Date: Tuesday 14^th September 2021

Distance: 13km

Ascent: 860m

Tuesday of our holiday dawned nicely.

Glen Achall:

With a reasonable day on offer we thought we’d revisit another Coigach Graham – Beinn an Eoin. Drove round from Glen Achall and parked at a large parking area at NC 145 061. Walked NW along the road for 700m to a little path and gate near the outflow of Loch Lurgainn.

Theres a path heading up the Allt Claonaidh. Stac Pollaidh stands prominent along the loch.

Stac Pollaidh:

Although the area is marked as forestry on the OS it is sparsely planted with native trees. The path makes its way up the south side of Cioch Beinn an Eoin.

Beinn an Eoin:

Here and there a few Darters were still around, although there seemed less spiders webs around for this time of year.

Darter:

Looking back Cul Beag towers above the road – it actually looks a decent route of ascent from where we’d parked the car.

Cul Beag:

Ahead Sgurr an Fhidhleir is an outrageous looking chunk of rock.

Sgurr an Fhidhleir:

We picked our way up to the bealach between Cioch Beinn an Eoin and Beinn an Eoin. Like most of the week it remained too hot and humid for my liking. Once on the ridge there was a little more breeze.

Cioch Beinn an Eoin ridge:

It’s a fairly simple plod up to the Graham summit from there, enjoying views of the Beinn Mor Coigach/Sgurr an Fhidhleir complex as we went.

Sgurr an Fhidhleir:

To the north, Sgorr Tuath and the inselberg landscape of Coigach/Assynt.

Sgorr Tuath:

Lots to look at.

H and Sgurr an Fhidhleir:

We had some lunch on the summit, watching as a shower approached from the south-west. By the time we left the summit we were in waterproofs.

The sandstone of these hills is often carved into interesting patterns.

Sandstone:

We headed down in the rain towards the lochan between Beinn an Eoin and Sgorr Tuath. We headed round the east side of the lochan this time, for an easier angle of ascent up Sgorr Tuath.

Sgorr Tuath and lochan:

Sgorr Tuath is very nearly a Marilyn – its 149m of prominence means it falls just short. Well worth a visit though. It was also popular with deer keds – a bit of a plague of them on the top.

Beinn an Eoin from Sgorr Tuath:

The showers had headed up past Suilven by the time we reached the top.

Suilven:

Much like Stac Pollaidh there are some shapely sandstone pillars on Sgorr Tuath.

Sandstone pillar:

Theres a clear view across to Cul Beag past Loch Lurgainn.

Cul Beag from Sgorr Tuath:

We dropped south off Sgorr Tuath onto Coire Beinn an Eoin to traverse round the flank of Cioch Beinn an Eoin.

Cioch Beinn an Eoin:

Sunshine and showers as we dropped back to the path of ascent, cloud occasionally brushing the hilltops.

Cul Beag:

Rain was beginning to fill in as we headed back to the car.

Stac Pollaidh:

A cracking wee hill, much quieter than the nearby hills too. A great wee half day.