Days 120-121 Rest days in Ullapool

We needed to resupply and visit the vets in Ullapool so decied on two days to give us a chance to recover. Ullapool was sunny and not too many midges - bliss!

Day 119 Loch an Nid - Inverlael

A wet start that dried up as we walked to finish with a bright evening in Ullapool. We took a taxi from Inverlael to Ullapool as it is off route.

A path starting to form although like a lot of the paths, was very wet underfoot and required care.

Looking down to Shenavall bothy

Guess what was for tea!

Day 118 Kinlochewe - Loch an Nid

Taking a different route to Loch an Nid for us, via the Heights of Kinlochewe and Lochan Fada then heading into remote, pathless territory.
Loch an Nid is a wonderful place to camp with a superb view of An Teallach in the distance.

Day 117 Pollan Buidhe - Kinlochewe

Down, up , down day to get to the edge of Kinlochewe. Again, mixed walking with tracks and an awkard section to get to Kinlochewe. We're actually on the Cape Wrath trail until Inverlael near Ullapool and this section has been mentioned in a number of forum posts about how awkward it is!

From the old pony track above Achnashellach

Starting to drop down to Kinlochewe withLiathach and Beinn Eighe in view

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Camped just outside Kinlochewe

Day 116 Maol-bhuidhe - Pollan Buidhe

Again, we are travelling through country we know but by new routes. IT's nice to feel that you know an area but still see things with a different persepctive. This day took us over another high pass - the Bealach Bhearnais before dropping down Pollan Buidhe. As with many day now we are in more remote country, the walking consists of a mix of land rover tracks, old paths and sections of pathless terrain.
The bridge at Polan Buidhe is nothing more than a wire and a hand-line to hang on to! The water level was low however, so we just walked across.
Barney seemed to have his picture taken a few times today!

Day 115 Gleann Gaorsaic - Maol-bhuidhe

We decided on a change of route here. More rain overnight left us thinking it might be difficult to get Barney down the side of the Falls of Glomach. This is one of the most spectacular parts of the whole trail as the falls are amongst the best in Britain. This meant crossing pathless terrain for several miles and then picking up an old path down to Carnach.

We stopped for a break before continuing to Iron Lodge and up and over the beallach to the bothy at Maol-bhuide. Jos was hoping to try out the top bedroom in the bothy which had been occupied the last time we were here but it was not to be as a couple with a dog arrived 2 minutes before us!

Day 114 Cluanie Inn - Glean Gaorsaic wild camp

A very wet day crossing to Glen Affric and then beyond.
We had a welcome break at the Alltbeithe youth hostel which must be one of the remotest in the country. The warden welcomed us in (Barney had to stay in the porch however as dogs are not allowed in youth hostels) and made hot drinks and fresh scones - wow!

The weather improved late in the day and we found a good spot to pitch the tent where we weren't likely to get flooded.
The mountains behind, Beinn Fhada and A' Ghlas-bheinn, are both Munros which we had climbed a few years ago.