Two hills required for one blue balloon.....Creag a' Mhadaidh

Hill: Creag a’ Mhadaidh (Cliff of the fox, dog) (612m) & Gualann Sheileach (Willow Hill)

Type: Fiona

Height: 612m

Typically it was once again a mixed weather forecast with rain and low cloud so I changed my plans and decided to go for the lowest hill available to me for my short ramble.

I had two options from the south, one starting at Loch Rannoch and one from the north at Dalnaspidal. I had used the northern route a few years back to the nearby Corbett Beinn Mholach so for a new perspective I opted for the southern start.

I wanted to get back to the good lady sooner than later so I opted to bike in saving about 2 hours on the trip. One of the reports I read mentioned pushing a bike around 2 fields before meeting the path, which was not on with my heavy bike so decision made.

My chosen route followed an old right of way which is a Scottish Hill track and included in the Scotways book (route 152).

As I got ready the light showers were already on/off, it was windy and the waves on Loch Rannoch were already crashing in beside my parking spot, I was close to not bothering.

This side of Perthshire has almost every lay by blocked but I got lucky to park up near my starting point and cycled to the small stone bridge over the Allt a’ Chreagain Odhair. A farm track headed towards Craiganour Lodge but veered north before entering the grounds and chased sheep into the woods.

Pleasant mixed wood

It was a pleasant cycle through the woods but there were a few cattle grids which meant it was a bit stop/start. Must be getting old and feart in the past I would have cycled over them.

Before long I was out of the trees and onto the moor. The good track for cycling was continuing to climb at a good gradient but twisting and turning so never boring.

My hills left and right with Meall na Leitreach under cloud behind them

I was starting to get glimpses of my two hills but just behind them there was a bigger peak with its top under cloud. Some doubt kicked in as I wondered if that indeed was my target. Thankfully it wasn't.

The sheep around here are the sprinting running type, that is sprinting in front of me until a mad leap left or right, my hands fingering the brakes just in case.

I arrived between my two hills and found a small quarry to leave the bike.

This is an interesting pair of hills as both are marked on the OS map as being 612m high but it appears that is is acknowledged that Gualann is 1m lower. Surprisingly the SMC guide to The Grahams makes no mention of this but do a search for Gualann and it is always measured at 612m.

Too climb both was the question, not to be answered until Mhadaidh has been conquered but almost certainly so.

The boggy section to cross first

Some showers running up Loch Rannoch

So off to Mhadaidh it was. There was about 1/2km of rough marshy moorland to cross before any height was gained. Quite wet after the recent rain. There are on/off quad bike and animal tracks but just as much is just using your skills to find the better going. The moor is criss-crossed with water channels, mostly hidden from above and some narrow knee deep ditches so being careful was obvious.

The flat ground up top

Circa 100m of steeper ground before it flattens out again and you realise that the top is about another 500m away over mixed ground.

But the final summit area offers super views over a barren landscape. Tempting to say unmarked by human hand but most of the lochs in this area maybe original water but the hydro industry will be involved somewhere along the line. The SMC book describes the hills name as a misnomer as it is indeed it is just a high point on the moor.

From summit view to Loch Errochty

View back to Loch Rannoch and the track I just cycled up

Still the views up north over Loch Garry and west over to Loch Errochty are quite special, not forgetting the huge mass of Loch Rannoch behind me.

View across to the top of Gualann Sheileach with the trig of Beinn Mholach behind

Looking back the first thing in my view was my 2^nd hill for today, Gualann Sheileach, but it is the huge bulk behind it that really catches my eye. This bulk is the Corbett of Beinn Mholach my aforementioned ramble from Dalnaspidal, no bikes then and from up here it looks an even longer walk than I remembered.

Summer has definitely moved on, the wind up here was on the cool side, no time to linger.

Duinish bothy centre left

Whilst descending the sun briefly shone through the clouds illuminating the Duinish bothy, a special moment on a grey day, everything Scotland's weather often unexpectedly delivers.

As per the forecast showers were passing over Loch Rannoch but so far none had encompassed me, long may it continue.

The mid peak on the right is the high spot

On my descent, I had observed a probable ascent route up Gualann via a grass gully. From here the terrain on Gualann looked easier going but not for the first time I was mistaken.

The grassy gully was fairly direct but it held another hidden water course so plenty more hidden narrow holes to do some damage. I could hear the water gurgling away as it dropped but rarely could I see it, lots of prodding with my poles.

Of course when I reached the top of the gully it was similar to Mhadaidh with about half a kilometre to the summit but much more of a contouring route. And if anything this was the worst walking section with tussocks, heather and peat hags to overcome.

Summit the mid point

The three tops thankfully descend in height from my left to right so the first one I reached was the highest top. A small cairn but no sign of the Willows, long since gone.

View from summit to Beinn Mholach

Very rough ground between here and Rannoch Station

View North to Loch Garry on the left

Again it was a smallish hill with decent views and it brought Mholach must closer and even more imposing. The ascent from the other side was fairly straightforward as I recall.

My descent back to the track was easier by picking out better lines, especially ;ower down on the bare grass grazed by the sheep. But then I had a problem. I could not find my bike. Normally I mark a GPS location but did not today. I had come down above where I expected so a frustrating time walking up and down until I spotted a bike handle further down the track towards Rannoch, big relief.

Typical view of the pointed peak of Schiehallion

The fast downhill descent to Loch Rannoch was fun, just over 15mins along with the downhill MTB buzz, a perfect end to a good short ramble.

Ascent: 664m

Distance: 19.6km

Time: 3.21

Wildlife: Common Frog; Meadow Pipit; Wren; Scotch Argus;

Just a half a ramble today.....Beinn Bhreac Cairngorm

Hill: Beinn Bhreac (Cairngorm) (Speckled Hill)

Type: Munro

Height: 930m

I was still feeling tightness and tenderness with the medial calf that I strained a few weeks ago so I was a bit troubled about what to do today. I had signed up for this walk which I knew should be a straightforward Munro double. The distance was the issue as I was not convinced that the calf would survive a 30k hike so I opted to reduce that by cycling to Derry Lodge. My plan was to decide after Beinn Bhreac whether to continue or not but the tightness/pain had gone up a few notches on the morning of the walk so decision made, just a single Munro.

Derry Cairngorm in the shade, Carn a' Mhain left of centre

At the Linn of Dee start Gillian from ADRC was the only other walker apart from the guide. After I had told the organiser I was cycling part of it it appeared that we all did. We all cycled the almost 4 miles to Derry Lodge which was less than 30 minutes from Linn of Dee, where the walk officially started, time saved. Heard a cuckoo calling, must be about time for the males to start migrating back to Africa.

Start of ATV track

Views opening up Tor of Beinn Mheadhoin

All the reports that I had read described walking a kilometre before cutting up the hill. But after only a couple of minutes the guide surprised me by heading off up an ATV track. His reasoning was that it was less boggy and less populated. Both correct as no-one else was seen on this route until we neared the normal track.

1st view of Beinn Bhreac on left we continue up to the right

This turned out to be a nice gradient and a pleasant walk, the weather good. Views getting better as we rose. We continued on the ATV track almost to the top of Meall an Lundain at 777m.

Full view of Beinn Bhreac 

Just before the top we headed cross country. We dropped about 70m and the terrain involved a lot of dodging the many peat hags. I could see a couple of walkers about half way up the final pull to the coll of Beinn Bhreac. There were other walkers around but I recognised their outfits as being the pair who were just in front of us at Derry Lodge. Although I enjoyed the different route it was a longer walk, added another 70m of ascent and about 30 minutes extra to the top. No issue for me but If I had been doing both it added extra on an already long day.

Ascent track on right, descent on left

Looking at the final climb our route was taking us up via a clear path on the eastern side but slightly further west walkers were using another track, the main one.

A straightforward ascent, losing and re finding the track a few times but no difficulty to the ridge.

The cairn was a short crossing across the boulder field but pretty easy going normally but today the rocky terrain was testing my calf. 

View to Lochnagar

Beinn a' Chaorainn in the centre

Great views all round. A bit hazy over to the Lochnagar group but the main view dominated by Derry Cairngorm and the torr's on Beinn Mheadhoin were spectacular.

With regret I had to leave the others. Disappointed as the other Munro involved no major ascent but as said not for me today.

I wandered across the stony terrain before deciding to just head down where I soon picked up the main track. I could see a small cairn in the distance. Again the track came and went but just headed to the cairn and picked it up again.

From the cairn another good view of the track heading far down but surprisingly nobody ascending. Solo time again.

Quite boggy in parts but once I hit the trees the bog factor went up considerably so 15 minutes of gloop avoiding before I hit the return track.

Azure Hawker

Then walked the kilometre as mentioned earlier back to to Derry Lodge and the bike was still there. It was a good section for birdlife and I had a brilliant bonus, an Azure Hawker. Pretty sure that it was my 1^st sighting of the year.

Bike park

Biked the same track but when I reached the road I extended the cycle by a few more miles to get a bit more out of the day.

Back at the car my leg was throbbing a bit more so the right decision had been made to do just the one hill. A good ramble and an opportunity is there to return one day for the other Munro.

Ascent: 801m

Distance: 21.5km

Time: 5.02

Wildlife: Red Grouse; Red Kite; Common Frog; Vole; Redstart; Willow Warbler; Peacock Butterfly; Meadow Pipit; Coal Tit; Chaffinch; Goldcrest; Azure Hawker; Cuckoo;

Not quite what I imagined for my 200th.....Knockan

Hill: Knockan

Type: Sub2k

Height: 372m

My last wee ramble of the day was a trip to Knockan which I knew was not much more than a wander up a wind farm track.

Walkhighlands describes Knockan as a sprawling upland that divides upper Glen Isla from Glen Fiddich. The summit area is now part of the site of an extensive wind farm (indeed it is).

The couple of miles or so on rising track coming up from outside Keith was like driving through a burn as the water cascaded down the single track. I was glad of the cars water assistance technology as I did not want any aquaplaning on this narrow track.

Safely arrived at the Hill of Towie wind farm and tucked my car in nicely so hopefully no big bad energy people will scrape it.

Very low cloud meant I could see the nearer turbines but the higher ones were alternating between visibility and then disappearing along with the mood of the weather.

Not a lot to describe on this ramble, a hard packed wind farm track is the same wherever and I have walked on quite a few of them.

Farmer John appearing beside the tank

It was a lot colder up here and sadly on came the rain again, heavy enough to get the hood up. I was amazed when another person appeared out of the gloom.

An old farmer type stopped for a brief chat. I was dressed for the Artic and he just had a gilet over his jumper, a tough guy.

Feeling less manly I wandered on, a left followed by a right hand turn then it was time to leave the track and hit the moor proper.

Had to be the high point

Through the gloom I could see what looked like a trig but I knew from the map that the trig was on the other side of the road on the Hill of Towie so there would not be two located so close to each other.

Onto the moor and although it was a mixture of deep heather, sphagnum bogs etc it was fairly flat so no real issues.

Looking to the west the only view

When I reached the high point I found that it was a small cairn structure, not a trig. Also nae views except one brief opening looking west.

I had to laugh as Knockan was disappointing in one sense, this was a big hill for me, my 200^th Sub2k. Would have been nice to have had something a bit more special but I suppose that is a selfish viewpoint, just enjoy the moment I told myself.

Too much burnt moor 

I reckoned that the nearest turbine was the shortest way off the moor rather than the way I had come in. As I headed to it I was surprised to note how much of the heather was burnt. I had seen a lot of grouse droppings so there must be quite a few here. But would they allow a shoot in the middle of a wind farm? Quite possibly as our SNP government gives the rich landowners everything they want. Anyway not my problem as I wont be back here again.

How the camera lies, this was heavy rain and gloom

Typically as I headed back to the car the rain intensified, probably the heaviest of the day and that says something.

Still good to get three small hills bagged on a day when it would have been easier to stay indoors.

But now I need to find a pub to raise a glass to my 200^th Sub2k and ease my disappointment lol.

Ascent: 96m

Distance: 3.8km

Time: 0.52

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Golden Plover

Rambling through the trees before getting some good views.....Ben Aigan

Hill: Ben Aigan

Type: Sub2k

Height: 471m

A lovely drive through the beautiful back roads of Morayshire brought me to the Forestry commission’s Ben Aigan reserve. A great area for dog walkers, mountain bikers and walkers wanting to summit Ben Aigan or just walk amongst trees. There is also another mast for mast baggers but thankfully that was not on my hit list for this ramble.

As I drove towards the hill the skies had cleared almost everywhere, but guess what, Ben Aigan had a huge dark thick mass over its upper slopes, a few ‘I cannot believe this mutterings’.

The early stages are not the most exciting. A long walk on tree lined hard packed route was sore on the feet but good on the eye. These boots are not made for hard trails.

Softer light and more birdsong

The track seemed to turn back on itself but the route was still climbing and I had not missed any turnoffs. Positive was that I had the opportunity to stop and listen to the birds.

To get to the upper level I knew I had two options. I could follow this track up and around the mast to meet the higher route. Or take a firebreak mentioned in a couple of reports.

But where was it? The recent storms had caused tree carnage and whenever I thought it might start, peering into the forest the decision was a no-no, safety first. I had accepted that I was just going to do the long track when I spotted it, further on than expected and no markers but the trail looked used.

As expected I soon came across the first fallen trees but they were not walk breaking obstacles. The track was extremely boggy in places, at times no option but to place my boot in the gloop. However, overall it was better than expected and I quickly reached the upper track.

Out of the firebreak but Again still under cloud

Very quickly after joining it forked with an old track on the left whick looked the one to take. Although it is a decent gradient my lack of hill walking was certainly telling, I was huffing and puffing more than normal. More time stop and listen, bullfinches and Jays.

Top straight ahead but contour required

And then there was light, I was out of the trees and onto the moor. Once again it seemed a long way to get to the top. The track builders decided to contour the hill before striking upwards. Still the views were good.

Harsh light as I arrived at the trig

The last pull was tougher than I expected mainly due to my lack of walking fitness but it did not take long before I soon spotted the trig.

Looking north towards Meikle Balloch

However good a viewpoint the trig is it is not the real top. But before I despaired too much it was nearby.

Looking back to the trig from the real top

It was obvious that the slightly risen mound a short distance away was the real top, so over I went.

Looking south over Strathspey there was still cloud lingering and the bright light made it impressive but not photogenic.

Lots of trees then the Moray Firth

Instead the views down to the nearby town of Rothes and looking north up to the Moray Firth and Inverness hit the mark. 

As always the high point of this landscape, Ben Rinnes could be identified with its pointed summit. A reminder that the distillery makes a fine malt which I have not had for a few years, need to rectify that.

The town of Rothes with the Glen Grant distillery pumping out steam

Heading down I bumped into a Canadian who was delighted to visit this part of Scotland. Descending the firebreak I bumped into a young girl, her white trainers were going to be a bit less white when she hits the gloop further up.

About a mile from the end my injury was throbbing a bit so I was glad to get to the car and call it a day.

Ascent: 287m

Distance: 8.8k

Time: 2.09

Wildlife: Robin; Great Tit; Chaffinch; Bullfinch; Goldcrest; Dunnock; Wren; Treecreeper;