Ben Loyal

A pleasant if stiff route on a deteriorating day.

Route: From a layby near Ribigill Farm on the old road round the kyle, farm tracks becoming marshy paths across a low level moorland, then up a wet peaty path into a coomb towards the Bealach Clais nan Ceap. Then striking steeply up hill pathless to approach Sgor Chaonasaid from the south east and on to the summit An Caisteal where chance led us to the easy route onto the rock summit.

Conditions: Initially merely damp then increasingly heavy rain and low cloud.

Pub: Central Hotel, Thurso for Orkney IPA.

An attempt on Quinag

A quick attempt to do a final walk in the area, en route north, stopped by wind, low cloud and, later, torrential rain.

Route: From the car park on the summit of the A894, a good path for a mile or so leading to increasingly marshy ground as a coomb is reached. Then a steep climb up the south west slopes of the Sail Gharbh with good views back (pictured). Driven back by severe wind at 720m once on the ridge.

Conditions: Initially OK but with strengthening winds, low cloud and heavy rain.

Pub: Scourie Hotel for Isle of Skye: Goat's Toe Ale.

Suilven

Staying in Lochinver, a long walk in to a steep climb on a surprisingly good day.

Route: From a the car park by the book shop at Inverkirkaig a good initial path to the Falls of Kirkaig, then an increasingly marshy path around Fionn Loch, gaining higher ground near Suilven's west end before the steep climb up the side and then, despite the wind, along to the main summit.

Conditions: The forecast heavy storm and 85mph gusts of wind never materialised. Instead a sunny if rather windy day.

Pub: Bottles of Cairngorm Brewing Co: Caingorm Gold and Atlas Brewery: Three Sisters back at the B&B.

Cul Mor

Still en route to Lochinver, a second climb of the day in deteriorating but still mainly dry weather up a clear if marshy track to a fine summit.

Route: From a car park on the A835 near the geological visitor centre, a good dry path for 2km leading to a less clear and marshy path up a broad ridge to Meallan Diomhain. Then anticlockwise round the eastern coomb to the summit, down to a saddle to the west and then picking a way by a waterfall to regain Meallan Diomhain and then down the same way.

Conditions: Some initial cloudy sun, then cloud and light drizzle.

Pub: Much later keg McEwans 80' in the Wayfarer's Bar, Culag Hotel, Lochinver.

Stac Pollaidh East Ridge

En route between Gairloch and Lochinver, a quick dash up the obvious route up to the east end of the ridge of Stac Pollaidh.

Route: From the car park on the loch, a clockwise circuit of the clear path, first to the west and behind the hill, then a steeper climb onto the ridge and slight scramble to the cairn at the east end (ignoring the more difficult main summit to the west).

Conditions: A gap in the rain with some sun.

Pub: No pub because on to...

An attempt on Slioch

Staying in a hotel in Gairloch, an attempt on Slioch finishing in driving rain at Coire na Sleaghaich.

Route: From the Incheril car park along a fair path by the loch crossing one significant stream on stones to a bridge over another major stream. Thence on a rocky muddy path up into the Coire na Sleaghaich aiming at a saddle from Sgurr Dubh but we were driven back at this point by rain, hail, wind and low cloud.

Conditions: Some initial cloudy sun in a freshening breeze. Later, heavy rain and hail and a strong wind.

Pub: Kinlochewe Hotel for An Teallach Ale company An Teallach and Isle of Skye Beinn Eighe.