Midsummer & our first Skye Munro

First to Midsummer - best laid plans; weather just didn't play the game. The days leading up to the 21st June, the day itself and a couple of days after were dull, cloudy, intermittent drizzle and no glorious light or midnight sun. 
So my plans to get out and enjoy a picnic supper in the midnight sun scuppered. Read about a few hardy souls who tried the bivvy thing and saw absolutely nothing. Next year then. 

We managed a 10 mile circuit of Glen Brittle forest which helped with fitness levels. The acrobatics required to gather pine cones (for kindling) whilst wearing rucsacks added to the exertion and we did eventually get some views across to the Cuillins. But the black flies and midgies found you as soon as you stopped moving. We did manage our lunch at a picnic table, conveniently placed on a ridgy bit so windy and midges unable to fly. Back to the car laden down with pine cones and fingers crossed for improving weather.

In Skye news, Tesco provide a "Click & Collect" service from Portree or Broadford. This has no delivery charge and we have to travel to Portree anyway to do our weekly shop so the much more expensive Co-op is suffering. The drop off point is the local Shinty club and Tesco are sending three vans per drop, twice a day. The market is clearly there despite the fact that they travel from Dingwall. Very nice guys on the vans to help with the loading too. The Clubcard points can continue. 

So Friday 27 June and the weather was set fair. Decision made to try the "easy" Munro which we can see from our house. Bruache na Frithe it was. Loaded up with plenty of water, the usual set of layering clothing, maps, GPS. No cameras to save weight so the only photos are from my camera phone. We will have to go back up with the good cameras. 

Up the path from the layby near the Slig to the bealach. Headed left at a large cairn, over the river (This route would be tricky if not impossible after heavy rain) and up into the grassy bowl of the lower coire. The route planner had said the path here was faint, but a line of cairns took us up in the right direction. The bowl of the coire was filled with wild flowers and the occasional sheep. Blessed are the cairn makers as they saved us a fair amount of dithering here. Head for the left side, don't mistake the dry river bed for a path and keep going up. As we got higher, the views back to where we live and out to sea beyond just got better and better. We followed the progress of three small figures on the ridge to our right. Tiny silhouettes against the sky. The path did get steeper and more rocky, scree sliding and loose but was relatively easy. We watched two of the ridge walkers scramble down a scree path, cutting off a corner to return on the path we had climbed up. 
The last 50m was very steep but the reward was to emerge on a narrow ridge with a view of the eastern Cuillins that took our breath away. We were so close to the Bhasteir tooth that it scared us and we waved to two dots of people on top of Am Bhasteir. 
We turned right here for the final pull to the summit. Route planner said tricky in poor visibility. We managed to go wrong twice in good visibility and found ourselves on dodgy (high) ground. A slither down some rocks onto the correct path and we were at the summit trig. This is the only trig point in the Cuillins. 

Sgurr Nan Gillean, the pointy peak in the background. Bla Bheinn behind

Summit trig, Cuillin ridge behind and out to sea

We could see the whole ridge from Sgurr Alasdair right around to where we were standing. One other walker sharing the summit. Bizarrely the wind dropped here so we ate our lunch drinking in the views and being constantly amazed by the changing light and shadow. Hats and gloves were required though despite the shelter. A group of six, clanking with climbing gear and wearing helmets, passed us. Looked tired despite being young and presumably fit.  We considered the north west ridge as a descent route but decided to stick with and reverse our route up. The north west ridge is a downward scramble a bit like striding edge. Will save that one for another day.

Most of the ridge including Inn Pin in the distance

You can see our house from here. Just where the land curves out to the right to meet the loch.

We did take the short cut back down, very loose scree that delivered you back to the ascent path and avoided the steepest part over eroded scree. Not so good for the boots though. 
So back down to the main path and the car. This walk took us 7.5 hours in total but we did have lots of stops for drinks and views. A fantastic day and the Munro count is now 9. Quite a few to go then. 

Work intervened as did bad weather on the following Friday - 38mm of rain before 13.00. A very wet day. The pond filled back up as a result.

Saturday we climbed up to the point where the paths diverge for Sgurr Nan Gillean and Am Bhasteir. Neither looked very inviting although we could pick out a route. We had always planned to stop here and have our lunch, indulge in some photos then make our way back to the Slig for the Glamaig hill race.  

View down Glen Sligachan from lunch spot

Red Cuillin, Glamaig on LHS

Classic Cuillin view

Good cameras carted up the hill today, notice the difference. 
Just made it down in time for the start of the race. Met a few competitors warming up as we were walking back. This race is almost vertical after the first mile. A long line of coloured dots on the hill with a duck race back at the river to distract the watchers. A good commentary from the hotel kept us informed of progress. The first runner was back in under 47 minutes. Four miles, two of which are straight up and down. He was ahead of the field by almost 5 minutes. Muddy, bloody legs were par for the course, after all that rain the previous day it must have been a bog fest in places. In the meantime, my duck managed fourth place so I am now the owner of a Slig t-shirt with DILLIGAF nicely embroidered on the back. Look it up, we had to!

On the croft, we are trying out different plants. Herbs growing well, apart from Basil. Flower seeds scattered and the plants we got from Shona are planted and seem to be thriving. Considering raised beds, poly tunnels, fruit trees and bushes and which areas to plant in.
Then there's a return trip to the Old Man planned, Skye Highland Games, otter spotting and the elusive eagles / sea eagles, the fairy glen (after the tourists have gone) plus the Quiraing. Haven't even been to the north of the island yet. We regularly see a pair of large birds of prey across the loch but have been unable to identify them. Wedding anniversary coming up so perhaps we will treat ourselves to a decent pair of binoculars.

The SHED has now been assembled and the loft and the utility room are once again useable storage space and clean and organised. It is a beauty of a shed, designed to withstand the rigours of Skye weather. Gary can confirm this as he helped to offload the lorry and was "mate" for the assembly. Looking good.

A sturdy shed on a blue sky day

Log store section, protected from the prevailing winds and rain

  Skye Living, can't beat it. The adventure continues .......