Knoydart 2011

Ladhar Bheinn From Barrisdale Bay

Just back from my first visit to Knoydart this year and an interesting week it proved to be. One client, one hill and one day that didn’t happen! I don’t have many photos for you, just a couple of library shots of the mountain we did climb and some pretty pics taken on the way to the pub!

Inverie

We knew Day 2 was going to be wetter than a wet thing so we planned our mountains for Days 1 and 3. Consequently, no sooner were we off the ferry and unpacked than we were heading out for Knoydart’s finest: Ladhar Bheinn. This mighty mountain, the mainland’s western-most Munro, is most easily climbed from the Folach, a ruined house at the end of a good track 6km north of Inverie. Given the late start and a keen eye for an easy life, I was extra receptive to any means of shortening the day. Consequently, a suggestion from our accommodation manager (thanks Christine!) to make use of the neighbourly 4X4 taxi service was seized upon with gleeful anticipation! So it was we shaved a good hour of track-trudging off our afternoon and eliminated the long walk-in that Ladhar Bheinn demands from her southern approaches.

Looking NE From Ladhar Bheinn (a view we didn't see)!

Accompanied for part of the climb by soon-to-be Munroist David (7 to go as I write this!), we climbed the easy grassy slopes and not-so-easy wet path to the skyline of An Diollaid before turning right for the summit ridge. We entered cloud half way to the top and a cool breeze took the edge off most things. It then started to rain on top albeit for no more than 10 mins. Regrettably I only enjoyed the benefit of my waterproofs for 2 of those mins having waited too long for ‘the passing shower’ to pass!

Looking East From Ladhar Bheinn (another view we didn't see)!

Ironically, we had cloud, wind and rain for the otherwise entertaining summit ridge of Ladhar Bheinn (1020m; pr = larven = hoof hill). No views unfortunately, so it was back the same way to the Folach and then the 90 min stroll back to Inverie, Elaine’s first Munro safely in the bag.

On The way To The Pub!

As expected, Day 2 was cloudy and wet and we lay low in preparation for an assault on Meall Buidhe on the following morn. That morn broke bright and sunny and we set off up the Barrisdale track waiting for our hill to come into sight. A short while later 2 landrovers passed: a stalking party complete with cigar-smoking client away to slither in the wet grass in some remote corrie in pursuit of stalking glory. After a while we came to one of the landrovers parked untended on the track. We moved past and continued on our way; I could see no activity up on the hillside opposite the mountain we were aiming for. Then Elaine stopped and confessed she was uncomfortable with being in such close proximity to the ‘hunters on the hill’ and had no desire to go on. I knew it would be wrong to try and persuade her otherwise given the genuineness and seriousness of her concern so our short mountain day was over and we returned (safely) to Inverie.

On The Way Back From The Pub!

The next day we returned to Mallaig on the morning ferry all set for a night-stop in Fort William and a walk up Ben Nevis on which to end the week. However, on disembarking at the pier at Mallaig, Elaine declared a change of heart and announced she had decided to return to Knoydart for a few days, such had been the effect of the peninsula on her. Consequently, we parted company a day and a mountain early and went our own ways. Knoydart can have that effect on you; it is quite special. I’ve never lost a client there before though!

West Coast Sunset!

Check out my future plans for similar walks on: http://www.hillways.co.uk/summer/summer.htm