A very rough walk into the clouds.....Sgorr na Diollaid

 Hill: Sgorr na Diollaid (Peak of the Saddle)

Type: Corbett

Height: 818

I knew from descriptions that this was potentially a pathless boggy ascent right from the start to pretty much the summit. Quite often things are a lot better when you climb them so was it accurate? Absolutely bang on.

Ascend anywhere, we went left for a bit to ascend the ridge on left of snap

We parked up at the small area before the bridge over the River Cannich and then walked left up the road where we found the start of an ATV track that presumably leads to the mast that can just be seen. We left this pretty quickly and manoeuvred our way up the steep ground to get to a point just right of the mast. The ground was a mix of bog, heather and long slabs which aided the ascent.

Ascent to mast with Pt777 rounded lump back centre

Pt777 prominent headed for it then swung right after heather heading for summit area top right

A descent across boggy heather, flanking an obvious wet area before heading up the slopes, trying to stay more with the dry grassy tussocks than the heather but the reality is it is a mix of the two. No paths pick your best section and go for it.

View back down to Loch Mullardoch. Foreground shows the rough terrain

The views of the glen down Loch Mullardoch were excellent with several Munros standing out, the most notable Carn Eighe although tops in cloud.

An example of how deep the hag walking was

Around the 450m the gradient levelled out but still very rough ground. Spotted two herds of red deer. One lot were below us sitting in the heather until they spotted us. The other herd was high up to our left on the ridge of Meallan Odhar and there looked quite a few of them.

Pt777 on left but we are going up via crags on right

From crags looking back at hag terrain about to disappear in cloud at this point

Sadly as we reached around 700m the clouds came down and even though there was no wind it was bitterly cold, more layers put on. More peat hags to meander around and visibility became poor as we reached the more interesting craggy rock formations.

Twin peaks appear

More weaving and ducking up the crags before another peat section. The top is quite spectacular and we knew it was close by but we did not see it until we stumbled upon it, really disappointing.

Approaching from the east to avoid the worst scrambling

Hard grass frost it was very cold

It is twin peaked but the true summit is the easterly one, as it happens the one we reached first. It was so cold the grass was still frosted. A narrow scramble to the very small top and that was it. The other top looked higher but this is an optical illusion as we found when we climbed it. There are meant to be tremendous views looking over the 2^nd top to Strathfarrer but I can only take the writers word.

A quick descent and up the 2^nd top where, looking back, the 1^st top looks much higher from here, odd.

Time to find shelter for lunch.

Walkhighlands has this as a straight up and down but the Corbett book suggests taking in the 3^rd top at point 777m. This had been visible as we ascended but of course not now. This is not a long detour but it felt like it as we transferred ourselves across more boggy ground, descending then seeing grey lumps rise out of the gloom knowing these had to be ascended before we got a bearing back to the start.

Old ATV track helped descent from Pt777

Shortly after leaving the top we found a very faint ATV track which made the going a bit easier. There are some serious small bogs dotted around where, when tested, walking poles disappeared in full extension without touching the bottom.

The descent seemed easier than the ascent but it was still rough stuff and I was glad to reach the road. A cuckoo calling in the trees was a welcome sound.

Despite the non existent views up top it was still a good ramble in good company. I doubt I will be back to see those views it was a one off shot.

Ascent: 744m

Distance: 10.3km

Time: 5.46

Wildlife: Red Grouse; Red Deer; Meadow Pipit; Cuckoo (m) calling;