Parked the car by the bridge next to Castles farm on the B8077 in a tiny space off the road. Nobody else there but even as we were changing, three other cars drew up. Don't know where the people were going as we only saw one other person all day. Full gear on today as it was still drizzling. There is a long, long walk up a track before you actually climb the mountain. It is uphill all the way and actually makes the hill climb easy as you gain quite a bit of height. At a bridge just before the track splits and the climb begins we had a break which revived Graeme somewhat. At the junction we went straight on up the steep embankment to start the climb when we were puzzled by a woman, who had been following us, who walked straight on up the track. Getting on to the subsiduary ridge was not easy in the wet - a horrible slog up very steep slopes. By now very misty we climbed north and also slightly north west, the direction the main ridge went. Eventually on reaching the ridge you come across a clear path which leads on and up right up to the main ridge. At the junction with the main ridge we were tired but relieved that the summit, according to the book, was only a gentle climb over a top to the summit. Maybe it was but in the thick mist the path seemed to go on for ever, up and up. One last little climb and we were there. At the top was the lady who passed us down below. She had followed the path further up in order to tackle the munro direct as she said she never backtracked when on the hills and wanted to do the whole ridge in one go. Pleasant enough but she seemed a little eccentric and a definite loner. We passed and were passed by her on the rest of the walk but she no longer acknowledged us.
We had a deadline to get to the caravan and Graeme did not think there would be time for this hill but I wanted to go for it. I didn't think the rest of the ridge would be difficult and was prepared to speed up. After all it was the last day. We agreed to go for it and were off down the ridge like a shot. I don't think I've ever walked so fast on the hills. We were back at the junction with the route up in no time. Not that it mattered in terms of sight seeing as, in the mist there was nothing to see. Tearing along down what was really quite an easy descending ridge we passed the lady and were soon at the beallach between the hills. So quick that when the ascent began it was difficult to believe we had got here so easily. It was of course a different story on the way up. The slope starts easily enough but gets progressively steeper. Not in any way difficult but I got slower and slower. The path gets rockier but never difficult and we eventually made the top in roughly the time stated in the Munro book. Quick photos then down what must be one of the gentlest ridge descents I've come across . Nowhere did it seem steep and with a clear path down the gentle bumps it was a pleasant stroll, with nice views once we came under the mist level. The path veers off to the right of the ridge, (avoiding crags at the bottom of the ridge says the book though looking back when we got down the crags looked harmless compared with what we have come down elsewhere) and then drops steeply to the track we originally came up. What an awful path this becomes at this point. At places it is like a series of large steps but in the wet weather the path was treacherous to say the least. In fact for most of the way it was easier to avoid the path and just go down the steep, grassy slopes. On the path both of us kept slipping and sliding but fortunately most of the downward part is done by the time you get to this dreadful path and you are soon back on the track. The good thing too is that once on the track you know it is downhill all the way, although my feet were very sore and I was glad to reach the car.
