Carn Ealasaid....Lizzie's hill

Hill: Carn Ealasaid
Category: Corbett
Height: 792m
The good lady was joining me today so it had to be something without challenge and Carn Ealasaid was perfect.

We parked on the grassy verge just further on from Corgaff Castle coming from the Lecht side.

Start here

A short walk back, crossing the River Don, towards the old Allague Hotel, now a private school outward bound centre, and took the track immediately behind it.

Cairn Vaich ahead

Follow the track to the abandoned farmhouse at Loinherry, the other building looks like a functional estate outhouse. The lower hill is soon in sight.

Just after this an estate path to the right takes you all the way to the summit. It takes a very gentle gradient in a slow zig zag heading for Cairn Vaich. 

Track all the way

Views of the Lecht in front of you for a long section. You know you are getting close when you arrive at the grouse butts. For the more energetic just go straight up the hill over the heather.

Some great views already of Ben Avon and the west Cairngorms.

Flat walking to the top

When we reached the top the good lady’s suspicions were confirmed, this is not the top, as she could see from the ongoing track. However, most of the ascent has been completed and now it is a high level flat walk across the tops enjoying the views. It is a very windy day, cool when the sun gets behind a cloud, warm when not.

Looking north to Ben Rinnes

A small cairn marks the summit, 1hour 40m for us. For a simple hill the 360 degree views were superb. Not far away to the south I could see yesterdays outing, Gael Charn, and beyond it Ben Avon. Lochnager and Mount Keen to the west.

Turning around Mondays conquest Ben Rinnes to the north and further round Morven. With all the other stuff to take in this a great spot for lunch and the good lady was delighted with my pick. 

The grouse butts

You can make this a circuit but for us it was back down the same way. On the descent I found a bullet case, which might explain why we only saw one hare, these estates don’t just manage hare population they decimate them. There was also the odd traditional shotgun cartridges for the grouse, which surprisingly we did not see or hear any, the inglorious 12th is still a few weeks away.

Overall a very successful walk, not a lot of effort, excellent views and yet another Corbett climbed without meeting another person.

White Corgaff castle with Brown Cow Hill behind it

On the descent I did point out to my wife, the nearby Corbett of Brown Cow Hill as another option for today but that was a step far too far. Coffee and cake in Tomintoul more the plan.

Wildlife: Mountain hare, Redshank, Meadow pipit, Raven, Wood Pigeon.
Time: 3.26m
Ascent: 1465ft (540m)
Distance: 7.7ml (12.5km)

Geal Charn from Dorback

Hill: Geal Charn Cairngorms
Category: Corbett
Height: 821m

Side view of summit area

After yesterday's tourist hill I wanted isolation and I got it. A small stop in Nethy Bridge to check the map, yes I had overshot by a little bit and missed the turn. Back on the right road and 8 miles later at the parking area just before Dorback Lodge. There is a sign indicating no parking, a turning area, it is very big, but being a good boy I parked on a nearby dirt area, room for 1 car. As I got my boots on an estate jeep came flying up, zoomed round the turning area and sped back down the road. Was he checking if I had parked in the no go zone?
I followed the WH route, anti clockwise, so no route map posted.

No water hazard today

Through the gate on the right and get a good view of the hill and the open moorland terrain ahead, no German tourists here today I suspect.
I crossed the first water hazard, the Dorback burn, no danger today although the water course shows how high and wide it can get.
There is a faint track to the ruined farm, Upper Dell, on which I was bombed by black headed gulls whose nests must be close by.
Now heading out over the moor but there is a good track to follow, passing the small hut and the lochan before crossing another burn, again just a step over. You have lost any height gained but continue on the path for a short while.

Turn right here

A small stack of stones on your right is the point to go onto the moor proper. There is a faint track on and off to give some guidance. In fairness the going was a lot easier than I anticipated but it is a mixture of grass and heather with boggy areas. Plenty of grouse springing today, all at the last minute to get the heart rate even higher.

1st cairn

My final route up to the first cairn, not the top, was probably a dried water course but still easier to walk on than the moor.
The views are now opening up with Meall a’Bhuachaille the first to show. Then Cairngorm covered in cloud but Bynack More is clear. 

Looking to Cairngorms

Good going now as the posts of an old fence line are a guide to the top, the cairn appearing over the crest and then the summit is reached, 1 hour 40m. 

Ben Avon

I am really glad that I did this as the views are once again superb. A truly remote hill, a real feeling of isolation and not another person seen apart from the parking area. This is another stand alone hill so a full panorama, due south the tors of Ben Avon are impressive. Yesterdays hill, Ben Rinnes is cloud free. Such panoramic views are what it is all about.

Thunder clouds coming my way

I was enjoying the view as the silence and solitude which was rudely broken when claps of thunder, very loud indeed, came from that Cairngorm stuff. The clouds had spread and were heading my way so off the hill I went.

Scarred track can be seen via rough terrain

My descent headed initially along the ridge and then veered left heading down towards the huge scar of the estate track. There is no correct route, pathless moorland, steeper than the ascent and wetter, this side holding moisture from recent rain. Twisted an ankle in a deep hole so care taken. Still rough moorland. Some red deer hinds scarper, must have heard me curse.
Near the bottom an estate ATV marks takes you to the track past the grouse butts, a dead/shot hare lying here. 

Sandy past

Now the track back which did seem like a long trudge. Although interestingly geology at one land side the sandy terrain is so evident, a reminder of our islands attachment to Africa many moons ago. More sand than in the bunkers of my golf course.
Some of the buildings near the lodge are occupied although sadly the main lodge is still a ruin. 

Grouse beater

Finally, I did have a laugh at the ‘grouse beater’ outside the lodge.
For the views and solitude this was well worth it.
Wildlife: Grouse, pheasant, golden plover, raven, red deer, kestrel with young.

Time: 3.24
Ascent: 546m
Distance: 13.6km

Ben Rinnes a short but worthwhile outing

Hill: Ben Rinnes
Category: Corbett
Height: 840m

Side view of Ben Rinnes from the road

Once again by far the hardest part of this walk was getting to the start. My sat nav took me to the wrong side of the hill, ie not Dufftown, which led to a journey through a myriad of small roads and nobody around to ask. A short detour to the village of Milltown of Edinvillie, pretty but empty of people and the wrong direction. I could see the hill but where to park. I stopped at the distillery and was kindly given the right info and finally got to the small car park, a couple of cars already there.

The start

In truth there is not a lot to write about this walk. There is a well constructed path that takes you all the way to the summit. 
The initial section zig zags up and around Round Hill and soon there is the first view of the white trig amidst the prominent rock formation. 

1st view of summit

I caught up with a couple of German tourists stopping for a wee chat.
There are gun butts and parking areas for estate vehicles so not sure if this route can be disrupted at shooting time as it looks like the beaters would flush the birds over the path.

Zig zag track

The track continues to zig zag at an easy gradient all the way up. I was expecting it to take longer but I arrived at the trig after 1hour 10min.
At the summit 4 foreign guys were huddled behind the trig, not really dressed for the occasion. As soon as I arrived they scampered, obviously didn’t like the look of me.

Trig looking to Cairngorms

Still I got the views to myself and superb they are today in this perfect air clarity. As a stand alone hill there is an excellent 360 deg panorama. The 2nd highest summit in Banffshire. There is a plaque on the trig but mainly it is the many distilleries that it is highlighting not the hills.

Good rock formation

No doubt that is Ben Nevis and the Glencoe hills. Turn a bit and looking over the Moray coast to Sutherland one particularly prominent hill far away. Another turn and looking east to Braemar, is that Mount Keen far away? Shuffle a bit more and now the Cairngorm range and Ben Avon’s distinctive top. A cracker of a view.

On descent Meikle Conval ahead

Visitors coming so no time to linger. On the way down another German couple, where are the Scots?
I meet up with some near the bottom, small kids already complaining could be a long day. Good views of Meikle and Little Conval, 2 sub 2000's for a future date, large tracks must be popular.

Car park full

Looking down on the car park it is now full the tourists are out in force.
A great little walk.

Time: 2.23
Ascent: 1713ft (590m)
Distance: 4.8ml (7.8km)

Scorcher on Dun Da Ghaoithe

As is the norm for me the main difficulty is finding the start of the walk. I must have missed the sign for Torosay Castle so was surprised to find a large sign for Duart castle around the same place, had they changed names? I knew I had gone further than the WH description but I turned up a tarred lane on the right and soon parked up. Although a track headed through woods this did not feel right.

Iron ladder on right

So back onto main road headed back, past a working quarry then took the next turning and parked in a good sized area next to a field, not as described but! Not a good start when getting the OS map out to check where I was!!
The temperature was already 18 degrees at 8.30am so a warm day ahead, hence the early start.

1st view of hill at 1st mast

I come across the big iron ladder so in the right place and followed the stony maintenance route to the 1st mast, 50 mins to here, where I get my first views of the hill. Sweating already, there is no breeze along with the heat from the stone path.
Quite a few short stops to take in the views behind, plenty of Calmac ferries around today.

1st full view of hill

Still half the ascent done and onto mast 2 after 1.15hr. Now there are excellent views of the long ridge ahead.
There is a track to follow all the way up, sometimes faint and then lost but quickly retrieved.

Basalt tracks

Just ahead I spot what is a good example of a basalt dyke, two lines of solidified lava running downhill, right to left about half way in the picture.

Last section

A short but steep climb with some narrow ridge walking to add to the fun but no danger today. At least steep the way my legs were feeling, and I arrived at the trig point and first huge cairn and another cigarette shaped trig at 1 hour 50.

Sgurr Dearg

Superb views as you crest the ridge particularly of the Graham Sgurr Dearg with another Graham, Beinn Talaidh far left.
 

View from trig to true summit

Next a 20 minute descent and ascent to reach the next big cairn and the true summit. In some ways the views of Mull are better from here than Ben More. Down below the small ferry is sailing to Lochaline.

Hazy Ben More

Ben More itself standing out. Longer distance still superb but much hazier than 2 days ago.
Time for a ham sannie whilst enjoying the views of Morvern and towards Oban. Then surprised when I felt a sharp pain on my leg, looked down and a bloody clegg was taken a bite plenty of blood. Killed and cream administered time to head back.

Mast on the descent

On the descent the heat was really coming through, glad I wasn’t one those going up. It turned out to be Scotland’s hottest day of the year so far, car registered 28 deg before driving home.

Lismore ahead

A good but not a great walk, not sure if I would do it for a 2nd time.


Time: 4.13hr
Ascent: 2869ft 
Distance: 9.52 

Daddy Long Leg attack on Shalloch on Minnoch

This was such a straightforward walk in these glorious conditions that at times it was difficult to appreciate that Shalloch on Minnoch is a Corbett category hill (768m).

Stinchar bridge

We parked at the Stinchar falls car park and added .7 of a mile of road walking each way. There are a couple of nearer off road spots but this is such a short walk just enjoy the beautiful setting at the beginning and endure the road section. There are still ongoing timber operations so the nearer spots might be in use.

Head onto moorland here

Orange tip butterflies have presumably just transformed as there were plenty about at the start.
Cut in at this path and follow the faint track to the burn. Today benign water flow so easy crossing but on other days it could be different.

View north from 1st marker cairn

The faint track continues over some boggy ground crossing over Cairnadloch and heading for Caerloch Dhu where we stopped at the highest point for a snack and enjoy the fantastic views. Out west was Knockdolian and its twin volcanic plug Ailsa Craig, Arran in the haze. Straight ahead (north) was Irvine bay, Maybole & Dalmellington. To the east many lochs including Riecawr, Maceterick, Doon and the Rhinns of Kell, magnificent rugged beauty.

Featureless route ahead

For insect lovers every step on the fairly dry ground brought up at least a dozen spinner/crane flies types coming up to our knees but no further. Skylarks sang above us and a pair of buzzards scanned the ground. A weasel and a hare made up the day.
Now still follow the faint track passing to the left of the lochan and follow the track SW meandering past the rocks to finally turn up just behind the trig at 768.

Loch Riecawr

However, both eyesight and OS map suggest the highest point is further east. In no rush we headed over to that point and at the outcrop looking down at ‘the Maidens bed’ it was indeed 5m higher.
From here you can continue over the Awful Hand ridge to the Merrick, tough but rewarding.

Another trig pose

Today we retraced to the trig intending to have lunch but we were engulfed in a huge swarm of Daddy Long Legs. By the hundreds they swarmed attaching to us, covering bare arms legs and face. Trying to get into clothing. Intensely discomforting but at least they were not biting insects. The odd gust of wind blew them away to return on the calm. For 5 minutes it was a very odd situation. For some it might of freaked them out.

Army camouflaged hills

Lunch delayed we retraced our steps enjoying the primitive but beautifully army camouflaged colours of these treeless hills and the multitude of lochs and lochans.
A warm blue sky day to be enjoyed, a great little walk in good company, parched time for a cold one.

Time: 4.02
Ascent: 1578ft
Distance: 7.71ml 

Stunning and spectacular Three Beinns on Arran

An early morning ferry and I was over on Arran for the Mountain Festival which for me began today with a spectacular and stunning group walk around the horseshoe of the Three Beinns. The walk leader decided to walk these against the norm and traverse anti-clockwise, a good decision.

Garbh Allt

Thankfully we got a lift to the Glen Rosa campsite and walked to the start of the uphill section following the Garbh Allt which had a nice cascading waterfall.
Wildlife was already good, a pair of golden eagles being dive bombed by something from above, a peregrine falcon I suspect. My first sand martins of the year, ravens and cuckoos calling.

Small cairn and Beinn a Chliabhain

Luckily the marshy moorland section to Cnoc Breac was on hard ground due to the dry spell and onwards we went following a reasonable track up to our first top, Beinn a Chliabhain at 675m. 

Goatfell steep west side

The views on our right were grand looking down the full length of Glen Rosa and up the west slopes of Goatfell. The hill looking totally different from this angle with it's steep flanks and corrie.

Chir Mhor, The Saddle and Glen Rosa

The views on the left were of the high ground we were heading towards, Beinn Nuis & Tarsuinn. The old man of Tarsuinn prominent.

A Chir

Some interesting paths through rock gaps and up and over large boulders as the view north was even more spectacular. The impressive A Chir ridge, with climbers on its crags of Pagoda Ridge. Cir Mhor and The Saddle, all awesome.

The Bealach heading to Tarsuinn

The hardest section of the day now as hands on scrambling required to get us around and over, I think, Consolation Tor to the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn. Some sections of pull the tummy in and squeeze through the gap. There is no clear path just huge boulder slabs to negotiate.

Looking back to Tarsuinn from Nuis

Tarsuinn is a Corbett and the highest point at 826m, where a well earned break was in order and more stunning views to enjoy.

Poser on Tarsuinn grassy top

We could see our next destination ahead but time for a snap as we went passed the Old Man, an incredible naturally shaped rock formation as it looks over North Arran.

Old Man looks like my face

Down and then up the last climb of the day to Beinn Nuis taking in the views down Glen Iorsa and across to Sundays walk of Beinn Bharrain and Sail Chamadale.

Nuis through the gap don't fall through a long way down

A short detour can be taken on the Glen Iorsa flank to see the WW2 wreckage of the Liberator bomber where sadly 10 crew perished, so near the top they almost made it over.

Sad sight of the wreckage

A twisting descent then across the normally boggy plateau to descend again via the Garbh Allt.
The cuckoo was silent and we pondered whether a mate had been found. About 2 minutes later we saw one on a wire and then a second landed with a big titbit in its beak trying to give it to the female. Looks like the calling over for one cuckoo. Just after 2 red deer were seen on the summit looking down, surprisingly the only ones we spotted today.
An absolutely stunning walk, probably the best I have had for consistent jaw dropping views.
The only downside was the walk taking at least 2 hours longer than it should have due to the walk being over ambitious for one of the group. At least it wasn’t raining.

Time:8hr 33m
Distance: 15.8km
Ascent: 1098m