Hill:
Carn Mor (Big cairn)
Type:
Corbett
Height:
804m
A
bright but breezy start as I parked up at the Lecht mine parking
area, got the last place, 4-5 cars only. Final Ladder Hill to bag.
I
decided
to do the route
anti clockwise, beginning
by
ascending
the very steep ATV
track which
starts
after
crossing a burn just before
the mine. This
meant
keeping
the more gently sloping path for the descent.
 |
| Gun butts hence the ATV track |
 |
| Looking across to the descent |
It
was not difficult but initially pretty steep as I huffed and puffed
my way up. A few stops to take in the views as well as getting my
breath back. There are many false tops so be prepared.
 |
| Hags before the top of initial ascent |
After the ATV
track there are the dreaded hags. Many tracks but I expect most are
deer and they come and go. Indeed as I climbed I spotted a herd of
red deer hinds climbing the hill to my left, once they got wind of me
they disappeared.
Find
your way through the hags and then the going becomes soft moss, very
pleasant walking.
 |
| Carn Mor in middle next hags to the right |
I
reached a fence which can be followed for only a short stretch.
After
I left the fence I could see Carn Mor but had to veer away from it to
miss the worst of the next peat bog. If you find it there is a decent
track through them but in other conditions maybe not visible.
 |
| Round top of Carn Mor ahead |
Take
your own bearing and head back cross country contouring the hill. At
the top the way ahead is clear. After more rough moorland a track is
found which goes all the way to the top.
The
wind was now strong and cold, where was this warm southerly?
At
the top I spotted a pair of Dotterel, lovely mountain birds, my
first of this year and maybe even for a couple of years.
Views
were acceptable 6 out of 10 but not one to remember for long. Looking
over to Ben Rinnes and Corriehabbie, two of last years hills. The
giants of Lochnagar etc were covered in cloud and looked a bit grim.
 |
| S bends of the descent route |
For
my
descent route I
retraced
for a bit before heading for the ridge avoiding most of the hags. Now
followed the ridge
to
Carn Dulack
before
descending via the track back to the mine and start.
 |
| Looking back to Carn Mor |
The
middle section was a bit of a slog across the top of the barren moor
plateau. Throw in that very strong cold wind in my face for most of
it.
 |
| Looking across to the scent track |
Enjoyed
the descent track and the amount of foraging orange bees were
amazing. Their colour so vibrant and distinctive.
A
slightly quicker walk than I expected but a good circuit ramble.
Ascent:
491m
Distance:
11.6km
Time:
3.17
Wildlife:
Red deer; Red grouse; Dotterel; Black Headed Gull; Bilberry
(mountain)Bee; Meadow Pipit.
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