Introduction
Day One - Loch Achall and
Knockdamph
Day Two - Duag Bridge
and Loch a' Choire Mhoir
Day Four
- Return to Ullapool
Being so close to the Munro top across the valley this was not an opportunity pass over and an excursion to the summit was planned. This would only take the morning so we decided to use the afternoon to walk out to the bothy at Knochdamph. We were up early at 7:30am to find clear blue skies above, but mist hanging in the entrance to the corrie. The midges were out in force so we packed up inside the bothy.
All tent, sleeping, cooking and food was packed into two of the sacks and light clothes, lunch and water into the other two. The drifting mist had engulfed the sharp ridge opposite so we opted for the easier ascent of the West ridge slopes. We crossed the exit stream to the loch and made our way up the watercourse running from Loch Luchd Choire. After refilling the water bottles - the water here was much clearer than the 'whisky water' found at the bothy - we struck up the steep grass and bilberry covered slopes to gain the ridge above. The season obviously suited the fruit and they could be picked readily.
After much much puffing and panting - and wondering why we bother... - the open ridge was gained as the sun and breeze started to lift the mist and clouds from the tops. Turning left we made our way over two smaller crests to reach the wide expanse of the first top. The easy stroll continues past a small lochan to reach the foot of the final climb - An Teallach was already clear and bathed in sunshine just off to the right beyond the shoulder to the summit.
After a quick bite we dropped the two sacks and climbed the easy but
steep grassy slopes to the summit wind shelter. By now the west coast was
virtually clear of cloud - the Torridons, An Teallach, Coicach hills (here seen
from the 'rear' side), the Assynt mountains and beyond. Beinn Dearg is not so
far away - only 7 km - and still holding large patches of snow on the northern
slopes. Ben Wyvis lays to the south-east - a large rounded massive when viewed
from this angle.
The sun disappeared for a bit and it soon turned chilly so we dropped back down the hill by our route of ascent. As the loch and bothy came back into view far below us we could see that there was an obvious party going on as several cars had arrived. We pushed on down the steep slopes, pausing briefly for a refreshing rinse in the tumbling stream, and strolled back along the track to the bothy. The local owners were installed complete with family and BBQ enjoying a days fishing and picnic. Offers of freshly cooked trout and bread buns to supplement our cups of soup were gratefully received. We repacked the rucksacks, wrote up the bothy book, and left at 3:00 pm for a three hour walk to our nights stop.
For the first hour
we retraced our steps down the track, crossing the ford before turning left to
climb the north west shoulder of the valley. By now the sun was hot, the track
hard and the uphill stretch to gain the high point somewhat of a struggle. Here
the route loops back to the north and we were somewhat relieved to see a narrow
but clear path setting off over the drumlins in the required direction. This
was a real PATH - not a hardcore track - the first we had actually set foot on
since we started. The path stays high above the river Allt nan Caorach - just
as well as the the narrow valley floor was nothing but mud. Under normal flow
the exit at the north end is dammed sufficiently to cause the valley to flood
but in the recent dry weather it had drained completely.
Despite the promising start to the path we temporarily lost it on the
steep hillside, fear of being too low left us on sheep tracks above the correct
line. Once the path was re-established it was a very pleasant walk along the
valley and around to the foot of Loch an Daimph. Turning the corner opened up a
view along the full length of the loch with the bothy 3.5 km away at the far
end. More important was the strong breeze down the valley which was both
cooling and midge reducing in nature.
It was now approaching 6:00 pm
and after a short rest and bite we dropped to the loch side and stolled along
towards the bothy - a bit like walking on railway ballast - the grassy bits
were pleasant enough though. A final wash in the loch before opening the door
to the bothy- no-one had visited since our first visit 48 hours earlier. The
place looked even more welcoming - perhaps we were more knackered. Supper then
bed on the upstairs floor by 9:30 pm - as the weather started to close in.
Apart from the picnic party, the only figure we saw was a walker who
reached the summit of Seanna Bhraigh about 20 minutes after we started our
descent. Where he/she came from or went to we do not know. Otherwise -
alone.
Introduction
Day One - Loch Achall and
Knockdamph
Day Two - Duag Bridge
and Loch a' Choire Mhoir
Day Four
- Return to Ullapool
Seana Bhraigh
Ascent