Sgurr Mhic Eacharna & Beinn Bheag

The high pressure that was present over Scotland end of August meant that a wild camp over a West coast hill (or three) was in the offing. It had been a mad couple of weeks at work since our return from our week in Cromarty and I was badly in need of some contemplation time. I was heading North towards Fort Bill and had a few options planned but decided to take the short Corran ferry hop over to Ardgour for the evening. Literally 5 minutes and we were across, where I followed the small convoy round towards Garbh Bheinn. Truth be told, I hadn't fully explored the books for this route but had an idea of taking in the Graham and the Corbett with a summit camp somewhere looking West. It was just after 1700 so I had a few hours light but I didn't hang about, especially as the midges were looking for their last feed before the first frosts. I started off on the path but decided to head up the slopes of Sgurr Mhic Eacharna and evade the insects. The bothered me until about 400m, when a beautiful wind popped up. A good 40 minutes of hard walking so me begin the high level walk over to my first objective - I hadn't actually realised Mhic Eacharna was also a Graham - what a bonus!

By now, the wind was freshening but I was really enjoying the walk and the views to Being Bheag and now into the Coire of Garbh Bheinn were gorgeous.

I descended fairly steeply off Mhic Eacharna and noted a couple with a tent perched over towards the Coire - they looked settled and dinner was cooking. The fast disappearing sun was just heading down behind silhouetted Garbh Bheinn and I began the steep plod up Being Bheag - little hill, my arse. 

However, I got into a good rhythm and before long, I topped out on Bheag, my 79th Graham. The sunset was really developing now, with the lochain below Garbh Bheinn catching the last light.

 

All that remained for the evening was to set up camp and find a place where I might get reception and send a message home that all was well. About 300m further on from the summit of Being Bheag and I found a relatively flat area at about 700m elevation. With the sky being clear, it was going to be cold and I would pay for not having taken my thick sleeping bag. I set up camp, had a couple of beers and sent a message home before watching a fantastic sunset. Eigg and Rhum were visible as were the other glinting lochains over Ardgour; Beinn Resipole was also poking up - my solitary Corbett in this area but tomorrow would change that. It was a cold night but the views more than made up for it.