A grand little hill, visited on a soft, hazy February day. The approach from the north, all bracken and crags, was reminiscent of the Lakes. The path shown on the map through the trees not only existed but the trees were low and widely spaced. The summit boasted a fine fin of bare rock. What more could you want?
Excellent glaciated landslip topography. Spell-binding loch views to the south, and a rough, intricate non-Marilyn-bearing region to the north. Departed feeling that I'd seriously misallocated the day by not allowing for more thorough exploration of this exceptional mountain, after a morning on the infinitely inferior Am Bathach. Totally agree with the Corbett guidebook recommendations for the simple pleasures of the latter, but earnestly wish I'd done more personal research on the former. So much more than a simple tick - must revisit, dwell and savour.
On 26 April 2003 I set off from Kinlochewe with John Barnard, firstly by bike to the Heights of Kinlochewe, then on foot to climb Beinn Bheag, Groban and Beinn nan Ramh. As we still had sufficient time left we finished the day on Beinn a'Mhuinidh, which I nominate as being the Graham with the best view. Throughout the day we had near-perfect visibility, and the view from BaM was just stunning. Firstly, Slioch was 'in your face' so to speak. Secondly, the groups of hills surrounding us were the Torridons, the Fisherfield six, the Fannichs and the Strathcarron three. Thirdly, in the easily-discernible background was An Teallach, the Beinn Dearg group, the Strathfarrar Hills, and all the Munros east of Achnashellach.
Legendary Uig scrambling with two experienced companions. None of us fancied the others' proposed routes up this from the col. We split, did our own thing while speculating as to the sanity of our fellows, and re-convened on the top exhilarated.
I have no wee shites to report but would propose Norman's Law as a wee gem. It has everything - easy access, woodlands, small crags, views over rural landscape, villages, city, river mouth, famous bridges and distant mountains. It even has an antiquity marked on the OS map.
Probably the most mountain per metre above sea level I've found over the first half of the list. Glossing over the signs added and removed to inhibit western access, this is just a phenomenal small ridge when taken east to west.
