Birthday cake and beer - a proper preparation.

"Kings may be blest but we were glorious,"

"O'er a' the ills o' life victorious! "

"But pleasures are like poppies spread, you sieze the flow'r, it's bloom is shed:"       Packing

"And sic a night he taks the road in, as ne'er poor sinner was abroad in."

After enough pints in the Cluanie we decided to set off.  "The swats sae ream'd in our noddles"

"Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face" - Haggis, neaps and tatties were just the thing.

"But here my muse her wing maun cour".  Could still see our breath.  Note the huge fire warming us all through.....not!

Breakfast at Camban.  An Socach to the left of Glen Affric, and on the right Mullach Fraoch choire, and the An Caorann Mor path we came up the night before.

Breakfast al fresco.

Home for a day.  Camban bothy, with Beinn Fhada to the right and I think that's Saileag on the left?  The business.

And off we go.  Another early start, up Beinn Fhada.

Leaving Fionngleann below us, looking up theSreath a Ghlas-choire to Sgurr a Bhealacih Dheirg on the right.

That's the valley we came up last night over there, and Mullach Fraoch Choire.

The first top of Ben Fhada beckons in the distance.

Glen Affric

Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, our original target, looking resplendent.

A Ghlas bheinn and Creag na Saobhie maybe?

So have you been paying attention?  The slopes of An Socach on the left, then the massif of Mam Sodhail overlooking Loch Affric.  To the right of that is the long ridge of Mullach Fraoch choire and A Chralaig, and then the shoulder of Ciste Dubh to the far right.  So many still to do?

And there is our hill for the day, Beinn Fhada.  The peak is in the middle, and we checked, it is higher than the bit on the left.  And just behind Craig is A Ghlas bheinn, which we left for another day.  It must have been about here we enjoyed the Christmas cake, much appreciated.

Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan in the background again.  Big hill.

Some of the Five Sisters on the left, and Beinn Fhada on the right.

More Five Sisters

Not called the Long Hill for no reason.  It occupies an area equal to the full Five Sisters.

Look, Loch Duich.  The Plaide Mhor in front of us - quite a summit plateau.

So many hills.

A Sister - but not sure which one.  Maybe Sgurr Fhuarain?

The Top.  Only another seven and a half miles to go now.

Glen Affric from the top

Off we go again.  Skye in the background.  Magnificent

Craig making good progress.  A Ghlas Bheinn looked very pretty, but we were not tempted.  Heading for the Bealach an Sgairne.

Gleann Choinneach beckons

Another long one.  That's A' Ghlas bheinn out front, and Gleann Gaorsaic on the right.  We headed down to the bealach then left down an excellent path.

Final glimpse down Glen Affric to the right, with Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan and Mullach na Dheiragain on it's left.  Next time perhaps?

We are the boys.