[Trip Index] [Munro Index] [Home] 23rd May 2002   Sgurr na Ruaidhe Carn nan Gobhar Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais Sgurr Fhuar-thuill Map Ah well, life is full of strange happenstances, eh. Who would have thought when I left a temporary job with the DHSS in Openshaw in late March 1972 that I'd meet one of the staff from there once again, 30 years later, at the top of a Scottish mountain? Well not me anyway. These four mountains are on the north side of Glen Strathfarrar and you have to stop at Inchmore and ask for permission to drive along the access road. They take your name and car reg and unlock the gate - though Trisha noticed that one of the power station workers just used a key kept behind one of the gates. Trisha dropped me off at the start at 10.00 and I set off across a level meadow up a cart-track towards Sgurr na Ruaidhe. Then following a path by a stream, the Allt Coire Mhuillidh, and skirting a smaller hill on the right, I made the gradual ascent up a grassy hillside to the rounded summit (12.05) where I met Jim Henderson. Sgurr na Ruaidhe Jim had been an HEO at Openshaw DHSS while I was there. I wouldn't have recognised him but he said 'where are you from?' and when I replied 'Manchester' he mentioned Openshaw and it came out we'd both worked there at the same time. When he told me his name I remembered it straight away and suddenly saw some of the features, changed by the years, of the younger Jim. The eyes have it, as they say. They were much the same, with bushier eyebrows maybe. And he was stockier now - me too probably. He'd been retired for 3 years and was up there for a week knocking off a few Munros with a bloke about my age and a Scots woman about 37. He still looked fit & healthy enough and we chatted for a while about a few names we could both remember then they set off for the next peak and I had a sandwich. I caught up with him again there but they were only doing the 2 this day, having done the other 2 from the other direction a day or so before - said they were forced down by strong winds. Perhaps we'll meet again in another 30 years… His daughter-in-law was about to have twins. Sgurr na Ruaidhe summit It was cold at the top of Sgurr na Ruaidhe and I put extra layers on, having ascended in shirt & T-shirt. There was no rain yet but plenty of cloud, and rain seemed likely. I left the top at 12.20 and it was a gentle drop down to the bealach and a not-too-steep ascent of Carn nan Gobhar which also had a grassy, flattish, gently rounded summit. The final approach was a bit rocky. It was very windy now (1.15) and Jim and the gang set off back down at this point. Looking forward I could see across to the next hill which had a path running along the edge of a steep drop - it appeared as a peak followed by a falling NW ridge. I set off with rain falling now and as the cloud closed in I could soon no longer see very far in any direction. I just followed the path ever upwards, having a steep slog to get to the top of Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais (2.15). There wasn't much rain but it was still cold as I carried on along the ridge which I'd seen from Carn nan Gobhar, crossing over a Top called Creag Ghorm a' Bhealaich at 3.00. In the middle of cloud I would have gone wrong at this point if I hadn't fortunately checked the compass. It seemed to be wrong by about 90 degrees but over the years I have gradually learned that in cases of Compass versus Alan's-shrewd-instinct… the compass is generally right. So I followed the way the smart-arse compass pointed, down over a short drop then on up a moderately steep slope to the top of the last of the four Munros - Sgurr Fhuar-thuill (3.30). Top of Sgurr Fhuar-thuill I needed to be back at the road gate by 6.00. There was an excellent path down from Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, just the right angle and firm footing and I made very good time down, even jogging along for some stretches. I got back to the road where I was due to meet Trisha (4.55) - she'd just gone past but returned 5 minutes later. Mobile phones didn't work there. Overall - an easy start, cold at the tops, windy then cloud & rain, clearing before the end. Not too demanding physically, although a good 12+ miles. Didn't get to see very much because of the cloud - but nice meeting Jim again.