A'Mhaighdean is Scotland's most remote Munro and, whilst hard to reach, offers awe-inspiring views. In May of 2015 I lead a couple of photographers in a backpacking trip through The Great Wilderness.
Last weekend I was up in the Fisherfeild Forest area of the Scottish Highlands taking a couple of photographers wild camping in one of Scotland’s most remote landscapes. (I lead landscape photography tours to remote places)
Beinn Airigh Charr ahead
Our hike started at 5.45pm on Thursday, a day earlier than planned, in hopes of making the most of a forecast weather window. The goal was a summit camp on A’Mhaighdean to take summit photographs at sunrise and sunset. We set off at Poolewe and walked hard into the evening and night, reaching Carnmore bothy at about 10.30 after a 45 minute break to take photos at sunset. It was a very late dinner!
Some exposed tree stumps on the approach to Carnmore, I’d love to know how old they are
The last part of the approach to Carnmore along Fionn Loch
We slept well overnight – the bothy is extremely run down, more of a barn than anything else, but it has 4 walls and it’s dry. We were up early to shoot the sunrise from a small hill near Carnmore. The sun rose behind A’Mhaighdean so it took a while for the light to reach us, but it was a beautiful morning to be out all the same.
Photographing sunrise
Beinn Lair reflected in a pool near the causeway between Dubh Loch and Fionn Loch
After a bit of breakfast and a coffee we set off in perfect weather on the second part of our hike up to A’Mhaighdean. The last time I went up to the top I collapsed completely exhausted because I hadn’t eaten, so I made sure we ate plenty this time around with regular breaks! It was the kind of day that you keep looking at eachother, grinning and saying “This is great!”
Finally heading uphill!
Views are excellent from the moment you leave Carnmore
Hopping across a small stream
We hit the snowline at about 600m and I was happy to find the snow old and soft with no need for crampons or ice axe. We past Fuar Loch Mor with A’Mhaighdean reflected in its still waters and continued up to the pass between Ruadh Stac Mor and A’Mhaighdean for our lunch stop before the final 200m to the summit.
Hiking to Fuar Loch Mor
Photographing Fuar Loch Mor
We contoured the mountain for a while to take us onto the easier slopes on the eastern face of the mountain. The snow hid dips around rocks and on a couple of occasions I found myself falling knee deep through a gap, from then on I used my walking poles as a probe for any dodgy steps.
Contouring A’Mhaighdean with Ruadh Stac Mor behind
It was moderately hard work up to the summit. The snow would hold my weight temporarily before giving way and dropping me 6 inches. If I’d had 500m to go I probably would have found it harder, but so close to the summit I didn’t mind so much. I’m sure Sean and Harsharn were glad to have my footsteps to tread in!
The final slope to the summit – dramatic clouds added to the atmosphere
My dream camp spot – a perfectly flat pitch next to incredible views! Only Suilven is better
Once we were up on the summit totally sensational views were revealed. The cloud had mostly filled in by this point but the visibility was excellent giving a 360 degree panorama. We took a few photos and then set up camp just 20m or so below the summit itself on a flat grassy pitch.
Photography on the summit. Sean and Harsharn were happy at this point, but it got even better.
Sean walking to get a better view of Slioch
Sunset was a lovely if muted affair – often I hope for red fiery skies and dramatic bursts of light, but a bit of subtlety can make a nice change when the view is so inspiring.
Sunset over the lochs
Sgurr Ban, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair and Beinn Tarsuinn. The Fannichs are behind.
Liathach with its summits Spidean a’ Choire Leith and Mullach an Rathain (which I hiked in August) catch some early morning sunshine behind Beinn Eighe.
The shot I had planned for – Sunset above Dubh and Fionn Loch from A’Mhaighdean
The wind was moderately strong that evening and the newly installed thinner guy lines on my Ultra Quasar whistled in the wind. Despite temperatures dropping well below zero overnight (my boots inside the tent froze) we awoke at 4.45am feeling refreshed and ready for a great sunrise!
Sunrise from camp – pretty hard to describe how exciting it is as a photographer to have a sunrise like this in a magical place!
Sean photographing An Teallach
Beinn an Eoin catches the early sun on its slopes with Beinn Alligin above
Gorm Loch Mor, Beinn Lair and the peaks of Torridon – a pretty awe inspiring view
I know from past trips to the Highlands that if you have a run of luck like we had over the past 24 hours, then you’ve already had a good trip! MWIS forecast strengthening winds overnight so we headed off the summit and down to camp next to Lochan Feith Mhic-Illean. We could follow our footsteps all of the way down – we were the only people to have visited the top since the snow fell a couple of days before.
Packing up with frost still covering the tents
Time to head down, again in perfect weather, with An Teallach in the distance
Sean with a walking pole kindly leant by Harsharn – they are a great way to make hiking easier and save your knees on descents!
Setting up camp near Lochan Feith Mhic-Illean
From our still moderately high camping spot we were in a good position to reach a couple of viewpoints that afternoon. First we headed to a hill overlooking Beinn Dearg Mor and Beinn Dearg Beag and then we contoured around to Sgurr Na Laocainn with its towering views over Dubh Loch and Fionn Loch. The weather was cloudy throughout but occasional shafts of sunlight brought the all-important drama that we photographers seek!
An icy pool and the 5 Munros of the Fisherfield 6
Light on the slopes of Beinn Dearg
The view from Sgurr Na Laocainn – no doubt a rarely visited viewpoint, I have never seen photos from here
Torchlit tents with Ruadh Stac Mor and A’Mhaighdean behind
The light fizzled out before sunset sadly but we arrived back at the tents pleased with the days efforts. The following morning brought much strengthened winds and some spitting rain and snow in line with the forecast – it was time to leave.
A long hike back but we made good time to avoid the incoming weather
Heading off at just before 8am we arrived back at Poolewe at 12.30pm, a pretty quick time with backpacks weighting 20kg+. The walking was made a bit harder by a strong gusty wind, which kept knocking me off balance, but at least we had our backs to it. I’ve no doubt that the pub lunch was a big motivator too!
Sat down for fish and chips at a pub by 1.30 the rain really started to come down and the wind picked up further. There’s nothing better than feeling like you’ve beaten the Scottish weather!
Looks like another fantastic trip Alex – I imagine your clients were happy with the conditions! Did the snow make it difficult to navigate? It’s an area I would love to visit and scope out in summer before trying anything in the colder months – having said that I imagine you weren’t expecting snow in May. I’ll keep an eye on your workshop calendar and may join you for one of your Scottish trips – particularly if you are doing An Teallach in winter again. I have plenty of hill walking experience and all the right kit, but it’s not something I would try on my own.
absolutely amazing! I saw some of your photos from your walk on Harsharn Gill’s website, great to see a full write up about it, your photos are incredible. I have been inspired to go there myself, and am looking forward to see some of these views for myself!