Surprisingly better underfoot than expected.....Glas-bheinne Mhor

 Hill: Glas-bheinne Mhor (Hill of the cold hill mass)

Type: Fiona

Height: 651m

After yesterdays huge turnout today numbers were back to normal with 5 of us heading for this remote Graham.

I actually had doubts about whether to include this hill as from previous walk reports and experience of its near neighbour I expected it to be a sodden boggy outing. How wrong I was it was a nice walk in 3 defined stages.

Make sure to turn sharp here or end up in Invermoriston

Thankfully a side gate

Firstly it was a long but good forested section which gained us a lot of height at a comfortable gradient, walking on a soft carpet of pine needles, very pleasant indeed. The trees were huge and it was quite dark under them with some very steep drops to the gorge below which were not for the vertigo challenged.

Our hill behind the trees, Meall Fuar-mhonaidh on right

Time to rough it

Next was a hydro track which was certainly not barren. Full foliage along the way plus a good mix of moor and trees, a typical Highland scene. More scenic than expected and quite pretty at times Only issue was stopping for a break and finding 3 ticks crawling about me, not attached, all dead now.

Reservoir with Glen Sheil in distance

Love these glacially formed rolling tops

Cairn spotted

Finally the moor section to ascend the hill. Much better underfoot than expected and a reasonable gradient to the summit. The terrain included wet moor grass tussocks and heather but in the main footage was secure. There were a few hidden water courses with deep holes. At times we had the strong smell of deer and saw fresh droppings but not the beasties themselves.

Glen Affric in distance

North to Loch Ness

Saturdays hidden hill behind the pylons

Head back to the reservoir then a track all the way back

I had read that it was a hill of many false summits but I did not really find that to be the case. Its true that you do not see the cairn until the last moment and the trig not until you have reached the cairn. Reasonable all round views, mostly long distance as nothing really close except its neighbouring fiona.

Could see the hill we were on yesterday, more than we could see then when it was in the cloud and rain.

We descended on a straighter line to re-join the track where we had a slight couple of minutes detour as I kept on the high track until error realised. Just as well as that track curved back inland nowhere near where we wanted to be.

A better than expected ramble in good company.

Ascent: 641m

Distance: 16.9km

Time: 5.53

Wildlife: Raven; Meadow Pipit; Ringlet; Blue tit

ADRC Action photos