Hill: Carrifran Gans
Other Hills: White Coomb
Type: New Donald: Donald/Corbett
When I started out on my Donalds adventure I never envisaged that this would be my completion summit.
At the start of my journey the objective was based on the 89 blue ticks required for Walkhighlands completion but much as I admire and use this website they are not the decision makers for what is or is not required for Donald completion. That responsibility sits with the Scottish Mountaineering Council and in 2018 they made the decision that to be a Donald compleator the list was extended to include the New Donald/Donald tops taking the required number up to 141. So another journey began and today was to be the climax.
Once again I chose a route which took me over another previously climbed Donald to get to the final summit of Carrifran Gans. There are a couple of alternative routes but they appear to be either stupidly steep or through deforestation so I decided to stick with the tried and tested.
In fairness it is no hardship to start from the Grey Mares Tail waterfall car park, a stunning location at any time of the year.
The forecast was again for winter conditions, very cold winds, feel like -5 at best up top, but thankfully only a 5% chance of winter showers. Nevertheless fully layered and geared.
I was the only car at the parking area but to be fair it was early. The trek up the excellent stone staircase never gets any easier, I was well and truly huffing and puffing. But as I looked up a Golden Eagle was circling, could there be a better omen for my completion? Not as far as I was concerned.
My main worry about the route was getting across the Tail Burn without having to make it a much longer ramble. But once again the gods were with me and the burn was running low. It was still calf deep for a few steps but the water was running slower and shallower than previous visits so across without wet feet.
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| Carrifran Gans on the left as I go up White Coomb |
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| Donald's Cleugh Head & Lochcraig Head |
A straightforward walk ensued mainly following the ruined dyke all the way to the top with a few minor detours. I was still affected by a chestiness which meant frequent short breaks but I was not giving up today. All the ‘not far now/getting there’ mantras were in constant use.
The frozen temperatures meant that the boggy sections, and they were plentiful, had a crust of ice on them. So until my foot stood on them I had no idea whether it was solid going or sinking into the gloop. Mainly solid but I was glad I had put on gaiters for those sinking moments.
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| Lochcraig head & Loch Skene |
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| Dusting of snow on White Coomb |
Just before the staircase I had one of my frequent pauses for breath where a rather large raven landed on a rock just ahead of me. Some eyeballing took place as it sized me up whilst it wondered if I was to be breakfast, but thankfully not today.
Up the winding but icy staircase to find the wall again and then the final tramp to the top but of course there was at least 4 false summits to get me sighing and trying and dishearten me. But that wasn’t going to happen today.
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| View north from White Coomb |
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| View over to Hart Fell |
White Coomb summit was reached, tramping in light snow with excellent views apart from the wind turbines. I was shocked at just how many could be seen from here.
Some of the New Donalds are no more than a seemingly level tramp from the parent Donald but fitting for my last one there was a proper descent and re-ascent, it could even be a Donald in its own right.
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| Descent to Carrifran Gans |
The views on the descent to Carrifran Gans were stunning with the huge craggy drops of Saddle Yoke and Hart Fell right in my face. When I looked further south the glacier ridges that created these Donalds are evident on the other side of the road Capel Fell etc.
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| View to Saddle Yoke & Hart Fell from Carrifran |
The summit of Carrifran Gans actually has a few stones to mark the top, I was glad as I did not want an unmarked summit for my journeys end. Despite making many stops to get my breath I was surprised and delighted with my time so far, 2hours and 4minutes.
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| View back to White Coomb |
Even though I was driving I regretted not bringing a small nip to mark the occasion so the alternative celebration was stuffing a small pork pie in my gob. I need Washed down with very cold water lol. At least it provided me with a needed energy boost. I took a few moments enjoying the superb views and reminiscing. The strong cold winds meant it would not be too long at the top.
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| ATV track all the way |
All that was left was to repeat the outward journey back to the car. The time flew past with much reflection and memories of previous rambles on this adventure.
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| Start of descent follow the dyke |
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| The ridge of Andrewhinney Hill just behind |
After I crossed the burn I met the only other walker out today. We had a great chat. He was an ex Royal Marine, not too old, from the east end of Glasgow. At weekends he said he would take disadvantaged local kids to the hills and get them swimming in gorge pools as well as to meditate in cold water. He said he needed to do it not just for the kids but for his own mental health after some of the sights he had seen and probably been involved in. He was certainly not an old disillusioned guy, instead a positive talking early 40’s something. What a fitting and inspirational end to my journey this was. He was genuinely as happy at me fulfilling my journey as I was, humbling. I will forgive him being a Celtic fan as his cousin was the recent Hearts player Liam Boyce.
I had a superb day out and it was a fitting ramble to bring this particular adventure to its conclusion. These Border hills hold a lot of special memories for me.
Definitely time for a celebratory beer.
Ascent: 837m
Distance: 9.6km
Time: 3.59
Wildlife: Raven; Golden Eagle; Meadow Pipit;
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