Physics teacher’s sabbatical

Of all the hills west of the Great Glen, the 7 Munros on the south side of the road as you journey westward through Kintail are the Munro baggers dream.

A seemingly never ending ridge that rewards the determined walker with seven new Munros in one day. I was keen to do these this week for two reasons:

1. A Watson’s S3 projects group had completed them the day I was on Ben Oss, so I was spurred on by their success!
2. If I managed to complete them, then by the time I was in the middle of the ridge, Munro number 4, I’d also be in the middle of my munro journey, at 141 out of a total 282. I’d be a 50% completionist!

Despite the forecast of 80-90% chance of cloud free Munros in the West Highlands, there was low cloud at 7am when I set off. And unfortunately it didn’t lift until I was past the half way point on the ridge. Here are some of my early shots:

Thankfully, around midday, the sun was starting to lift the cloud, and the last three Munros had much better views.

A happy happenstance

At various points throughout the morning, it occurred to me that this was a particularly long walk, and that once I got to the road, I wouldn’t really want to continue walking 7 more miles back up the road to where my car was parked near the Cluanie Inn. I had considered bringing a bike, and leaving it at the end of the route, but in the end I figured I would be able to hitch a lift back up the road. I’d had success doing this twice before, both times in Torridon.

The first time was back in May 2009, when I came off Beinn Eighe with a very tired but elated group of S3 Projecteers. It was 8pm and we had just completed the two Munros on the ridge in glorious weather. It was only when I arrived at the minibus that I realised I had in my hand the key for the bus that was at the start of the route! That was only a 2km walk away, but as it was 8pm, and with tired and starting to grumble students, speed was of the essence. So I marched off alone, down the road. Thankfully the first car that past me was a local, and picked me up.

The second time was last year after climbing Liathach, and again, a local picked us up fairly quickly.

So I figured I could do the same today. But what happened coming off Munro no. 6 was a stroke of good fortune I had never expected. I was surprised to see a hill walker coming toward me as I was walking down toward Bealach Fraoch Choire.

Who would be attempting the ridge from the other direction, and only have completed their first at this time of day as I was heading for my last?

The lady explained that she too had arrived reasonably early, but was put off by the cloud being down. In the end, she decided to leave her car at the west end of Glen Shiel and walk back in the opposite direction to how most traverse the ridge. She asked how it had been, and I said it was really great, if a bit tiring. I then said I hoped to hitch a lift back up the road, as I couldn’t face those last 7 miles.

I could see her hesitate, just for a second, and then she said those glorious words, “Do you want to take my car?”

And so, we arranged it.

Introductions made, numbers exchanged and insurance checked, I walked off with glee knowing that I could drive her vehicle back up to where my car was parked, and leave it for when she arrived. I couldn’t believe my luck!

And as I reversed her car into the space where mine had been, I received a message to ask how I was getting on, and that she was on the 6th Munro, just about to head to the last one.

I’m not sure that there is a hill walkers’ code. Sure, it’s polite to say hello to other people on the hill, maybe chat for a few minutes to find out where they’re from, or how they’re enjoying the hill. But this was a whole new level of trust in common decency and respect.

Some Munro days are easily forgotten, especially the cloudy ones. But this one I doubt I’ll ever forget.