Beinn Bhan

After a comfortable night in the hotel in Shieldaig, we headed to Applecross to climb Beinn Bhan by the ridge of A'Chioch. Grade II in winter the guidebook said but was sparse with photographs. "Let's give it a go."

Petrifying was not the word. It was steep, loose, exposed, long, airy, narrow, vegetated and other adjectives of the ilk.

When we topped the rise to see our objective in front of us we both gulped. Unfortunately the terrain we had just ascended could not have been reversed so we were committed to continuing upwards. I had thoughts of RAF helicopters and stretcher carriers as I inched my way up the steep wall.

The sense of relief we both felt when we reached the FLAT summit plateau was tangible.

The picture shows Coire na Poite with the summit of Beinn Bhan top left. Taken from the top of A'Chioch as we ascended the ridge.