The Woodland Trust Scotland hope to purchase the 10,000 acre Sheildaig estate, and Donald is interested in this project being an ecologist. I've always wanted to explore this area, so tagged along hoping we might spy some unexplored crags...
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| The slog.. |
The weather was great and I did looked longingly at the snow and ski possibilities as we motored through Achnasheen heading to Torridon.
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| Finally on the shoulder |
We passed Jack and Jenna heading to the Torridon boulders en-route, if we had time we may have stopped off on the way back.
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| Beinn Alligin behind grumpy (who was now cheery) |
Donald informed me that Sheildaig has a substantial Birch temperate rainforest at sea level, which then blends into the worlds most westerly Caledonian pine wood - impressive.
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| sorry couldn't lose my shadow |
It was very beautiful, the main issue I saw was that Ben Shieldaig is very steep and craggy on 3 sides, with no paths marked on maps, so I wasn't convinced that the exploration walk would be enjoyable.
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| Beinn Damph |
And I was right, well initially! Ben Sheildaig is only 534m high, and the slog up it was awful and hard work, being steep, boggy and overgrown. Donald declared near the top, after a considerable time that he hated walking, and threw his poles away in disgust... eek..
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| Liathach |
At this point I wasn't sure about the success of the day! But luckily we made it onto the broad top, or ridge and moods picked up at this point. Stupendous views to Raasay, Torridon, Applecross and beyond.
The top, although small in height, was large in area and grandeur. Really interesting, with the beautiful loch nan Eun, rock sheets, and glacial erratics to marvel at. We savoured the views before the awful decent! A 5km walk that took 4' 30"!!
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