Loch Laga A very wet ramble

Last day of Strontian trip and sadly the weather was not for relenting, still pouring down, how much water had been dumped on us recently?
We drove to Laga where depending on the conditions my objective was Ben Laga. Under other circumstances I would have combined this with Meall nan Each, as both are Marilyn category hills. However, Ben Laga is in The Hughs book with great views so number 1 choice.
The good lady fancied the great outdoors today but when we parked up at Laga the rain almost made it a no goer. However, made of sterner stuff and all layered up we headed off. The parking area is just after the second burn (Allt Mor), opposite the Marine Harvest sign, a small dirt area with room for 2 or 3 cars.

Track to woods

Go back over the bridge and turn left,  follow the new house track until you see on your left a fence and gate ahead which takes you onto the recently planted forest area, EEC money, no more soon.
A twisty grassy track meanders upwards, stop and admire the woodland if you wish. The gradient is good, continually getting higher without too much real effort. Some beautiful black with yellow spots caterpillars cling to the grassy stems, well disguised.

Easy gradient good but wet track

Great views looking back down Loch Sunart a couple of large fishing trawlers in sight.
There is not much to see ahead as the low clouds and rain obscure the hills. The track now is a mixture of grassy areas and a stony land rover track. The water is running down these unofficial mini burns like Usain Bolt. No side steps off the track as it is even wetter.

Open moorland

We cross through another gate/deer fence which takes us out onto the open moorland. The track is straightforward to follow although quite a few of the burns have escalated in size and crossing these makes it more exciting for the missus.
This track meets up with the Glenborrodale to Acharacle longer distance trail just after you get to Loch Laga.

Loch Laga

After about an hour and a bit we get sight of said Loch Laga, looking good, but on each flank neither hill wants to shed its grey curtains of cloud. 
We reach the point just before the loch where you need to leave the track and Ben Laga is the option, but the terrain is so boggy that I am not going to risk the good lady and in these conditions and I am not leaving her down here. The rain eased and the cloud lifted briefly to let us see the terrain up to Meall nan Each, it looked like another initially boggy crossing.

Meall nan Each

Weather is crap, it is very remote and rugged but perversely we are enjoying it. 
Looking down the left side of Loch Laga you can see the track that continues to Acharacle, another nice one for a nice day. I thought I spotted a walker just off the path but it is 3 red deer grazing.

The winds have picked considerably up so we make the descent with the rain now in our faces. Up on Ben Laga 3 stags are standing on the crest of a ridge, magnificent profiles, looking down at us. As soon as I point them out to missus they disappear. An occasional meadow pipit rises from its nest and a group of 4 wheatears and that is the wildlife for the day. Not quite, a very fat vole runs across our path, just as well no buzzards flying.

Loch Sunart

In typical fashion the rain even increased in intensity as we reached the car to get changed.
Although a relatively short walk it was important for missus to get the outdoor buzz, which she did. Still the hills will be there for my next visit and now it is time to visit the nearby Heritage centre for coffee and cake.
Ascent: 844 ft (258m)
Time: 2 hours 38m
Distance: 2.75 (4.43km)