Chatting to a chap who was travelling east, we asked what the weather was looking like at Achnasheen - Pea souper was the reply!
Aww well.... Always the optimists - maybe we were in for a temperature inversion!
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| Looking south into the mist beside Allt Achadh na Sine soon after setting off from Achnasheen |
I don't think I'd have quite called it a pea souper - but it was certainly foggy when we parked up in the village centre in Achnasheen - it was pretty chilly as well, so muffled up, we headed out of the village and across the main road and away into the mist.
As usual, when setting off, getting out of the populated places without taking the wrong track and looking like a fool is a high priority - this time there was pretty much no chance of ending up in some farmers yard. There were plenty of signposts, complete with footprints, arrows "walkers" and "footpath" left us in no doubt the way we were supposed to go.
Not quite sure what would have happened if we had strayed from the designated route...
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| Beside Allt Achadh na Sine on the ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
Once away from the farm buildings and through a couple of kissing gates we started the ascent along the east bank of the Allt Achadh na Sine. There were a few pieces of infrastructure on the burn, assume it is being used as the local water source, but once past these the stream ran fast and churning across the hillside, cutting a deep gorge lined with birch and alder.
As we ascended the fog began to thin, azure sky bleeding through as the sun burned off the mist...
Just a few more metres and we popped out over the cloud, to the glory of the hoped for, wished for temperature inversion.
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| Temperature inversion - south from the ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
The pictures say it all...
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| Rafe - views south east to Sgurr a'Mhuilinn |
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| Temperature inversion - south from the ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
As we climbed the cloud slowly thinned, swirling about the glens, constantly changing the view.
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| Fionn Bheinn and Creagan nan Laogh |
The ascent eased as we reached the rim of the wide coire between Creagan nan Laogh and Meall a'Chaorainn. New views to the west and north. A slightly unusual view of Slioch, from a different angle, initially took a bit of recognising!
The snow which had been rather intermittent up till now, filled every hollow - and it looked like there was still plenty higher up...
But it was warm in the sunshine. Lovely.
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| Slioch from ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
The views to the south and west were still awe inspiring. Including a clear view of Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh, a couple of hills we climbed in high summer last year.
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| Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor from ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
The snow on Fionn Beinn looked smooth and inviting.
So rather than ascend Creagan nan Laogh, we crossed the north east branch of Allt Achadh na Sine (just above where a lovely little waterfall fell into a snow surrounded pool) and headed off up the open hillside directly for the summit. Rafe was bounding about - he just loves the snow!
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| Jim - Allt Achadh na Sine just before the final pull up Fionn Beinn |
We passed a couple of cross country skiers, just donning their skis.We gave them a cheery hello, but they weren't very happy with the lack of snow!
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| Liathach, Beinn Eighe and Meall a'Ghiuthais over Meall a'Chaorainn from ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
As we went up, keeping to the patches of snow, the views just kept on getting better.
The snow was hard enough not to keep giving way, but soft enough to kick steps - crampons would have been over kill.
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| Rafe and Jim - ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
Rafe was on point - oh yes... a couple of mountain hares in their winter gear, hopping away over the snowfields.
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| Tiny cross country skiers and Creagan nan Laogh from ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
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| Views east from ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
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| Views north west from ascent of Fionn Bheinn |
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| Jim nearing Fionn Bheinn summit |
We were soon at the top... Fionn Beinn (Munro 245,933m).
Wow.
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| Fionn Bheinn summit (Munro 245,933m) |
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| Views east over Toll Mor from Fionn Bheinn |
There was a rather chilly wind blowing in from the south east on the tops - time to don an extra layer again.
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| Jim looks west to Torridon from Fionn Bheinn |
We popped over the summit plateau and down onto the north west slopes, out of the worst of the wind for a spot of lunch. The hillside was pretty open with no particular shelter, but we did the best we could with the rucksacks and got hunkered down with our flasks of tea. The view was just too good to be rushing off.
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| Liathach and Beinn Eighe from Fionn Bheinn |
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| An Teallach and The Fannichs from Fionn Bheinn |
But all good things must come to an end, and I really think we'll have to get a bigger flask for next time...
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| Rafe and Jim - Descent from Fionn Bheinn |
Once back on the summit, we struck off east along the edge of Toll Mor.
The views were stupendous (really!) The loch to the north was unfamiliar - Loch Fannich - I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of this stretch of water - we've still got all The Fannich's to do..
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| Rafe and Jim - views to Sail an Tuim Bhain - descent from Fionn Bheinn |
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| Over Loch Fannich from descent from Fionn Bheinn |
It was rather on the cold side. One of those days when the wind gives you an ice cream headache...
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| Looking back (west) at the summit of Fionn Bheinn |
We met another cross country skier as we descended - his skis strapped to his rucksack - he was looking forward to a bit more snow at the summit!
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| The slopes of Sail an Tuim Bhain - descent from Fionn Bheinn |
The day was so clear and bright, we could see our descent route laid out before us - across the snowfields, back onto the grassy open hillside to a drystone wall and then down an old drovers track across the moor...
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| Red deer - descent from Fionn Bheinn |
A large herd of red deer bounded across the hillside and over our path - stopping to thumb their noses at Rafe before disappearing over a rise.
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| The slopes of Sail an Tuim Bhain - descent from Fionn Bheinn Views to Sgurr a'Mhuilinn |
The wind dropped off as we descended, and the sun felt pleasantly warm again.
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| Descent from Sail an Tuim Bhain on the old track - views south |
The going was good (although the old drovers road was a touch damp in places) and we made good time. I was pleased we had chosen this route rather than the usual advertised route of up and back the same way.
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| Jim - Achnasheen Plantation |
The track led us through gates in a couple of deer fences and into Achnasheen Plantation.
Once on the other side of the wood, sheltered from any wind, we had a second lunch. We sat on tree stumps by a burn, chomping the last of our sandwiches and looking south to Glen Carron.
Rafe, of course, was in the burn.
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| South of Achnasheen Plantation |
The path led us quickly to the road (A832), but we found that the gate there was padlocked.
Rather than climb the gate at this point, we headed west on a faint path, parallel to the road, just inside the field. We passed a couple more locked gates before we reached Achnasheen and climbed the one just opposite the first road down from the A832 into the village. It was a metal five bar gate (as had they all been) and quite high - easy for us to climb, but it was too high for a middle aged collie to jump and too low to the ground for him to squeeze under. The fence was also impassable. Thank goodness Rafe was wearing his harness - Jim was able to lift him over (just like a grumpy suitcase) and deposit him at the other side. I think I would have struggled to lift him if I had been alone!
There was a sign on the other side of the gate "Official Route to Fionn Beinn" with an arrow pointing west! Mmmm - not sure I like "Official Route" signs and locked gates! Aww yes - Ledgowan Estate, well known for welcoming walkers!!!!
A short walk back to the car and something of a relief to get the 4 season boots off...
What a day! Wonderful!!
The Achnasheen cafe was closed for the winter, so we headed off to Strathpeffer for coffee and cake at the Museum Coffee Shop...
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| Sgurr a'Mhuilinn and Strathbran Forest - south east from descent to Achnasheen |
Route: Car park in Achnasheen (NG164586), NW along road back to A832, cross the road and take unclassified road beside phone box NW over old bridge, take next right (NE signpost - footpath) and follow track through gate, past water treatment building, turning right and immediately left (well signposted - footpath) through another gate, follow rough track beside Allt Achadh na Sine, to NH151599 where the slope eases, head N to Fionn Bheinn summit (Munro 245, 933m), SE then E along summit ridge, descend to wall at NH165619, follow wall (intermittent) SE to NH175612, turn S (right) and follow old path (intermittent) through 2 gates in deer fences and into Achnasheen Plantation, continue S on rough path to A832, follow rough path on pasture side of the fence to Achnasheen, climb gate at NH166587, cross A832 and take left turn sp station, to start.
Statistics: Distance: 12km Ascent: 800m Time: 4.30hours
Maps: OS Explorer 435 (An Teallach & Slioch) and OS Explorer 436 (Beinn Dearg & Loch Fannich)
Fionn Beinn
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