A Mull Graham the easy way.....Cruach Choireadail

 Hill: Cruach Choireadail (Corrie of the meadow)

Type: Graham

Height: 618m

Weather has been awful during this short family holiday, but I took advantage of a short morning to escape for a higher ramble.

This hill is normally done as a duo but no time for that today so an up and down ascent. As a single it is normally recommended as a very steep direct ascent for about an hour of pain. Not for me that level of exertion. I had driven past this before and noticed an ATV track that looked an opportunity. A look at the map and I could use this to get up to a high ridge and tackle the hill from there.

The ridge from the start but I am going the other way

From the road the boggy track can be seen climbing away from the target

There is parking for two cars maximum at the track to a mast in Glen More. I walked down past the mast and there was the ATV track on the right. It is not the best feeling to be walking away from your target at the start of the walk but that's what I did. The track meanders up the hill, very boggy at times, even becomes a parallel track at times but overall, a lot better than the deep grass and bracken alongside. That insect bite last month has taken its toll with not a lot of exercise since then. As such I was huffing and puffing away and felt decidedly not good early on but pleased that as I climbed, I was improving.

The ATV track does have off shoots, but I ignored them and continued all the way to the ridge.

Possible to cut across from here

Going that bit higher better walking

Small herd of red deer hinds in the distance

From here it was good walking along the ridge. It added more ascent and descent but worth it for the generally better underfoot conditions. There are excellent views of big hills all around, Mull has many steep beasts rising from sea level. Great views down glens back to numerous lochs.

Undulating ridge walk then the grassy scree climb up Cruachan Beag. I was surprised how good I was feeling long may it continue.

A last short drop and then the final ascent up to the top. An hour 34m so pleased by that. The easier long way around was not really that much longer and a lot less strenuous.

Ben More on right

Graham of Sgurr Dearg peak on the left

Raven comes for a scrounge

Rum Cuillins in distance

A disappointingly small cairn greeted me, but the views did not disappoint. It had been a grey day with the odd blue patch. The close view is dominated by another Graham, Ben Buie. Further afield Ben More with Loch na Kean shimmering light blue, very nice. In the distance the peaks of Skye, Rum and the Cruachan Argyll hills.

The wind was now gathering strength. A storm was due in the afternoon, but these winds heralded the early front.

Back along the ridge to the bulge in middle of snap

Ben Buie

I returned the same way once again enjoying the ridge before descending back via the ATV track looking at the impressive/imposing ascent ridge of Ben Buie. One for my next visit, maybe!!

Ascent: 614m

Distance: 8.7km

Time: 3.01

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Raven; Red deer.

A ramble on a new island for us.....Ulva

 Walk: Ulva Ramble

I had my hill walk the other day so time for something gentler as the good lady was in tow. I had been meaning to visit Ulva for some time so a good opportunity for a relatively low walk ramble.

As you know I love a ferry trip to start a ramble and today was only a couple of minutes long on a small boat taking 8 people at most, but I was happy.

Landed on Ulva and paid the ferryman the tariff of £6 a head. It was dry when we landed but forecast was not so good. Ferryman said it had been constant grim since last September and this year the poorest weather he could remember, I concurred.

On an island I always feel that this is different and today was no exception. There is a variety of marked trails around the island well waymarked, small map given by the Ferryman. On most routes you can mix and max as appropriate.

Inside Sheila's cottage

From the Boathouse we visited Sheila's Cottage where there is a good display of the history of the island. Next the church built by Thomas Telford, can seat 300 people. A sign of the times, current population 5!!

Telford's Church

Golden Eagle jusi in snap. The smaller speck on left is a Raven so good perspective of size

We were heading for the Ormaig trail but first headed through the wood trail, wet and muddy. As we entered a clearing near the church Ravens flew over and decided to have some fun annoying a buzzard. As a studied this through the binos a shape much higher up came into view, ya beauty a Golden Eagle rising with the thermals. A cracking start.

Island hydro system

Good lady was not expecting off road stuff

Through more woods before breaking out of the trees, now views of the islands highest point, the Sub2k of Beinn Chreagach. One to do at a later date without the good lady in tow. The number of Ravens flying about was quite amazing. At one point I counted 14 in the sky at the same time. They were quite happy to do close fly pasts their wings so loud.

One of the many Ravens came for a look

A sign warning of livestock ahead concerned her a bit but although there were heaps of dung on the track, we never spotted them or better still they never spotted us.

If you want to visit the standing stone suggest you visit in winter

The track was good but old school, rough and muddy, with which, at times, the Good Lady was not quite so happy.

Super views opened up particularly seaward over the Treshnish Isles, the Dutchman’s Cap quite breathtaking. prominent.

The splash ahead of the boat was all I got of the dolphins on camera

Buzzard before it got mobbed by Ravens

I was looking through the binos at a yacht when I realised that a dolphin pod was leaping either side of the boat, superb. I gave the binos to the good lady, but they stopped showing. A few minutes later I spotted splashes in the water, so they were still around but well away from the yacht. I saw another boat heading towards them and as it slowed to a crawl they reappeared. Sadly, the good lady could not see them even through the binos so a sad spot for her but excitement for me.

Ominous changing sky

Ben More showing well

There is always a ruined boat somewhere

Storm clouds were gathering, the wind had picked up, so we headed back. The views dominated by Ben More and surrounding hills, good on the eye even with the poorer light.

As we passed a ridge a fast-flying bird got my attention. No doubt a Peregrine clear through the binos but no chance of a snap. As it headed away the speed picked up considerably, but it never flushed any prey.

Back at the Boathouse it was time for lunch. For me Langoustines cannot get much fresher than this, caught this morning and for the good lady Spanish Omelette both superb. A fitting end to a good ramble.

Ascent: 211m

Distance: 8.11km

Time: 3.48

Wildlife: Dolphin; Golden Eagle; Peregrine Falcon; Buzzard: Raven; Common Darter; Speckled Wood; Blackbird;

Scorcher on Dun Da Ghaoithe

As is the norm for me the main difficulty is finding the start of the walk. I must have missed the sign for Torosay Castle so was surprised to find a large sign for Duart castle around the same place, had they changed names? I knew I had gone further than the WH description but I turned up a tarred lane on the right and soon parked up. Although a track headed through woods this did not feel right.

Iron ladder on right

So back onto main road headed back, past a working quarry then took the next turning and parked in a good sized area next to a field, not as described but! Not a good start when getting the OS map out to check where I was!!
The temperature was already 18 degrees at 8.30am so a warm day ahead, hence the early start.

1st view of hill at 1st mast

I come across the big iron ladder so in the right place and followed the stony maintenance route to the 1st mast, 50 mins to here, where I get my first views of the hill. Sweating already, there is no breeze along with the heat from the stone path.
Quite a few short stops to take in the views behind, plenty of Calmac ferries around today.

1st full view of hill

Still half the ascent done and onto mast 2 after 1.15hr. Now there are excellent views of the long ridge ahead.
There is a track to follow all the way up, sometimes faint and then lost but quickly retrieved.

Basalt tracks

Just ahead I spot what is a good example of a basalt dyke, two lines of solidified lava running downhill, right to left about half way in the picture.

Last section

A short but steep climb with some narrow ridge walking to add to the fun but no danger today. At least steep the way my legs were feeling, and I arrived at the trig point and first huge cairn and another cigarette shaped trig at 1 hour 50.

Sgurr Dearg

Superb views as you crest the ridge particularly of the Graham Sgurr Dearg with another Graham, Beinn Talaidh far left.
 

View from trig to true summit

Next a 20 minute descent and ascent to reach the next big cairn and the true summit. In some ways the views of Mull are better from here than Ben More. Down below the small ferry is sailing to Lochaline.

Hazy Ben More

Ben More itself standing out. Longer distance still superb but much hazier than 2 days ago.
Time for a ham sannie whilst enjoying the views of Morvern and towards Oban. Then surprised when I felt a sharp pain on my leg, looked down and a bloody clegg was taken a bite plenty of blood. Killed and cream administered time to head back.

Mast on the descent

On the descent the heat was really coming through, glad I wasn’t one those going up. It turned out to be Scotland’s hottest day of the year so far, car registered 28 deg before driving home.

Lismore ahead

A good but not a great walk, not sure if I would do it for a 2nd time.


Time: 4.13hr
Ascent: 2869ft 
Distance: 9.52 

Stunning Ben More Mull

On a beautiful morning such as this, Ben More (Mull) is as straightforward as a Munro can be.
On the drive along Loch na Keal I was so jealous of the overnight campers waking up to this glorious setting, the water so tranquil that any hunting otter should be easily spotted, but not for me as I was concentrating on finding the parking area. (P.S. the next day we spotted a mother and 2 pups very close to this walks start, 5 minutes of joy).

The start with Ben More in view

I appeared to be the 1st walker heading up the hill today and it was already very warm.
In good visibility it is not a hill to easily get lost on as there is a good substantial track all the way up.
Grassy terrain at first then over the burn where it becomes a progressively stonier track as height is gained.

Small falls

Simply head down and plod on alongside the Abhainn Dhiseig which was crystal clear and I was thinking I might need some of it for hydration on the descent. A nice sound of running water to keep me company.
I spot a couple of walkers behind so not a solo day.

Red deer cooling off

As I climbed I looked towards a lochan on my right and spot objects moving in the water, has to be red deer cooling off, jealous again. Camera was on extended zoom so crap photo but just to prove they were there.

Typical stone track

The wind had picked up chilling my sweaty body, I might even need to put a top on at the summit.
I had a close up of a golden eagle flying past, too quick to get camera out of bag, but it looked as if it had something small in one of its talons.

One of many cairns

There are numerous small cairns on this scree and partially eroded tourist track.
Up the steep final zig zags and I was almost there, a short walk along the ridge was all it took, 1hr 50 very pleased with that.

Clouds circle Coire

The views were truly outstanding in all directions with this perfect air clarity quite unusual for this time of year.

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At times it really atmospheric as the clouds came in from the west and went through quickly I was slightly concerned it would linger and stop views from the top but not the case.

A' Chioch

What a spot to have my break and just soak it all in. The near side views starting with A’ Chioch down below just breathtaking. 

Coire nan Gabhair with Loch na Keal below

Coire nan Gabhair in and out of cloud. The tops of Fhada, Gabhair and Ghraig prominent. 

Ben more ridge extension and Loch Ba

Further afield, how many mountain tops can be seen, too many for me to count? Just keep turning 360 deg and something else is spotted in the distance, as good as it gets. The Paps of Jura and is that Arran?

Descending views north including Ulva

Sadly time to get back and meet the good lady, stopping for a chat with the half a dozen parties now on the way up. 
Also taking my time to fully appreciate the grand views of northern Mull, Ulva etc, yesterday's hill Beinn na Drise is clear. Ardnamurchan and a multitude of isles.
A fab day with views to remember for a long time.

Time: 4.01hr
Ascent: 3203ft
Distance: 6.2m