Early start for Achnasheen for a wander in the North West.

I hope to head out to the North West tomorrow weather permitting with Pete Amphlett to Achnasheen/ Achnacheallach for a wander. It will be great to get out and we go with a flexible plan for the day as you have to in winter. It is freezing tonight so we will see what it is like in the morning. It is a grand drive past over Inverness over the bridge and through Garve and onto the West, beautiful country and hopefully quite.  The wander up to Loch Choire Laire is superb with the ever-changing views of Beinn Liath Mhor and the majestic Fuar Tholl  with its huge buttresses and Sgorr Rhuadh.  This is a great area for those who wish to explore and there is so much scope for new climbs in the winter.     Many play on the huge Torridonian giants such as Beinn Eighe, Liathach and Beinn Alligin and forget this incredible area just a few miles away with such scope and potential. How many will be scrapping round the popular areas like the Cairngorms get up and see the North West! It is all depending on time and the roads but hopefully we will get a walk whatever we plan to do.

The road to the North West dropping into Kinlochewe!

These are special hills of the Torridon area are the oldest in Europe. The rock visible in the Torridon area is between 2600 and 3000 million years old – that pre dates life itself. Volcanic outpourings, massive climate changes, movement of the earth’s crust, erosion, forestation, and finally the influence of mankind have all played their part in the scene that we view today. The landscape is in a permanent state of change and not, as we sometimes think, here forever. We must look after this and all these great places for the future. The stalking paths round here are incredible and built for the estates for travel and to aid the shooting of stags and hinds in the area and you can link so many tremendous walks without going to any summit and see few people, worth the drive.

Some of the great hills accessible from Achnashellach. Not much daylight so we will see what we can do in the time available. What an area to be in.