Hill: Stob an Aoinaich Mhor (Peak of the big crest)
Type: Corbett
Height: 853m
A short Perthshire trip to collect a couple of overdue hills. But help ma boab! We have had really warm weather so for once and along with the forecast I did not fill the car with all my gear, no waterproofs/warm gear. Yip you guessed correctly this morning I woke up to low grey cloud and drizzle.
A lovely early morning drive to the start with the clouds starting to lift and the odd patch of blue sky appeared.
This was planned as a bike hike trip but I already had a concern. I knew that at the start there was a locked vehicle gate which the estate were not likely to open for a cyclist. What would I find? Luckily it did have a small pedestrian side gate which thankfully my bike got through.
From here there followed an 8 mile cycle to get to the start of the walking bit. All gradually uphill so the walking bit was minimised. My other concern was that some previous reports had mentioned encountering cattle on route but although I cycled past 3 feeding stations thankfully no beasties were seen.
As it is 8 miles long the ascent is gradual with only a couple of steep pitches. The early couple of miles had quite a broken surface, lots of big holes and loose stones so constantly winding through the gaps.
When I turned one corner a couple of roe deer appeared, looked at me and just as quickly disappeared behind the lumps.
It was cool but not overly cold the cycling keeping my body temperature up. A glance to my side where I spotted the pointed peak of Schiehallion poking out above the clouds.
Along the way I had a couple of season firsts, a Cuckoo calling (about time, late this year) and the Wheatears which were numerous.
Also I encountered a large herd of wild goats including many young looking kids but they ran just as fast as the adults when I approached.
This is rough rugged and very isolated terrain. I noticed a sizeable hydro dam which I believe is located at the start of Loch Ericht. I would get much more spectacular loch views from the summit.
This already seemed like a long bike ride and I could see the track continuing quite far away. Looking at the OS map I was only about half way through the cycle. I originally thought it was 6 miles but turned out to be 8 miles. Onwards and upwards, very cool at times.
 |
| Finally my hill is the one in the background, some sun as well!! |
I had my sights on a rugged lump which I thought might be the target but it turned out that this was Carn Dearg although mine did come into view not long after. According to the map I was cycling though the Talla Bheith Forest but that forest was a long time ago as there was a distinct lack of natural trees, the odd pine plantation dotted around.
I was taken aback to see a car come over a top heading my way. I stopped to let them past and disappointingly no acknowledgement from the two females. Presumably from Corrievarkie Lodge.
 |
| Not the most secure place to lock up the bike but I didn't really expect it to disappear |
Soon after I was glad that it was time to park the bike and get those boots working on that hill.
 |
| Looks a lot flatter than it was but just keep heading to the high point, then the next etc |
Looking up there was no sign of the top but I knew it was not far away, it was going to be a series of elevations. The terrain was heather and peat hags but there were plenty of dry grassy sections to take advantage of.
As such I took a direct line towards the top which was straightforward enough. The peat hags could be easily crossed or avoided so not a hazard.
I was in no rush and enjoyed the slow steady plod. As expected upon reaching a visual high line there would be another one beyond it and then repeat. But as said it was fairly gentle and pleasant ascent. There were hundreds of red deer hoof prints and fresh droppings but sadly no live beasts spotted.
Then I had a nice surprise when I hit upon the summit cairn without realising I was almost there, a very pleasant surprise.
 |
| Ben Alder range |
 |
| Looking back down Loch Ericht Corrour Munros still with some snow |
And also a wow moment when I hit the ridge the Ben Alder Munros suddenly appeared. Throw in the very steep view down into Loch Ericht, this was a very airy potentially vertigo feeling moment.
 |
| View North towards Dalwhinnie |
 |
| Wide shot of the Alder Munros and Loch Ericht |
Great views all round but the rear side hills were dark forbidding moorland lumps compared to the brighter Alder hills. The dark side were mainly the Dalnaspidal Corbetts.
After taking in the views I took a more varied track taking more advantage of the grassy sections and avoiding the hags.
 |
| On descent long view of the dam at Loch Ericht |
 |
| Wheatear |
 |
| Glen Lyon hills on the distance |
Back on the bike there were sections of fun cycling which is why I love bike/hiking. At times fast eye popping descent trying to avoid the many potholes and not slide on the scree. Plus taking caution to avoid the large tyre damaging sharp edged stones. But I did also stop on a few occasions to take in the views. It is easy to just keep cycling and miss out on them but I was in no rush.
And this tick is also the completion of Section 5 in the SMC Corbetts book Loch Rannoch to Drumochter.
Happy with that, it would have been a long slog up and back on that hard packed surface.
Ascent: 771m
Distance: 28.8km
Time: 3.34
Wildlife: Red Grouse; Pheasant; Buzzard; Great Tit; Meadow Pipit; Wheatear; Skylark; Roe Deer; Woodpecker (h); Cuckoo (h); Feral Goats; Common Frog;
No comments:
Post a Comment