Beinn an Eoin

To complete my North-West holiday, I had saved a very wild trip until last. I planned to leave the car in Achiltibuie and head over the hills before working my way round to tackle this Graham. On a clear day, I would doubt there are better vistas than the alien landscape of Inverpolly. After experiencing what I did this day in September, I would have to put this walk in my top 2 of all time, if not my most favourite trek. It was that good. As I walked up on An t-Sail, I was struck by views North over to Stac Pollaidh, Suilven, Cul Mor and Cul Beag. What a stunning view point. I had a short break and chuckled how lucky I was. I descended down to the loch and walked along its shores, listening to the resonating stag roar and seeing venison footprints on the sandy shores. The ascent up into the coire of Beinn an Eoin was awkward but I decided to head for the North peak first and approached on a sporting line right up its Western ridge.

At the top, the views were just fabulous but I almost fell to my death down a massive fissure in the ground. The fissure was about 20 feet across by 2 feet but in Winter would be a serious threat to the unwary walker who came over this way. I tried to estimate its depth but the gloom didn't particularly allow me to easily do so. I reckon it would be about 20 feet deep. It was quite a hole. I headed over to the cairn in the distance but before I got there, I approached some exquisite sandstone pinnacles, which were very reminiscent of those on Stac Pollaidh. With these in the foreground, I was blown away by the fantastic views over to the aforementioned hills. I laughed at my fortitude to be in the right place on a brilliant day. I descended to the lochain and decided to have my well-earned sandwiches against an outcrop of rock. As I sat and munched with a Dr Pepper in hand, a stag herded his female compatriots across the coire and looked around trying to identify me. I stayed very still and took in the majestic stride as he drove the herd down the hill behind me. Wonderful. I began the penultimate ascent of the day up on the Graham proper and was rewarded with views over to Sgurr an Fhidhler, itself a fabulous peak.

I walked back down to the coire floor and reversed my route across the glen and back over and up on to 'the heel'. I looked back once more at where I'd been and counted myself a very lucky man. Beinn an Eoin this way is one amazing experience and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. With a pint of real ale in the Summer Isles hotel thereafter, it was the perfect day.