The Sgurrs
9 June 2007
I had an unexpected day off due to a cancellation and being based up
north and with fine weather forecasted I decided on an ascent of Sgurr
Choinnich and Sgurr a'Chaorachain, easier to call them The Sgurrs.
On the A890 Achnasheen to Lochcarron road at Craig there was a parking
area on the north side of the road, within the forest, which would
probably take around a dozen or so vehicles. There were already
several cars parked there when I arrived and a couple were getting
their mountain bikes ready. Unfortunately my bike was back at home.
I set off across the A890 and the railway line and walked along the
track to the bridge over the River Carron which I crossed. It was
only 9 o'clock but it was already hot with no wind so I needed to
cover up as there was no doubt in these conditions I would easily get
burnt.
The track steepened and although one of the cyclists passed me a
couple of times his female companion had to push her cycle uphill.
In fact I never saw them after the locked gate higher up. I caught
up with a lone female cyclist and her dog at the locked gate. She
wasn't happy as she thought the locked gate was contrary to the Land
Reform Scotland Act 2003 but my interpretation is that the access
legislation refers to 'on foot' only, although the track was a Right
of Way. There was a kissing gate at the side which afforded access
to those on foot.
I offered to assist her to throw her cycle over the six foot gate but
she was concerned that she wouldn't be able to do this on her
return. I left her and the two other cyclists with their access
problem and continued uphill and then along a more level area to the
Pollan Buidhe. I was overtaken by the lone cyclist who had managed
to get her cycle through the gate due to a loose slat.
At the Pollan Buidhe I crossed the Allt a'Chonais by a twin wire
bridge and took the footpath towards the Bealach Bhearnais. A group
of four walkers were out in front of me but I left this path and
crossed some rough ground and streams to enter Coire Choinnich as I
fancied a different approach to these mountains on this trip.
I kept to the east of the stream coming out of the corrie as the rocky
outcrops were easier to climb round but the going was tough and it was
still hot and sunny. I eventually reached the bealach between The
Sgurrs and ascended Sgurr Choinnich first. A path led to the summit
where I met a couple of guys from Inverness who were out for four days
backpacking, walking from Torridon through to Beauly climbing several
peaks en-route. While having a snack we were joined by the sole
female walker/cyclist and then by a group of four who were climbing
Sgurr Choinnich for charity as part of Water Aid.
I later left this peak and returned to the bealach and climbed to the
summit of Sgurr a'Chaorachain where only part of the trig point was
left.
I descended the north ridge of Sgurr a'Chaorachain before dropping
down to Pollan Buidhe and the walk back out along the track. This
was where the cycle would have been of great benefit especially on the
descent from the locked gate. However I stopped on a grassy section
at the side of the Allt a'Chonais and had a pleasant lunch in the sun
before continuing my return to the car park.
By the way the black bull that frequents the area at the start and
finish of the walk doesn't seem to be bothered by walkers although it
may be different if you are accompanied by your pooch.
Unfortunately I had to dump a lot of my photographs of this walk as
the lens must have got a spot of water on it.
Time taken - 6.5 hours.
Distance - 21 kilometres.
Height climbed - 1100 metres.
Photographs taken on walk can be viewed at:
http://www.caledoniahilltreks.com/gallery07/sgurrs_june_07/index.htm
Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com