One for the baggers.....Meall Alvie

Hill: Meall Alvie

Type: Sub2k

Height: 560m

An early hint of Autumn when I opened the curtains this morning, damp with clouds hovering just above the rooftops. Forecast for high hills was that it might clear by noon but be under cloud later in the afternoon. Not worth the effort for no views so Plan B into operation.

Meall Alvie was my choice. I had planned to do it tomorrow but today I should get some views with its lower height but I also knew it was a potentially rough terrain ramble.

As it was a short hike and I wanted to get a bit more exercise so I cycled to the start but not only was it a grey morning it was also windy and decidedly cool as I made my way alongside the River Dee heading for the Invercauld estate. Stopped for a minute and watched a ghillie teaching some newbie anglers how to cast. Doubt that they will be catching in that very low water.

Felt a bit strange to just breeze past the car park as I headed straight up the forest track. As I approached my start point for leaving the bike a huge red deer hind walked out of the pine trees on my left, crossed my path and with a quick glance towards me entered the trees on the other side. I was so busy trying to spot it in the woods that I went past my starting point so had to double back to find it.

The start of the track

Most of the walk reports that I had read had described this as hard going but like the report by ‘Walking with Kids’ I had spotted a track on the map that seemed like it could save a lot of undergrowth bashing. I had first thought about this hill a few years back when I walked past it en route to bagging the Corbett double and even then it looked a toughie from other starts but it also suggested some good views if there was a break in the trees.

I pushed the bike up the track to find a tree to attach it to. The track was quite overgrown from the start. Heather encroaching and much natural pine tree growth and I suspect that in a few years this path will be a no no.

Another sign of early Autumn were the multitude of money spider webs on show this damp morning. I had kept on my waterproof leggings knowing the undergrowth would be high and wet but also as a bonus a lot of leg scratches were avoided. As well as all those ticks and other beasties. But somewhere along the way I got bitten on my neck, probably as I brushed past low hanging trees. I was not to become aware of the impact of the bites until later.

Looks wider than reality, I reckon my neck beastie bite took place around here

Thankfully opening out

Made good progress and then reached the bracken/heather patch (snap below from my descent). For about 5 minutes not pleasant going battling through the undergrowth so when I reached the trees I was delighted. The hillside from here was steep but the underfoot was so much better, soft mossy grass and large patches of blaeberry shrubbery made for easier going and some nutrition, sour but still sweet.

Lovely section of wild woodland walking

Apart from the odd bird chirping in the trees it was silent going, a nice period of calm and reflection.

Short but brutal

I was almost at the summit where there was another deep heather patch to overcome, which turned out to be the toughest walking of the lot. Waist high heather at times, with many hidden holes, careful going required.

Summit stones

Standing at the top I could see some stones hidden amidst some trees, too far away from the dyke to be part of that. A careful trip around the other side and yes these were the summit stones, probably were part of the dyke originally. 

Short burst of sunlight on Culdaroch, it didn't last for long

Nowadays I would have cycled that good track but back in the days it was a hike

Over to the dyke and some views over to the two Corbetts which brought back memories, that was a long ramble on a warm day as I recall. There was even a spot of sunshine illuminating the flanks of Culardoch.

Descending the good going through the woodland

The horrible bracken/heather section tackled up and down, where's the path?

Magnificent stag

A straightforward return by the ascent route where I got a nice surprise and spotted 3 Stags grazing in a side meadow. The rut is not too far away and these guys wont be pals much more.

I was surprised coming down the track that despite all the berries around there was no scat from pine martins or fox. A pair of buzzards had been calling when I started the hike and the same pair were still going at it when I got back to the bike.

Not what I had planned for the day but an enjoyable Plan B nevertheless.

Ascent: 321m (Bike/Hike)

Distance: 15.8 (Bike/Hike)

Time: 2.21 (Bike/Hike)

Wildlife: Buzzard; Meadow Pipit; Coal Tit; Red deer (Hind); Red deer (Stag); Wren; Swallow;