Moruisg

11.8.04 - Achnashellach Trip, Day 3 - 13km, 980m - 278 mins

Area 12: Glen Cannich to Glen Carron

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Moruisg928m3045ftM255#110
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One of the six trains per day that pass here

When we got up and looked out the windows of Gerry’s Hostel the day looked unpromising and we (not to mention the other hostellers) hung around trying to decide what to do. The idea of a camping expedition, aiming at Lurg Mhor and the other very remote hills, was quickly abandoned. The forecast we managed to get was that the following two days would bring better weather. I was inclined to leave the four remotest hills for a future camping trip, so eventually we settled on Moruisg and Sgurr nan Ceannaichean - a shorter day, but two more ticks nevertheless. Of course, five years later, Sgurr nan Ceannaichean was demoted to a Corbett after more accurate measurement, and the day was really only worth one tick in the end. After a short drive up Glen Carron we parked in a lay-by and set off about 10.50, over a bridge, across the railway (the track was flooded under the railway bridge) then we immediately lost the path and found ourselves wandering across a boggy moor.

Checking out Creag a

We headed towards the Alltan na Feňla and picked up the path again beside it. There were intermittent showers but nothing too serious. The valley narrowed and we encountered some cows and a bull, then decided it was time to cross the stream and head up Creag a’ Chait, the north ridge of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean.

A view of Maoile Lunndaidh from the summit of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean

As we began to climb we saw sunshine on the hills to the north and on the road, and became hopeful of the weather clearing. It was a long, steep slog up onto the ridge which, when we reached it, was very windy. We sat behind a large rock to shelter and ate our lunch, hoping that by the time we’d finished there might be some improvement. Lunch was very welcome, but the weather stayed pretty much the same, so eventually we set off again in extremely strong wind, accompanied by what felt like hail. Further up the wind lessened, and on the summit the mist cleared briefly, giving the weird cloud effect pictured here. This then was the Munro that wasn't. The mist returned and we set off on a series of bearings down to the bealach and up the winding ridge of Moruisg. This ridge was easy enough but longer than I had expected.

Coming down Moruisg

Finally we reached a large cairn which we assumed to be the summit of Moruisg and sat down behind it for the celebratory Mars Bar, etc. Then we set off again in the mist, on a bearing to follow the ridge northwards. After dropping slightly we then climbed a little again and found another large cairn, which was clearly the real summit! We hardly stopped but continued on the same bearing, happily soon descending increasingly steeply. We veered off too far to the right however, and found ourselves at a cliff top that shouldn’t have been there. Howard and I stopped to study the map but Alasdair and Isdale continued on down into the mist. Eventually we had to go down after them and catch them up - luckily they’d stopped again not far down - and we all headed back up to skirt round the top of the crags then head north-west down ever-steepening slopes.

On track for the hostel and some dry clothes!

The mist cleared and we saw Loch Sgamhain, the river, the road and the railway. We headed for the bridge, the steep slope of the ridge gradually easing and getting more and more boggy. We reached the railway, had a short walk along it (there are only about six trains a day to worry about on this line), and got back to the car about five o’clock, very wet. We drove back to the hostel and got changed into dry clothes. After dinner we went out for an evening drive to Lochcarron where there was a breeze to keep the midges off, though it was still spitting rain. We drove on as far as Stromeferry, where we didn’t get out of the car, and got back to the hostel before 10.