Monday 13 January 2014

Beinn na h-Imeilte

With the weather the way it is, and the promise of some sun in this morning's forecast, we set out to find a walk that would enable us to enjoy its warmth.  Beinn na h-Imeilte, a ridge which extends from the Sanna road towards Achosnich and Portuairk, seemed a good choice even though we've walked it many times before, but it has the disadvantage of being a bit like a roller coaster, with a series of peaks along its length, each separated by deep valleys.  On the first, which isn't particularly high, there's this cairn set on a protruding rock.

On the outwards leg we kept to the southwest slope of the ridge so we could stay in the sun, following a small valley tucked into its side, where we came across....

....two hinds which seemed unusually unafraid of us, pausing to watch us before setting off up the hill.

The valley climbs steadily towards the northwest end of the ridge, where the hill has its summit.  From this side there are views towards Portuairk, and a sea creased by an incoming swell.

There's a good, solid cairn at the top of Beinn na h-Imeilte, from which there are views in every direction.  This one looks northeast, with Achnaha on the right, the lumps of Meall Clach an Darach and Sgurr nan Gobhar in the middle distance, and Eigg away to the left.

With the sun out, we walked back along the ridge line, up and down each little summit, stopping occasionally to look back along the ridge towards Meall Sanna, with Muck along the horizon.  We had had a walk in the sun but, within minutes of taking this picture, the sky clouded over and the rain returned.

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