A beautiful Spring day.....Greatmoor Hill

Hill: Greatmoor Hill

Type: Sub2k

Height: 599m

A stunning spring day saw me set out for another short Sub2k Border ramble.

I parked about 200 yards away from the farm entrance as I thought it was just too narrow if a tractor came rumbling down.

The birds were raucous as Spring partnerships were now being exploited. Great to hear.

Wandered up to the pylon and had a chat with the workies before going through the trees for a short distance.

Out of the trees and I get my 1st view of Greatmoor Hill

Scenic shot of the farm and lambing fields

Out of the trees and Greatmoor Hill is straight ahead. Lovely sight.

The track goes onto the working farm at Sundhome. Picturesque location with a green enclosed meadow full of sheep ready to lamb. Hopefully I would by pass them.

At the farm there a flock of hens were all penned up, just as well as I will explain later.

I crossed the wooden bridge and followed an Atv track up to a high point. I initially had planned to go cross country over the tussocky landscape. But as I looked at the summit area there appeared to be an Atv track. So I gambled and kept on this. It turned away from my destination but my faith was rewarded as it turned back and headed towards Greatmoor. Certainly squelchy and boggy in places but in my view preferable to the tussocks.

Follow the track to the top

A stunning blue sky March day, my jacket was already off. The silence was golden, just me and the Skylarks, it felt really good.

I spotted some birds wandering around the track ahead of me, around 20 of them, turned out to be Golden Plovers probably getting ready to head off back to Scandinavia or wherever.

I could see a thin pole on the summit which I assumed was the top but the atv track headed to the left so for an easy life I just followed it.

Cairn marking who knows what

On the slopes I looked over to some boulder scree where a huge cairn had been built, not quite the top. I wondered why?

In the blue skies I was surprised by the amount of aircraft flying over in both directions, clearly a busy transit point.

I was well up the hill  before I left the track and took to the grassy slopes to head to the top. A pair of ravens flew off the top to investigate me. One was making a strange throat clucking noise, probably mimicking my own death rattle. On the top I was going to head back to that thin pole but ahead of me was a huge cairn which was far to obvious to ignore so off I went. Indeed the large boulder cairn surrounded the trig. Summit reached.

Beautifully structured cairn with the Eildons behind

Funny how this has fallen apart but the other two cairns are intact

There was also a huge cairn on the other side of the fence descending off the North side, very weird.

Blackwood Hill foreground. Mast on Larriston Fell just visible, right of centre, on far ridge

The views were excellent in all directions. I spent time taking it in and identifying some recent conquests and some still to do.

I decided to head over to what I thought was the thin pole. It was an upside down one stuck in some boulders, another weird sight.

The lonesome pine

Enjoyed the slow wander down with the sole pine tree a good marker if required.

When I neared the farm the farmer was at the sheep pen and spotting me he waved. As I waved back I spotted a fox low in the grass heading towards his farm. A long time since I saw a fox on the hills. A brief glimpse but it looked like it was limping.

Lower down I engaged in a shouting chat with the farmer. I told him about the fox for which he thanked me and said he had seen it in his shed a few days ago and he thought it was injured, reinforcing my view. He said he would get someone out to shoot it!!

They had spotted Mr Fox

At the farm all the hens were caged in 2 and 3’s but they were all looking at the slope where I had last seen the fox, they had also seen or sensed it and were on high alert. What will be will be.

Overall a short but very enjoyable ramble on a beautiful spring day, what a joy to be able to enjoy it.

PS: Having a pint that evening a local asked what hill I had been up then told me the story of how he built the fence up to the summit, a small world.

Ascent: 434m

Distance: 8.8km

Time: 2.46

Wildlife: Chaffinch; Wren; Buzzard; Fox; Skylark; Pheasant; Meadow Pipit; Stonechat; Golden Plover; Raven; Jay; Golden Eagle?

The very well hidden cairn.....Grange Fell

Hill: Grange Fell

Type: Sub2k

Height: 319m

Grange Fell appears to be an insignificant hill in terms of height and distance to the summit. Why then does it have so few people bagging it? Read the reports from the few that have to understand why.

So, with a slight apprehension I arrived at the Y junction start point, reversing into the trees as the farmer passed on his quad bike, not exactly a friendly look from him!

View from parking area

Walk decision, start up the treeline or the big track?

Higher up no mud

From here I had a good view of the of the short ascent to the treeline. There are two options. Head directly up the side of the treeline over rough ground or take the long zig zag up a grassy track. From the reports those going directly up the treeline did so to avoid a herd of cows but today it was only sheep in sight. So no surprises I went up the zig zag, a bit boggy but mainly a good grassy track until it reaches the gate at the deer fence post. Some reports mentioned how awfully boggy this could be and I understand if the cattle had been around they would have congregated here but not too bad today.

Deer fence gate 

Now the problem is that the summit cairn is buried deep in the tree plantation. From my readings most of the problems have been when walkers have entered the forest at this point, much too early.

However from looking at maps there appeared to be a solution that I chose to explore. At the fence there is a stone dyke that should be followed until you are roughly in line with the trig, from a bearing obviously as you are not going to see it.

Most of the wall was intact but this broken area made getting over the barbed wire 

There is a gate you should go through a walk on the rougher ground. I chose to stay on the left side as the walking was easier but meant that I had to cross the dyke which was protected by barbed wire. The barbed wire was offset enough to make it very awkward to get over it and the dyke. Thankfully I found a broken section. My little cover was very handy and saved some pain and blood being spilt.

Amazing how much lighter the camera makers it, heading for that light

Now it was a case of trying to find a gap in the trees that was walkable. I found one and although very dark a clearing was obvious not far ahead.

Main circular firebreak which is shown on map, still got leave this and head into the trees on my right.

After reaching the true circular fire break it was necessary to go back into the trees, as said if you have a bearing on the cairn it is reasonably straightforward. 

Totally encircled with trees and no firebreak, really weird.

I could see another patch of light ahead, the cairn I hoped, dodging around fallen trees I entered a rectangular open area and there was the trig.

No reason to hang about, armed with the knowledge I made a more direct line back through both tree plantations to exit the trees at almost the same point I had entered, well chuffed.

This time I stayed this side of the dyke and close to the tree edge the walking was fine.

Back down the zig zag. Across a few fields was a farm with cattle bellowing. Presumably they could see me and said ‘you got lucky pal’.

Turbines on horizon & on right the farm where the coos were bellowing from.

Also I looked across at about a dozen wind turbines, despite the wind not a blade turning, presumably we are paying them to not generate electricity, scandalous.

For all the bad things I had read about this hill it turned out to be reasonably straightforward. I wont be returning but another Sub2k ticked off.

Ascent: 280m

Distance: 4.2km

Time: 1.17

Wildlife: Raven; Blackbird; Wren

Not such a big lump but it is remote with stunning views and an easy way up.....Meallach Mhor

Hill: Meallach Mhor (Big lump of a hill)

Type: Corbett

Height: 768m

Most of the reports I had read about this hill were less than complimentary, mainly a pathless heather bashing slog, not a lot of fun at all.

Because of the long walk in, actually more the long walk out, I chose to Bike/Hike this trip.

I started early as the forecast was for this to be the warmest day of the year, have I heard that before? Yes I have and of course it wasn’t.

Parked on a scrape west of the Tromie Bridge. A crisp blue morning sky for my 6 mile cycle. It was a stunning cycle in through the Glen Tromie natural woodland but it was also very cold, 3 layers and I had forgot my gloves so a fast bike in.

I was surprised at how high the heather was on the surrounding hills but a local I talked to said the deer culling meant next to no deer which has resulted in lots of tree and shrubbery growth.

Looking back to the lochan 

I had noticed a track on the OS map which started just after the abandoned Bhran cottage. This appeared to lead up to the bealach between Mhor & Bheag. I talked to the occupier of a cottage who said she was aware of the track but the start was not obvious and she thought the track disappeared. Most people she said just went the awful route starting around the lochan marked on OS25 maps.

Undaunted I intended to try the track and if no good I could go cross country or retreat. I found the start of the track, not too obvious but not hidden either. From here looking upwards I could see some tracks going through the heather, worth the risk I thought. (PS: Afterwards I read the Walkhighlands route description which says this track does not exist at the lower end, it does as you will see BUT it starts about 100m further on from the cottage NN 75623 91203 , easy to spot when looking for it.). 

Track on right Bheag behind

Bike tethered to a tree and up the track I went. Initially it was pretty boggy for a couple of very short sections but okay going and I was making good time until I realised my water bottle had fallen off the rucksack. No way was I going up a Corbett on the hottest day without water. I backtracked and spotted a flash of blue almost fully submerged in a boggy pool, a lucky break.

Track going well up to the right of Bheag

The summit and the area I planned to cross but kept going

After that the track was pretty good, slightly overgrown in places but never lost. I got to the high point where I had originally planned to cut off and go cross country but the track was good so I decided to keep going. From here it looked as if the better option was to continue and go up the not so steep looking north ridge instead of going cross country.

Glad I did keep going now found the track to the top

At the bealach between Bheag & Mhor I thought I could see an animal track going up the ridge. As it turned out it was not an animal track, it was a narrow but well trodden human track which took me all the way to the summit. 1Hour 12min from leaving the bike. Why is this route not more prompted, no crap terrain, no heather bashing, a good gradient all the way up?

View to Loch an-t Seilich

Now to the Feshie Munros and beyond

View down to the start this side of the trees

Another advantage of bagging this hill is it is a stand alone hill so the 360deg views were spectacular. I could even see the place I was staying in Newtonmore.

Although I enjoyed the views my time on the summit was limited due to the very cold wind and my light clothing, where was the heat of recent days?

Kingussie in between the hills, Newtonmore on the left

The track coming up the flank of Bheag from Glen Tromie clearly seen

So instead of having my food break up on the summit I headed back down the same way to have lunch in the relative heat beside the river. As beautiful and tranquil spot that you could have for lunch.

Descent with the a track ahead all the way to the Munro of Meall Chuaich normally climbed from Dalwhinnie

As I descended I spotted a couple of walkers away to my left gaining the ridge from the boggy/heather slog circuit. I think they had spotted me as they stopped and looked my way. Maybe they had noticed my bike chained to a tree wondering where I had gone and now realised this was the way to go.

Overall an excellent ramble. But don't even think of the steep heather bashing unless that is your thing, this easy route is the future.

As I cycled out I flushed a huge black bird from a small heather patch, it flew into the trees crashing the lower branches.

Just after that i cycled round a bend where an estate worker was standing. I said can I ask you a daft question 'is it possible that I flushed a Capercaillie? He said where did you see it. I replied about 200 metres back there round the bend. He just smiled and said 'maybe'. I left it at that.

Ascent: 588m

Distance: 26.5km (19.97 bike)

Time: 3.48 (hill 2.12)

Wildlife: Wheatear; Meadow Pipit; Pied Wagtail; Chaffinch; Tortoiseshell Butterfly, Capercaillie?

At last the end of my Donald journey.....Carrifran Gans

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.

Carrifran Gans on the left as I go up White Coomb

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.

Lochcraig head & Loch Skene

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.

View north from White Coomb

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Start of descent follow the dyke

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;