Sgurr Dhomhnuill – Ardgour initiation. June 2008.

Date: Tuesday 27th May 2008
Distance: 18.7km
Ascent: 1200m

We’d picked a week in Ardnamurchan in late may to coincide with the deciduous woods here being in leaf. Have to say the whole area was lush and vibrant. We’d had been aware of this area as a major omission from our walking experience (a common side-effect of Munro Madness preceding Corbett Craziness I suspect).

We’d read about the Strontian Oak woods and thought the walk through these to Sgurr Dhomhnuill would be fun.

Another gorgeous day – clear skies and a stiff breeze to deter the midge. Parked at the SNH car park for Ariundle woods. The woods were lush and green, tiny damselflies were flying. After a few km of this the woods thinned to reveal today’s hill feast:

The track then runs up at easy angle to the old lead mines. The drying marsh at the sides held butterflies, dragonflies and some nice sundews:

We forded the river (trickle after the drought) and aimed straight up the nose of the hill to Druim Leac a Sgiathain. A bit of undulation on the ridge developing views back to Beinn Resipol:

Garbh Bheinn’s north face looks interesting:

We cut up the ramp on the N side of Sgurr na h-Ighinn and reached the bealach easily – sudden view to Ben Nevis along Glen Gaur:

The views were expansive: Mull, Skye, Arkaig hills, the Ben and Mamores, Glen Coe. Photography doesn’t replicate it I’m afraid.

Mull:

Lochaber:

W to Resipol:

Panorama N through SE:

Panorama centred on Beinn Resipol:

We descended NW to go along Druim Garbh – wouldn’t recommend this in poor visibility – keep to the left in descent if going this way. We strayed a bit too far right and engaged in a couple of impromptu scrambles to get down. Looking back: