[ posted out of sequence  ]

The assault on the remain Munros continues. 

Whilst She is still in Australia visiting her lad, I sneaked an extra day off in lieu ( we don't get flexi time any more - well you do , but it depends on who you ask) 

After the quiet day of nothing yesterday,  I checked the forecast and it was adequate. A promise of no views, but also no rain. With fewer options these days, it's a case of taking what you can get when you csn get it.

The targets for the day (An Riabhachan, Sgurr na Lapaich, Carn an Gobhar) can be accessed in two ways. I opted for the Strathfarrar approach. Its accessed through a private Glen, but there is access for up to 25 cars a day between 9am and 7pm. You have to stop at a house next to a padlocked gate, where the gatekeeping lady notes your registration,  asks where youre off to (chatty more than inquisitive, but also knows where to come and look for you if youre not out by curfew. So no pressure, then!! 

I was off and away around 6; straight to Inverness and then off towards Beauly and south west into the wilds. I got through the gate before 1000 but it took another 35 minutes to negotiate the single track road to its end. Its partly majestic, partly terrifying, not least the two narrow dam crossings deep in the heart of nowhere.

Out and away up the land rover track due west , the hills hidden away to the south of me. There's a fairly decent path that winds west then south west then south through a corrie, between two lochans and then a sharp "ramp" up the back of the corrie onto the the ridg/ bealach. At this point I'm into the cloud and bar 10 minutes would spend the next 5 hours there.

Its a sharp climb up into a long undulating summit ridge, over 2? 3? tops before the actual highest point is reached. Then retracing my steps back to the top of the ramp before continuing on / across and straight on up to Sgurr na Lapaich. All the while checking the time. I figured I needed to be back at the van no later than 1815 1820 to make it to gate by 7. The book says 6 hours 45 mins, so I was constantly checking, calculating - i had faith, I could do this. 

Off the far side of Sgurr na Lapaich it changes from relatively nice to much rockier and steeper. Route finding too isn't as obvious but with a combination of a springer and Strava I just about figure my way through the rocks and the mist. I even get a view of sorts at the low point between the hills, but as I started ascending again, the grey returns once more, enveloped on the mountain, me and the pup plodding away. And so we arrive at our third summit of the day. No time to stop, no real incentive to stop without a view. Set the compass for due north and its a relatively straightforward heathery grassy stoat downwards into clearer conditions and a final s t e e p descent back to the hydro bit.
I fed Loki, changed and with ages to spare drove sedately out, spotting wildlife, admiring the surroundings. And comfortably out before 7. By Beauly it was brightening up, I battered through Inverness and had half a mind to try for Bruar and chips but it became apparent that was a forlorn task, so let Loki out at Ralia and had bananas and a stray sandwich instead.

NGL it was a struggle to stay awake, but we made it home safely 

250 down, 32 left