Creise
Meall a Bhuiridh
Map
Another great, hot, pretty clear day, although at the start it seemed like a few clouds might
build up. Having been unable to get any accommodation the previous day I'd slept in the car in
Glen Etive and first thing in the morning I had to drive back to Ballachulish to get some lemonade
and fuel and use the toilet at the garage. Then all primed I set off at about 9.45.
Actually what with the exertions of the previous day, limited sleep and no evening meal
the day before I felt a bit rough and knackered right from the start.
This wasn't helped by following dear old Cameron's route and 'crossing the heather round
Creag Dhubh…' For 'heather' read 'trackless bog'. Not a sign of any path that I could see - and
it wasn't just me, someone
else I met later hadn't been able to find one either. Anyway I slogged through the enervating
bog, grass and heather, and rounded the corner - occasional traces of path now - then
on up the valley, finally climbing the grassy hillside to the col between Stob a Ghlais Choire
and Creise. A steep, tiring haul but at last I gained the ridge.
The path(?) around Creag Dhubh
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The col between Creise and Stob a Ghlais Choire
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From there it was an easy walk up to the summit of Creise (1.00 pm) where I changed my
t-shirt for a shirt as my arms were burning. There I sat and watched paragliders take off
and float round Meall a Bhuiridh.
The summit of Creise
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Leaving the summit I met a girl on her own, doing the circuit the opposite way - dark hair,
late 30s. She hadn't found a path through the heather either so had wandered up towards the
ski centre and just kept on going. I carried on over the rocky plateau, following the cliff
top to a cairn which marks the descent point. There a steep zigzag path drops down the rocky
hillside/cliff face - it's easy though with lots of good hand and footholds - a pleasant
scramble down to the col.
Meall a Bhuiridh
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The descent to the col between
Creise and Meall a Bhuiridh
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I met one bloke coming the other way who was going to do 4 munros that day - the same 2 as
me plus another two. Another chap appeared and then a family of dad, son and daughter. From the
col it was a straightforward, not-too-steep ascent along the fairly narrow spine of
Meall a Bhuiridh's western ridge, all stone and rock. I reached the top at 2.20 and a couple
of minutes later a lad about 19 turned up to take my photo; his mum & dad arrived a few
minutes later. All three of them had taken the ski-lift up the first part of the way - shocking
decadence, eh. A couple in their 30s arrived as well.
At the top of Meall a Bhuiridh
- paraglider overhead
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The view towards Glencoe -
Ben Nevis just left of centre
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We all left the top about the same time but I was pretty done in and my feet were sore so the
rest of them easily outstripped me. I descended down a gentle rocky slope onto the broad northern
spur and angled right towards the ski-ways and the head of the chair lift. From there I gritted
my teeth and walked/limped the rest of the way down via the steep, stony, occasionally boggy
path which wound along below the chairs. No degenerate cheating here… must remember to get a
hair shirt sometime…
The path by the ski lift.
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At the bottom it was a simple walk along the road back to Blackrock Cottage and the car (4.30).
A 60+ year old white-bearded, gaelic-speaking Scot was waiting there, gazing wistfully at the hills with a
man & woman (they were about 35-40). He told me he'd been climbing since he was 7 and had done
them all, then added that Meall a Bhuiridh meant 'Hill of the Roaring Stag'. I helpfully told him
that Cameron said it meant 'Hill of the Rutting Stag', at which he asked 'Cameron who?' and
then snorted derisively saying that Cameron 'spoke a load of shite'.
Chuckles from the other two.
Today he wasn't climbing though, just looking. Maybe the knees have gone. He gave me a card
with his web site on it - www.scotcolour.com .
From which I gather that Michael Murphy was his name.
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