I went to sleep accompanied by the gentle ‘pitter patter’ of Hailstones…and the coolness they heralded, however I could see a red sunset in the distance, so I looked forward to a good day today, and as I awoke…and looked out the windows, I saw lovely blue skies,and the sun trying to pop up from behind the mountains, a good day in prospect, so a quick breakfast and pack up ready for the road down into Glenbrittle, where I had decided to stop at the camp site http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/glenbrittle/ for a few days luxury – first mistake ….as you can see …not open !
Ah well, I know somewhere I can stop !
Undeterred I got my gear on, and set off to climb the highest peak in the Cuillin mountains (and on Skye itself) Sgurr Alistair, at 944 mts high, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgurr_Alasdair and as I was starting at sea level I would have to climb the lot ! It was a nice blue sky, and hardly a breath of wind as i wound my way up through the closed campsite, and along a well made trail, up into the mountain amphitheatre, with the sea dropping beneath me fairly quickly,as I strolled upwards towards the rocky skyline,passing a lochan to my left, then up over some more rocky cliffs, of almost whale like rocks, and onto a plateau where I reached Coire Leegan, with various dotted rock shelters scattered around the area.
As I looked up the ‘Great Stone Chute ' I could see the faint line of the path which I was to take, up from the corrie floor, to the top. I had some lunch and then started up the chute, 3 steps up, 2 steps down…as the rocks and stones beneath my feet, were like trying to climb Up an escalator going ‘Down’ , and the sunshine changed to strong winds, and black threatening clouds, as once again Rain looked like it was moving in for the afternoon. Eventually at 655 mts I decided to call it a day, turned round and ran back down the stone chute to escape the bad weather (and have it easy!). As I descended I was applauded by some Japanese, who were being guided, only to the corrie below, and a couple of other people, none of whom even attempted to climb the chute…so, I hadn’t done too bad, had I ?
So, then it was back down the same path, having various showers of rain soaking me, then the sun drying me , before another soakingEventually getting back down to Wally, and a quick look around the beach area, watching a basking seal on the rocks, salmon leaping up the river…and then the heavy rain returned, so it was back in Wally to where I stayed the previous night, for food and an early sleep…
phew,at least I’d had some walking on Skye, not like the previous days ! What will tomorrow bring ?
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