While staying on the Isle of Skye one of our plans was to climb the Grahams, Beinn na Caillich and Beinn Dearg Mhor. We decided on an easterly approach returning either over Beinn Dearg Bheag or dropping down into Srath Beag. In case it was the latter a car was left at Torrin, on the Broadford to Elgol Road.
I then drove to Old Corry, accessed along a single track road from the A87 north-west of Broadford, and parked on an area of rough ground just north of the Allt a’ Choire.
We then walked a short distance to the turning circle beside Coire chat-achan where planks of wood were used to cross a water filled ditch. This led to a rather wet path that ran through mainly dead vegetation then up the north side of an un-named stream where we encountered the first of several snow showers. As height was gained there was some snow cover with lots of boulders which initially we were able to avoid using what may have been paths through the heather. Latterly there was no option but cross the boulders where the gaps were filled with soft snow.
The gradient later eased and we walked round the head of Coire Fearchair to reach Beinn na Callich’s summit cairn. On arrival the wind picked up and it started to snow. There was very little shelter behind the large cairn as the wind and snow swirled around it. The nearby trig point was lost to view and after a while sitting in these conditions we made a plan to get off the hill. At this point the sun began to break through the cloud and the trig point was once again visible. A few minutes later the snow ceased although there were lots of spindrift around.
After visiting the trig point we descended west across some stony ground to reach the col with Beinn Dearg Mhor then climbed its east ridge easily avoiding the rocks.
Beinn Dearg Mhor’s summit cairn was reached and here we stopped to take on some food and decide on our descent route. As we prepared to leave another snow shower crossed the area.
We agreed to head for Torrin so descended west across more snow covered boulders. The ground later steepened so we headed north-west still through boulders but also areas of scree and heather which made the descent a bit easier. Further downhill and below the snow line we were able to revert to a westerly bearing and eventually reached the wet and rough path in Srath Beag. This path was then followed south to Torrin and to the car left there.
- Time taken – 6 hours.
- Distance – 7.75 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 875 metres.