Date: Thursday 16th September 2021
Distance: 13.7km
Ascent: 900m
After a walk out Glen Achall on a mixed weather day on Wednesday we were looking to get up a hill on a better looking Thursday.
Another nice dawn in Glen Achall.
Glen Achall:
Headed round to Knockan Crag and the parking at NC 189 094. The stalkers path up Meall Diomhain is well constructed and easy walking. With the sun out it was another warm day. To the NE Ben More Assynt and Conival were in the cloud.
Towards Ben More Assynt:
As we headed up Meall Diomhain the munros to the NE began to clear.
Crossing Meallan Diomhain:
Theres a rather intrusive cairn line up Meall Diomhain, sad to see gaps in the ground where walkers have been pulling up more stones to build more cairns and rock piles.
Other hills provided a distraction. Cul Beag is a bit of a beast.
Cul Beag:
Crossed from Meall Diomhain to the NE ridge of Cul Mor – a classic Assynt view across lochans to Suilven appears.
Suilven:
Headed up Cul Mor’s NE ridge, a little steep and boulder. With other folks at the summit we headed on past the top out the NW spur of Sron Garbh where the views are sublime.
To the west Stac Pollaidh is a rather unique looking hill, we could also see MV Loch Seaforth out past the Summer Isles.
Stac Pollaidh (and MV Loch Seaforth top left):
SW the jumble of hills of the Beinn Mor Coigach/Beinn an Eoin group is laid out.
Coigach:
It’s a great lunch spot, with an airy view over the watery spaces of Assynt.
Stac Pollaidh and Loch Sionasgaig:
To the NE Ben More Assynt and Conival had cleared up nicely, there was excellent air clarity too so we spent some time identifying peaks.
Canisp and Ben More Assynt:
Suilven and Canisp:
Sat around for an hour or so, we quite fancy a camp on Sron Garbh sometime. Eventually headed back to climb Creag nan Calman. The cloud was beginning to fill in a little to the south.
Crossing to Creag nan Calman:
The flank of Creag nan Calman is a sculpture in sandstone. There’s a decent view back out to Sron Garbh.
Creag nan Calman:
Headed down the east ridge of Creag nan Calman, coming across a group of ptarmigan. A group of juveniles I think.
Ptarmigan:
The descent off Creag nan Calman is nice, good underfoot and easy angled. Out to the NE it was a good day for the munros.
Ben More Assynt:
Stopped to watch a juvenile Golden Eagle which worked its way lazily round Meall Diomhain and then eventually headed off towards Cul Beag. We headed round the flank of Meall Diomhain to the stalkers path.
A last look back at Cul Mor and Creag nan Calman.
Cul Mor:
A pleasant amble back round Meall Diomhain towards the path.
Heading back:
Spotted a large group of Dunlin on the hill as we passed.
Dunlin:
Another of the area’s great short walks. A cracking wee hill.
Busy Doing Nothing 