rock.....

Gabbro is great!

Roni decided on some proper climbing, Julie being the camera-woman, remembered Bill's instruction, 'make sure you get people's feet in when taking a picture'.
Obedient as ever!! Bill will give her a slap for her impertinence.

'don't cut peoples feet off!'

A suitable sunny spot was selected for elevenses and Julie considered unpacking her sun lounger. 

sun worshiper

Today's high point - it must be all of 1600' - but what a fantastic place to visit.

classic Skye rock scenery 

Several very slow parties were picking their way up the scree, it looked an horrendous ascent.
We were glad to have wimped out.

hot rock, cool girls....

Miss Rohan posed for a couple of shots, sorry boys no page three photos here!!!!!
Speaking of the boys we wondered how they were getting on, it was a hot day for a speedy traverse of Coire Lagan.

An Stac scree - we're not going up there!

On such a scorcher of a day the heart shaped lochan looked sooooo...... inviting, 'who's for a skinny dip?'
For scale look at the person on the slabs middle distance right hand side near the water.

The small and beautiful blue lochan

It was an ideal spot for a Deirdre to have a fish-nibbling feet treatment from the small loch trout.
Far more hygienic than the foot spas in the malls.

Spa treatment one

Julie decided that she could have her back exfoliated on the Gabbro -  perfect!

Spa treatment two

What a great day - we had solved all the worlds problems without men reducing the chat to gutter level, had coffee, a foot pedicure and a back massage whilst enjoying magnificent rock architecture in Coire Lagan.
What more could a girl want?


The tide had come in a long way in the few hours we had been out, anyone fancy a bit of surfing?

Loch Brittle and campsite 

We waited in the hot sun for our Cuillin scramblers to return, then decided to leave a note on their windscreen. As luck would have it we drove off ten minutes before their return....how did they make it back to our base in Bundalloch before us, considering they stopped at the Coop in Kyle to top up beer supplies?

Fantastic girls day out - Deirdre Roni and Julie. 

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In Pinn - Sgurr Dearg - May 2011

Pick of the month

The Inaccessible Pinnacle of Sgurr Dearg

photo taken by Andy on a glorious day in early May. 

The 'easy' East Ridge of the In Pinn on Skye.

should we have brought helmets?

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Eilean Donan Evening

Beautiful Bundalloch

29th April - 2nd May



Dierdre found excellent accommodation for our May break.

Our house was a traditional stone cottage in the tiny hamlet of Bundalloch which adjoins Dornie.
It's right on the shores of Loch Long in Wester Ross; the sea loch which meets Loch Duich to create Loch Alsh.

Sgurr Uran could well be phonetically named after Sgurr Fhuaran, the highest hill on the Five Sisters ridge.

Our group consisted of Dee, Ron, Andy, Bill and Roni.

We were joined on Saturday by Graham and Stan.
Graham went bagging with Ron, Dee and Roni,
whilst Stan went to Skye with Andy and Bill.

It was a great place to come back to.

After everyones exertions on the hill on Saturday, we had a re hydrating drink and said goodbye to Graham & Stan, who were based at the Clunie Inn; we then looked forward to our next visitors, Julie and Henry who were in the area.

We had arranged a communal dinner for 8pm(ish) and in the gloaming we spied two dots on the water.
Was it our guests?

Roni was ready for food, in fact we were all hungry. A couple of glasses were mulled over as we waited for our canoe adventurers to return.

It was a great night to be out on the water,

it must be them now?

Andy, our trainee chef was anxiously tending his vegetables, he didn't want them too floppy...

Shouted abuse from the water confirmed Julie and Henry.
Henry doesn't shout.

It had been a superb paddle out to Eilean Donan.
We were jealous.

Our meal was first rate.
Dee informed us it's called Chicken Parmigiana.
Very nice it was too.

Company was ok.

Amazing how modern digital equipment allows you to share your adventure, immediately.
No more waiting six months for a slide show!

Both hill outings had been glorious;

what would tomorrow bring?

Footnote:

explanation courtesy of Clan MacRae

SGURR UARAN
The war cry of the Clan MacRae is Sgurr Uaran and is named after one of the tallest of the five mountains at the base of Loch Duich known as the Five Sisters of Kintail.

Being Gaelic, its pronunciation needs conversion for those not familiar with the traditional Scottish language! For Sgurr, pronounce "scure", for Uaran, pronounce "ur-an" placing the accent on the first syllable and so that the "ur" rhymes with "tour."

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