Above: The view back to Loch Sgamhain from the route of ascent.
GrahamsCàrn Breac
Beinn na Feusaige |
Distance/Ascent14km 785m
|
Time taken7h 30 mins
|
20 July 2026
I had just a day available and these are within reasonable driving distance. I had hoped for better weather due to the are of high pressure over the UK. It was a dull day with a low cloud base and periodic drizzle. It was not until I was well up the hill that I realised that I had left my hydration bladder in the fridge. It did, at least, mean a lighter pack!
Common frog (Rana temporaria)
The route passes a large rock with interesting, layers before reaching the trig point surrounded by a stone wall. I tried to do a summit selfie, but due to a thick mist, they all look grey and lack clarity. It is a long walk between the Grahams, in places involving finding the driest route between the peat hags and lochans.
I spent very little time on Beinn na Feusaige and I headed back west, passing an aeroplane crash site along the way.
USAAF flight 41-34707
The aircraft involved in this crash was a brand-new Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder, a fast, heavily armed twin-engine medium bomber. It belonged to the 455th Bombardment Squadron of the 323rd Bombardment Group. The 323rd had been formed in 1942 and spent the early months of 1943 training on these specific variants before getting orders to deploy to the United Kingdom.
On the 3rd June the crew of 41-34707 along with a number of other crews were cleared to fly from Meeks Field on Iceland to Prestwick, using a radio beacon at Stornoway as a course change point. Without advanced ground-radar navigation systems, the crew of 41-34707 drifted significantly north and east of their intended flight corridor over the Irish Sea. Blindly navigating through low cloud cover, they entered the mountainous terrain of Glen Carron in Wester Ross. At approximately 625 metres (2,051 feet) elevation, the aircraft struck the western slopes of Beinn na Feusaige. The impact and subsequent fuel explosion killed all five on board instantly.
USAAF flight 41-34707
The aircraft involved in this crash was a brand-new Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder, a fast, heavily armed twin-engine medium bomber. It belonged to the 455th Bombardment Squadron of the 323rd Bombardment Group. The 323rd had been formed in 1942 and spent the early months of 1943 training on these specific variants before getting orders to deploy to the United Kingdom.
On the 3rd June the crew of 41-34707 along with a number of other crews were cleared to fly from Meeks Field on Iceland to Prestwick, using a radio beacon at Stornoway as a course change point. Without advanced ground-radar navigation systems, the crew of 41-34707 drifted significantly north and east of their intended flight corridor over the Irish Sea. Blindly navigating through low cloud cover, they entered the mountainous terrain of Glen Carron in Wester Ross. At approximately 625 metres (2,051 feet) elevation, the aircraft struck the western slopes of Beinn na Feusaige. The impact and subsequent fuel explosion killed all five on board instantly.
On reaching the track at the bottom of the hill, there were butterflies and dragonflies. This is not a very good photograph but a new species to me: Arran brown (Erebia ligea) butterfly. I think that these emerge early, so this one is probably fairly old with tatty wings. The dragonflies did not stop long enough for me to photograph them.
Peacock butterfly (Aglais io) caterpillars on their preferred host - nettles.
The sun decided to make an appearance as I approached the car!