Took the 10 am ferry from Oban to Craignure this morning.( additional sailing and last at this time till mid December ). The sun was out and the wind light although there was a distinct feel of autumn in the air. We went as foot passengers for £5.40 each return and the 45 minute crossing was a pleasure. the walk from the pier to Scallastle took about 30 minutes and from the farm we headed for the Beinn Chreagach ridge as it looks much more attractive than the Maol nan Damh approach. The bracken and brambles were tangled and fierce on the lower slopes indicating that this is not the most popular route up the hill. we were soon on the ridge however and treated to a small herd of deer passing very close to us. Just over two hours from the pier brought us to the large cairn of Dun nan Ghaoithe and some wonderful views both seawards and towards the mainland. The summit temperature was -2C and a strengthening wind was now blowing as the expected weather front approached.After a brief halt we took the superb ridge to the trig point and even larger cairn of Mainir nam Fiadh. After killing some time here taking lots of pics we headed onwards down the ridge towards the upper telecomms masts and was surprised to find it surrounded by a 8ft barbed wire fence which is understandable but the gates had been left wide open which made the fence kind of redundant! The walk down the track is very easy and we were soon back on the road about 2.5k south of Craignure. Another 30 mins brought us to the Craignure Inn to find it closed a sign saying it opens at 4:30pm, not much use with a 5 pm ferry to catch, so we dropped into McGregors kitchen next to the Spar shop for a beer before the crossing back to Oban. By now it was very dark and the rain was driving across the sea but we were soon back in Oban for the rainy drive back to Crieff arriving almost exactly 12 hours after leaving this morning.
An excellent hill day for the 1st of November with hopefully many more cold crisp days to come.
Stop it. Stop it. STOP IT!!!!! I'm more jealous than a jealous thing, 'cos I was working yesterday!!!!!
Lucky b&£$%* !!!!
Jim
Graham Ingram said:
Took the 10 am ferry from Oban to Craignure this morning.( additional sailing and last at this time till mid December ). The sun was out and the wind light although there was a distinct feel of autumn in the air. We went as foot passengers for £5.40 each return and the 45 minute crossing was a pleasure. the walk from the pier to Scallastle took about 30 minutes and from the farm we headed for the Beinn Chreagach ridge as it looks much more attractive than the Maol nan Damh approach. The bracken and brambles were tangled and fierce on the lower slopes indicating that this is not the most popular route up the hill. we were soon on the ridge however and treated to a small herd of deer passing very close to us. Just over two hours from the pier brought us to the large cairn of Dun nan Ghaoithe and some wonderful views both seawards and towards the mainland. The summit temperature was -2C and a strengthening wind was now blowing as the expected weather front approached.After a brief halt we took the superb ridge to the trig point and even larger cairn of Mainir nam Fiadh. After killing some time here taking lots of pics we headed onwards down the ridge towards the upper telecomms masts and was surprised to find it surrounded by a 8ft barbed wire fence which is understandable but the gates had been left wide open which made the fence kind of redundant! The walk down the track is very easy and we were soon back on the road about 2.5k south of Craignure. Another 30 mins brought us to the Craignure Inn to find it closed a sign saying it opens at 4:30pm, not much use with a 5 pm ferry to catch, so we dropped into McGregors kitchen next to the Spar shop for a beer before the crossing back to Oban. By now it was very dark and the rain was driving across the sea but we were soon back in Oban for the rainy drive back to Crieff arriving almost exactly 12 hours after leaving this morning.
An excellent hill day for the 1st of November with hopefully many more cold crisp days to come.
Great stuff... I am at the stage now when I can pick my venur for the last (Scottish) Corbett party, if spared, and am going for Dun da Ghaothe.
Got to survive a few more yet first.
Yesterday I was up Swirl How/Old Man of Coniston. On one of them, which ever is the higher, and there is doubt due to big cairns and fluctuating spot heights, I managed to do a Corbett in all four trad. nations of the British Isles (Sorry folk of Man , you dont have a Corbett :-) ) in a month.
3 weeks ago Moelwyn Mawr 2 weeks ago a simple strol up the road to Mount Leinster Last week Binnien an Fhidhlier and Beinn nan Imirean.
"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Great stuff... I am at the stage now when I can pick my venur for the last
(Scottish)
Quoted message said:
Corbett party, if spared, and am going for Dun da Ghaothe.
Great choice and it will be a great achievement given the distance you travel and also the other "lists" you are working through at the same time. I think the recorded Corbetteers sits around the 200 mark but I could be wrong. I also seem to recall the Munro list now exceeding 3000 so quite a difference as evidenced by the fact you rarely meet anybody else on a Corbett ~ Brilliant !
Quoted message said:
Got to survive a few more yet first.
Any rough idea when you will complete them ?
Quoted message said:
Yesterday I was up Swirl How/Old Man of Coniston. On one of them, which ever is the higher, and there is doubt due to big cairns and fluctuating spot heights, I managed to do a Corbett in all four
trad.
Quoted message said:
nations of the British Isles (Sorry folk of Man , you dont have a Corbett :-) ) in a month.
I have still to climb any significant hills anywhere else in the UK :-(
It's a shame that the Craignure Inn wasn't open in time for you to enjoy it. I remember it as being quite good. Especially as I was stranded there as the Bayview Garage in Craignure tried to "fix" my car 2 summers ago.
"Jim Willsher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Stop it. Stop it. STOP IT!!!!! I'm more jealous than a jealous thing, 'cos I was working yesterday!!!!!
Lucky b&£$%* !!!!
Jim
Graham Ingram said:
Took the 10 am ferry from Oban to Craignure this morning.( additional sailing and last at this time till mid December ). The sun was out and the wind light although there was a distinct feel of autumn in the air. We went as foot passengers for £5.40 each return and the 45 minute crossing was a pleasure. the walk from the pier to Scallastle took about 30 minutes and from the farm we headed for the Beinn Chreagach ridge as it looks much more attractive than the Maol nan Damh approach. The bracken and brambles were tangled and fierce on the lower slopes indicating that this is not the most popular route up the hill. we were soon on the ridge however and treated to a small herd of deer passing very close to us. Just over two hours from the pier brought us to the large cairn of Dun nan Ghaoithe and some wonderful views both seawards and towards the mainland. The summit temperature was -2C and a strengthening wind was now blowing as the expected weather front approached.After a brief halt we took the superb ridge to the trig point and even larger cairn of Mainir nam Fiadh. After killing some time here taking lots of pics we headed onwards down the ridge towards the upper telecomms masts and was surprised to find it surrounded by a 8ft barbed wire fence which is understandable but the gates had been left wide open which made the fence kind of redundant! The walk down the track is very easy and we were soon back on the road about 2.5k south of Craignure. Another 30 mins brought us to the Craignure Inn to find it closed a sign saying it opens at 4:30pm, not much use with a 5 pm ferry to catch, so we dropped into McGregors kitchen next to the Spar shop for a beer before the crossing back to Oban. By now it was very dark and the rain was driving across the sea but we were soon back in Oban for the rainy drive back to Crieff arriving almost exactly 12 hours after leaving this morning.
An excellent hill day for the 1st of November with hopefully many more cold crisp days to come.
I have still to climb any significant hills anywhere else in the UK :-(
I've so far similarly failed to climb anything in England, despite crossing the border being high on my last New Year's list of intended hills. Doubt I'll make it before the next New Year now......
"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:3fa66218.20554843@news- text.blueyonder.co.uk...
Quoted message said:
Great stuff... I am at the stage now when I can pick my venur for the last
(Scottish)
Quoted message said:
Corbett party, if spared, and am going for Dun da Ghaothe.
Great choice and it will be a great achievement given the distance you travel and also the other "lists" you are working through at the same time. I think the recorded Corbetteers sits around the 200 mark but I could be wrong. I also seem to recall the Munro list now exceeding 3000 so quite a difference as evidenced by the fact you rarely meet anybody else on a Corbett ~ Brilliant !
Quoted message said:
Got to survive a few more yet first.
Any rough idea when you will complete them ?
Next year?
I am notorious at not completeing lists .. Last 25 Munros took 8 years..... Have yet to finish any others..
They are nicely clumped now, 2 in Flowerdale, two Applecross. Beinn Tharsuinn, 4 in Knoydart, one half of the uncertain pair -Buidhe-bheinn , one in Glen Dessary, two in Ardgour, two in Morvern, Carn na Saobhaide and any I have missed off that list :-)
I am at the stage now when I can pick my venue for the last (Scottish) Corbett party, if spared, and am going for Dun da Ghaothe.
I did Dun da G with a friend as his last Corbett. Got some nice video of him opening the champagne. Luckily (or unluckily), he didn't drink much, so I had to drink most of the bottle for him. Made the walk down more interesting. Panorama on the SMC Corbetts CD. (taken mid December). A hill I'd happily do again 8-)
