Day One – Liathach via Coire Mhic and Coire Dubh (or a walk between hills)
The instructions were to muster at the front door by 9am, and by 9:30am all 11 members of the team had gathered and were ready for our walk.
Logistics meant 3 cars headed to the start of the walk then, having disgorged their cargo, all three were driven to the finishing point. The drivers then returned to the start in one vehicle.
The remaining walkers lingered in the car park developing hypothermia.
We were soon joined by Doe the deer who was on a carrot hunt. Having failed to secure any root vegetables from us she indiscriminately approached every other passing stranger.
By 10:15am the drivers had returned and we were again all assembled and heading out on our linear walk.
The walk followed good paths and started uphill for the first mile.
A good pace was set and by 11:15am we had walked into the lairig that would circle between the hills to our left and right.
We stopped and enjoyed drinks and snacks before our peloton headed onwards.
It was fairly uneventful, as the path snaked over undulations and between the lochans. Garry stalled on one water crossing resulting in an overtopping of his right boot.
By 12:30am we reached the halfway point. Lunchtime!
The weather had been overcast since the start and although the cloud was lifting slowly the sun proved elusive. The mist clung moodily to the tops, clearing at times to reveal the stone buttresses beneath.
Just after lunch Phil’s right boot developed a smile with the heel flapping loosely. Running repairs were made using a bootlace which I had been carrying in my backpack for over 5 years. I knew it would come in useful eventually.
The peloton continued snaking its way downwards, now beside a river, Coire Mhic Nobuil.
Different team members took it in turn to lead.
As we continued our descent we passed a small waterfall, and a golden eagle hovered above. We stopped to admire it in flight.
Soon we were in woodland beside a box ravine and heading down to the car park.
I had put a case of beer in the boot of Iain Arthur’s car and four of us enjoyed a cold one before being driven home.
An eight mile walk safely negotiated without incident, save the flapping boot and wet foot, with all members ready for tea, the pub, sleep and another day’s walking tomorrow.