SCOTLAND MAY 2008

Backacking/bothies/bunkhouses and six Munroes

When: 10th to 17th May 2008

Where: Knoydart

The Rough Plan

Friday/Saturday: drive up to Kinloch Hourn

Park at GR 949 066 (limited private parking with honesty box)

Then follow footpath west along southern edge of Kinloch Hourn to Barrisdale Bay GR 872 042 where there is a private camp site and bothy/bunk house, very limited facilities, one cold water tap and a toilet. Camp here for the night. Please note this is a three hour walk from the car park to the campsite. I plan on driving up on the Friday night and stopping at the hostel at Wanlochead in Dumphries and Galloway (15 mins from junction 14 on the M74).

Sunday: Ascent of Luinne Bheinn (939m) and Meall Buidhe (946m), leaving kit at Barrisdale Bay. Return to Barrisdale Bay for the night.

Monday: Strike camp and walk to Sourlies Bothy, GR 869 950, via Glen Barrisdale, Loch Quoich and the River Carnach. This will involve a river crossing, which may be quite difficult depending on weather; I will take a half rope in case it is required. Camp at Sourlies Bothy (no facilities).

Tuesday: Ascent of Sgurr nan Coireachan (953m), Garbh Chioch Mhor (1013m) and Sgurr na Ciche (1040m), leavng kit at the bothy where we will return for the night.

Wednesday: Strike camp and walk to Inverie GR 774 995, along the Gleann Meadail, there is the option of taking in another top for those wanting to do so. Inverie has a small shop/Post Office where we should be able to restock on food (to be confirmed), a pub, which does food, a restaurant and at least two bunkhouses. The plan is to stay in the local community bunkhouse and get cleaned up and have a meal in the pub.

Thursday: Low level walk from Inverie to Inverguseran (GR 745 075) and return. Stay the night and eat in Inverie again.

Friday: Walk back to Barrisdale Bay, taking in Ladhar Bheinn (1020m) enroute, where we will stay for the last night.

Saturday: Walk out to Kinloch Hourn and drive home.

For those not wishing to do all the tops/Munroes there are alternative walks available, which we may have to resort to if the weather conditions are not favourable.

From parking at Kinloch Hourn we will need to take four whole days food with us. From Sourlies Bothy to Inverie we will only need emergency rations, and from Inverie to Barrisdale Bay we will only need one days food.

It would be great if we can get together and share as much kit as possible, particularly stoves, pots, pans, fuel etc. to reduce the amount that we have to carry.

Please note that this is my rough plan only and I welcome any suggestions to vary it. I know that Martin would quite like to take in Ben Aden (887m) instead of the Sgurr na Ciche range which he has done before.

If you fancy this trip send me an email so that I can try to sort out car and kit sharing.

Larry