CAIRNGORMS & TORRIDON WEEKEND

Hells Lum Crag and Loch Avon

Weve had a mixed bag of weather over the last few weeks. Unseasonably cold on the mountains with a fresh dusting of snow above 1000m at times. It went wet and warm for most of last week and then another two days of colder conditions on Friday and Saturday. Friday was good in the Cairngorms with just the odd snow flurry now and again.  Lighter winds so feeling pleasant in the sunny spells.

FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER

Rainbow over Glenmore

It was a good day for wildlife in the Northern Corries of The Cairngorms on Friday. Very quiet on the hills which is all good for spotting our wonderful animals and birds. The Mountain Hare are still in the their dark Autumn coats but I suspect it won't be long before they'll be changing to a more winter-like shade of  grey.

Mountain Hare, Northern Corries

With the lighter winds it was a pleasant scramble along the Fiacaill a'Coire Sneachda ridge. There had been a couple of morning snow showers. The overnight temperatures had been low. The west had seen more snow than here and Ben Nevis had a covering to 1000m this morning but none to speak of here.

A solitary scrambler on the Fiacaill

...and another solitary figure on the Fiacaill!

After the Fiacaill I took a wander over the plateau and to one of the finest of viewpoints in the entire Cairngorms overlooking the Loch Avon basin. The Autumn colours are looking superb just now, all helped along with the bright skies. Shadows lengthening over the Shelterstone Crag. Winter not far away!

Loch Avon basin looking beautiful in it's Autumn colours

Back across the plateau and plenty of ptarmigan about. In all today I counted 26 of them scattered across the coire's and plateau. Humans tallied 0, all day.

Ptarmigan under blue skies

The ptarmigan and mountain hare are probably the most likely wildlife you will see up on the Cairngorm plateau. You would have to be pretty unlucky not to see these fine creatures.

Unlucky or just not going to the right places :)

The Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare are supremely adapted to the wild weather conditions on these mountains.

Mountain Hare hiding

I must have stood staring at a fine Mountain Hare for over 10 minutes on my way back to point 1141m. His head just above a large boulder. I was poised with the camera but knew as soon as I moved he was going to bolt. So he did! Next time! There's always a next time with wildlife, that's why we keep on going back.

SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER

Fuar Tholl

The weather forecast was looking fine in the NW Highlands on Saturday. A cold airflow promised for some beautiful photography. The morning seemed to be the better part of the day. Karen and I headed to that most beautiful part of the Highlands, the Coullin Forest. There are many mountains that lie in this area between Glen Carron and Glen Torridon. We  chose Sgorr Ruadh, walking in from Achnashellach. This fine Munro gives quality views to the big Torridonian giants to the NW.

The impressive Sgorr Ruadh from Coire Lair

I never tire of the fabulous approach walk up Coire Lair. As soon as you leave Achnashellach station you have constant, spectacular views of the mountains as you walk on the excellent stalker's path into the coire.  Fuar Tholl looms  ahead followed by Bein Liath Mhor and then Sgorr Ruadh. All these mountains can be climbed in a long day which makes a fine circuit.

Coire Lair and Beinn Liath Mhor

By mid-day the cloud had blocked out most of the gorgeous blue skies, sadly. It's still spectacular Torridonian scenery even under a grey sky. The tops were still clear of cloud as we made our way up the brilliant North ridge of Sgorr Ruadh.

Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh from Coire Lair

Showers out west over Loch Carron

Sgorr Ruadh summit

Fuar Tholl

No wonderful views of Liathach from the summit but we did get a glorious view to Fuar Tholl over towards the east. We startled a herd of deer as we descended down to Loch Bealach Mor which lies at the low point between Sgorr Ruadh and Fuar Tholl. A quick dip for the swimmer in our group here. Getting a bit chilly!

Afternoon swim

Another heavy snow shower on the final descent back to Achnashellach. It didn't quite live up to the weather forecast and no spectacular, beautiful photography this time. A fine day out and always a place I return to, especially in winter. Next time, white!

Fuar Toll

Another shower