Hill: Gairbeinn (Rough Mountain)
Type: Corbett
Height: 896m
I was glad that I changed the timing of this walk because today was as good a walking day as you can get. The clear skies had left the car iced up but by the time I had my brekkie it had disappeared.
The stunning drive from Laggan to Garve never disappoints. I was worried as there was about 20+ estate type vehicles with trailers in a nearby field, stalking? But the gate after the bridge at Garve was open so the near 4 mile extra drive to the walk start, albeit over rising and falling contouring single track, no hardship on a day like this.
At the parking area one other car but I never did see the occupant, it was still there when I got back.
Ready to go and the car temperature gauge said 1degree. The road ahead is roughly following one of General Wades military roads. A couple of the existing stone arched bridges are passed. Ok for the horses and carts of the day but not for modern cars so they are bypassed.
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| Melgrave Bothy |
As I approached the Melgarve bothy I noticed movement and the farm buildings close by. Thought they were abandoned but obviously not as someone came out with a dog for a walk. Wonder if that was the car occupant, maybe a holiday let?
There is not a lot to be said about the next section as it is simply a moorland crossing with not a lot standing out to admire. There are no tracks so just go for it.
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| I went to the left and climbed from there |
I decided to take a direct line towards Geal Charn (not the Munro) passing to the left of Meall Garbh Beag. I had read that this was a very boggy section as I was surprised. It did have its wet moments but overall much drier than expected. Spotted a small herd of red deer stags on the flanks, they had spotted me as well.
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| Made me laugh the pylons looked like the Spanish Armada sailing in |
Time to climb the grassy slopes. Keep huffing and puffing until it starts to level off and the hill becomes a mixture of wet moor and craggy rock.
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| Actual top is off to the left |
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| Looking back to start point |
Although I kept thinking that I was getting to the top the reality was that this is quite a long ridge. It has many grassy gulley's that lured me into thinking this was it. Even the pointed crags seemed like a perfect top but nope there was still a couple more minutes of walking, albeit flattish.
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| Creag Meagaidh Munros foreground Grey Corries behind |
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| The peat bogs over to Corryhabbie Hill if you fancy it, I didn't |
There are really good views in 360 degree as this is a good stand alone high point. Looking down it is a wilderness of peat hagged moorland, this is remote territory. I reckon I have good views of the Grey Corries in one direction and the Cairngorms in another. Of course the Creag Meagaidh Munros are just across the River Spey.
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| On descent I wanted to follow the dry section back to track |
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| Grey Corries clearer |
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| Final stretch |
Back down the same way back to the car. Sprung a snipe but apart from that I was alone on the hill, the only noise being the meadow pipits of which there were plenty.
Another ramble that I thoroughly enjoyed and what a day for it. Hard to believe that heavy snow is forecast on the hill I intend to do in a couple of days, time will tell.
Ascent: 557m
Distance: 7.5km
Time: 2.56
Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Snipe; Pheasant; Pied Wagtail; Buzzard; Red deer stags.
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