A wild and windy summit.....Carn Faire nan Con

Hill: Carn Faire nan Con (Cairn of the dogs)

Type: Sub2k

Height: 370m

As always the weather forecast is numero uno for all hillwalkers, at least for those with a sense of self preservation. Today’s forecast was for a dry start with heavy rain arriving by 2-3pm depending on which forecast you believe in, but at least reasonable consistency. So the objective was to get this over and done with by lunchtime.

An early warning as I drove to the starting point in Garve. The roads were wet and the hills were covered in low cloud along with bands of showers around me. The positive was that none of these had forced my wipers to activate.

Parked in just off the main road at the entrance for the maintenance track hopefully leaving enough room on the off chance something actually needed maintained.

Switched on my GPS and nothing happened. Prodded a few buttons as you do, still dead. Opened the back to find zero batteries, still sitting in the charger at my hotel. I always give them a boost on the morning of a walk so I have full batteries. I think this has happened once before so I need to set a reminder on my phone or something. Luckily I had created my route on OS maps so that was on my phone. The map shown on the blog is that track.

Climbed the gate and wandered up the track. I presume this track is for pylon repairs but judging by the small trees that were growing in the middle of track no vehicle had been up here for a long time.

I was dressed for the rain but it was really muggy so all sorts of beasties were attracted to my carbon monoxide breathing face and of course I did not have a midge/fly hood with me.

On the lower slopes views were few and far between but a lot of bird activity kept me interested.

Slightly higher I was getting views of Loch Garve, the roadworks and the sound of the two carriage train from Inverness to Lochalsh.

Despite the good vibes the clouds were lowering not a good omen.

Then without any real warning the views opened up and I was looking down over the stunning waters of Loch Luichart.

Down below a vivid green open space with a large building caught my eye. It is named on the map as Arrieleitrach which was a remote settlement and township much of which became underwater when the loch was created. Historical records recorded tenants from 1700. No obvious road so presumably unseen hill tracks are the only way to it.

I knew that the Sub2k of Sgurr Marcasaidh was the slopes above this but the top section was under cloud.

Walk on a bit further

Back to reality and things were about to change big time. I reached the point where I planned to cut off and go cross country but I carried on for a bit further as there was too much bracken on that direct path.

Rain coming from the NW over the loch, about to get wild for a while.

When I cut off the heavens opened and the rain was biblical. After my experience earlier in the year with my phone (see Wisp Hill blog) I was taking no chances. So it was put in a waterproof bag, into another waterproof bag and was not touched for another hour until the rain had gone off.

The next 30 minutes was only 100m of ascent but it was brutal. Solid heather and bracken bad enough in the dry but with the rain horrendous, even worse than Saturdays ramble.

Went a bit sideways under some small outcrops found a gap where a bit of mild hands on took me to the small cairn. A historical lookout spot but not for me today. No hanging about I was immediately off. I wish I had snow goggles to protect my eyes as hail mixed in.

Having no desire to go back through that horrible stuff I took a different route. I had read another report who had descended via steep heather to reconnect with the upward track. For once today I was lucky as his report mentioned clinging to the heather on steep slopes. I must have came down a different slope as I had reasonable heather which became boggy moor but no bracken.

I descended to the right of the snap over the humps as the left is a big drop and new plantings

Unexpected, but so grateful, the rain stopped. Near the trees I spotted an eroded, sodden but still usable ATV track which led me back to the main track.

As I descended the clouds began to lift. The ariel towers on Little Wyviss had cloud behind them but within 15 minutes the cloud had lifted and I could also see the slopes of Ben Wyviss.

This flew out of the trees at first I thought buzzard but immediately it looked bigger, eagle I suspect

Scotch Argus

After those exertions I was happy to take a slow wander back down listening and spotting the birds and butterflies.

For a small hill that had a brutal final section no doubt a lot easier in the early spring. Unlikely to be back and if I did I would go straight up my descent route but I enjoyed sections of the ramble if not the summit. 

Ascent: 239m

Distance: 5.12

Time: 2.16

Wildlife: Chaffinch; Meadow Pipit; Scotch Argus; Golden Eagle?; Blue Tit;