Night drawing a blanket over the hills of Mull. 11.15pm, 01/08/98
A'Chioch from Ben More. 8.30am, 10/08/03 ~ It was a sunny warm afternoon in Oban, and in Craignure, and if I hadn't heard a recent forecast I would have had in mind another high camp on the Ben, but - there was a weak cold front on its way, due to arrive in the evening and clear in the morning, so I pitched the tent at the back of Gleann Dubh to see it past. The forecast was spot on, with 8 or 9 hours of persistent rain overnight and then a neat and orderly clearance eastward, which I was able to witness from the summit at breakfast time. It was a stirring sight, and a rich blue sky was the successor. I lingered for a couple of hours, enjoying the situation and letting the tent dry, then down the scrambly ridge and over a'Chioch to the low bealach between Glen Clachaig and Sleibhte-coire. I wanted to revisit Tomsleibhe (after more than 20 years), and with no obvious direct route there I just went via the twin Graham of Cruachan Dearg / Corra-bheinn before dropping down to Gortenbuie, derelict in its lovely pastoral glen. From there it was less than 3 miles to the bothy, but it seemed much longer as the going in this afforested pass was appalling. As it was the next morning in Glen Forsa, the miles of forestry new to me and not on my map, but I eventually reached the pleasant grassy heights of Dùn da Ghaoithe and Mainnir nam Fiadh (the compass is unreliable on these tops, by the way), and back to Craignure via Torosay.
A'Chioch from Ben More. 9.15am, 10/08/03
