A big turnout for a cloudy no view summit.....Carn Mhic Toisich

Hill: Carn Mhic an Toisich (MacIntosh’s Hill)

Type: Fiona

Height: 680m

Up in Fort Augustus I wanted to continue ticking off Fiona's even though there were some good Munro outings over the weekend. So I put a couple on the walking programme where IO was prepared to be doing it by myself if no takers.

That didn't happen, 22 turned up, mainly because the weather forecast was too poor for the Munro walking so quite a gathering.

Luckily we squeezed 5 cars into the small parking area, crossed the road and headed up Eve’s Road. Well first of all we went through a pleasant old woodland a soon came across the Preachers Stones. Folklore says the preacher was mocked so he said nothing would ever grow in this spot.

Gate well hidden

Preachers Stones

Previous reports suggested this section was poorly marked but even with the high bracken the route was clear. Reached the grassy ATV track for a short section before arriving at Eve’s Road. The route roughly follows a historic path once used by Bonnie Prince Charlie back in the day. So I thought Eve might be part of the crew but nope she was the wife of the contractor who built pylons!!

Beauly-Denny Pylons

Time to go off track

We were now on the stony track which we followed up to roughly the 550m. I have to say that the pylons were less sore on the eye than I expected.

Time to cut off and go pathless over the moorland. We got to the small hill of Meall Ruigh Uislein fairly straightforwardly but then the clouds descended and visibility went from poor to not good at all. 

Some feel the cold less than others lol

Looks a lot bigger than reality

Plenty of peat hag dodging before An Suidhe appeared out of the gloom. We skirted past it knowing we were on the plateau so minimal climbing left. Another kilometre of walking. a few false tops looming out of the gloom before a larger lump appeared. It looked as if we had a big summit but the mist distorts everything and a short stony minor scramble and we were there. An old flat stone cairn marked the spot, too wet now to get the camera out but plenty of witnesses to confirm we made it.

The weather turned for the worse. Stronger winds and heavier rain. Lunch was delayed until slightly lower down on the flanks of An Suidhe.

The clouds and temperature lifted as we descended so at least the group got some local views and wet gear discarded.

Overall a good ramble that passed quickly due to the good company.

Ascent: 650m

Distance: 15.8km

Time: 5.39

Wildlife: Hare; Rabbit; Meadow Pipit