Cul Mor

We've just come back from another trip down south. An unexpected one for me. It was my Aunt's funeral in Sussex. A sad occasion  but made much more bearable by the opportunity to catch up with cousins, uncles, remaining aunts and people you feel you may be related to but aren't altogether sure.

I couldn't wait though to come home. We've grown used to the space, and as pretty as Sussex and Surrey are,  it felt crowded; the roads busy. Yes, I know it's a  holiday time - but just getting anywhere took for ever. We're not used to traffic lights, junctions and queues! So after arriving back home we took the first opportunity to rush out in the open and enjoy a great big dollop of space!

Cul Mor is where we're headed the peak on the right.  From a distance both Cul Mor and Cul Beag the smaller peak to the left look for all the world like a pair of slag heaps. Not very impressive and easy to wonder what all the fuss is about.

Finally Cul Mor stands still, for ages it appeared to be moving away from us. It doesn't look difficult, but there are  boulders to clamber over nearer the top.

The best thing about going up is being able to see the surrounding loveliness, bit by bit it comes into view

Suilven appears

Are we really going up there?

Yep, looks like it. I'm with the funny little chap in the hat!

Now, I'm actually not that good with heights. It doesn't help much to look up

but it helps even less to look down! So I concentrate on my feet and climbing over boulders.

 we're on the top, we've done it,  and  can look over to the ridge below the summit.

And this is why I keep going and battle through the tingly and unnerving bits because the feeling of getting to the top and seeing this overrides all fear!

and builds up an appetite!

Isn't it lovely?

Eyebright

and Wild Thyme grow here in what must be at times such a harsh environment.

but lunch is finished and we head out onto the ridge

Looking back at where we've been

Stac Pollaidh  where our two boys and their friends climbed in May

Not feeling hemmed in. It's such a good feeling. I love the emptiness, the absence of a road, a car park a tea room a gift shop. This is as it is, a vast nature reserve that will stay unspoilt, and to reach it takes effort.

 I don't know what this is and didn't notice the small insect until I uploaded the pictures onto the computer.

Tiny little plants that thrive up here sheltered in amongst the rocks

I do appreciate I'm lucky and that I'm fit enough (just!) to be able to get up here

It's late afternoon early evening and the cloud is building up. Time to head back down

 We sat up there and had lunch

We didn't choose the best way to come down and ended by doing a large detour to avoid peat bog and waterfalls

But eventually we made it back to the car and the cloud rolled in hiding our mountain top