Category: Munros
Height: n/a
The forecast was for a miserable day, persistent rain and the resulting low cloud all day so not the best outlook for these 3 Munros.
It was raining when I drove to the start but surprisingly it was off when we started walking. A muggy wet day what gear to wear?
 |
| You can just see the trail in the gap |
To start a pleasant walk up the track in Glen Banchor before heading right into the hills via Gleann Fiondrigh where we spotted our first deer of the day and our one and only golden eagle.
 |
| Remote already |
The burn was still very low despite the recent rains and the enclosed hills gave the feeling of isolation and remoteness.
 |
| Turn left here at bridge |
We seemed to complete a circular route around the hills before finally heading out onto the boggy peat moor.
 |
| Carn Dearg ahead |
On and off estate ATV tracks to follow but mainly heather moorland to negotiate but spirits are high and our first Munro is in sight. Its cairn prominent and close to the edge. But to get to it it's not across the peat hags, we go further into the glen towards its head before going left and climbing up the grassy slopes before reaching a stony track. On the rocks a raptor screeches, a youngster and an adult peregrine circles, watching us presumably.
 |
| This is meant to be the best view!! |
A little further on and Carn Dearg’s cairn appears out of the mist. The rain was now fully on and with the low cloud no views from here as you can see from the cairn snap.
 |
| Old fence provides guidance |
We now enter the second section of the walk a long six kilometre trudge across the rocky plateau. The clouds occasionally lifted for 5 minutes to give us a snapshot of the landscape but equally quickly descended into the gloom again. We mainly followed the old fence line and spotted two shapes moving past in the opposite direction, heads down into the rain and gloom.
 |
| The clouds lift a bit but not a lot to see |
About half way along the plateau the rain had eased and more short term views appeared, giving a glimpse of the way ahead, easing the trudge a little.
 |
| Carn Sgulain |
When we reached the 2nd Munro, Carn Sgulain and it really is an anti climax, a pathetic little cairn, the clouds down once more, is this it, the GPS says yes.
A short backtrack and then across the peat hags before descending sharply.
 |
| Peat hags over back to grass for 3rd top |
The burn is in clear sight, nice views up and down but of course the last top cannot be seen in the clouds.
 |
| A'Chailleach 2nd best views apparently |
A last short steep climb and our final Munro of the day, A’Chailleach, is reached. The most impressive cairn of the 3 but once again nae views.
 |
| Descent views opening up |
Not long after starting the descent, you guessed it, the weather cleared and we had fantastic views across Badenoch all the way down, typical. The initially badly eroded track becomes better as you descend back to the car park.
A very long walk today but in good company. Disappointing with the weather but back to normality for hill walking in Scotland.Wildlife: Red deer, Golden Eagle, Meadow pipits, Peregrine.
Time: 7.37
Ascent: 1137m
Distance: 24.7k
No comments:
Post a Comment