Just a half a ramble today.....Beinn Bhreac Cairngorm

Hill: Beinn Bhreac (Cairngorm) (Speckled Hill)

Type: Munro

Height: 930m

I was still feeling tightness and tenderness with the medial calf that I strained a few weeks ago so I was a bit troubled about what to do today. I had signed up for this walk which I knew should be a straightforward Munro double. The distance was the issue as I was not convinced that the calf would survive a 30k hike so I opted to reduce that by cycling to Derry Lodge. My plan was to decide after Beinn Bhreac whether to continue or not but the tightness/pain had gone up a few notches on the morning of the walk so decision made, just a single Munro.

Derry Cairngorm in the shade, Carn a' Mhain left of centre

At the Linn of Dee start Gillian from ADRC was the only other walker apart from the guide. After I had told the organiser I was cycling part of it it appeared that we all did. We all cycled the almost 4 miles to Derry Lodge which was less than 30 minutes from Linn of Dee, where the walk officially started, time saved. Heard a cuckoo calling, must be about time for the males to start migrating back to Africa.

Start of ATV track

Views opening up Tor of Beinn Mheadhoin

All the reports that I had read described walking a kilometre before cutting up the hill. But after only a couple of minutes the guide surprised me by heading off up an ATV track. His reasoning was that it was less boggy and less populated. Both correct as no-one else was seen on this route until we neared the normal track.

1st view of Beinn Bhreac on left we continue up to the right

This turned out to be a nice gradient and a pleasant walk, the weather good. Views getting better as we rose. We continued on the ATV track almost to the top of Meall an Lundain at 777m.

Full view of Beinn Bhreac 

Just before the top we headed cross country. We dropped about 70m and the terrain involved a lot of dodging the many peat hags. I could see a couple of walkers about half way up the final pull to the coll of Beinn Bhreac. There were other walkers around but I recognised their outfits as being the pair who were just in front of us at Derry Lodge. Although I enjoyed the different route it was a longer walk, added another 70m of ascent and about 30 minutes extra to the top. No issue for me but If I had been doing both it added extra on an already long day.

Ascent track on right, descent on left

Looking at the final climb our route was taking us up via a clear path on the eastern side but slightly further west walkers were using another track, the main one.

A straightforward ascent, losing and re finding the track a few times but no difficulty to the ridge.

The cairn was a short crossing across the boulder field but pretty easy going normally but today the rocky terrain was testing my calf. 

View to Lochnagar

Beinn a' Chaorainn in the centre

Great views all round. A bit hazy over to the Lochnagar group but the main view dominated by Derry Cairngorm and the torr's on Beinn Mheadhoin were spectacular.

With regret I had to leave the others. Disappointed as the other Munro involved no major ascent but as said not for me today.

I wandered across the stony terrain before deciding to just head down where I soon picked up the main track. I could see a small cairn in the distance. Again the track came and went but just headed to the cairn and picked it up again.

From the cairn another good view of the track heading far down but surprisingly nobody ascending. Solo time again.

Quite boggy in parts but once I hit the trees the bog factor went up considerably so 15 minutes of gloop avoiding before I hit the return track.

Azure Hawker

Then walked the kilometre as mentioned earlier back to to Derry Lodge and the bike was still there. It was a good section for birdlife and I had a brilliant bonus, an Azure Hawker. Pretty sure that it was my 1^st sighting of the year.

Bike park

Biked the same track but when I reached the road I extended the cycle by a few more miles to get a bit more out of the day.

Back at the car my leg was throbbing a bit more so the right decision had been made to do just the one hill. A good ramble and an opportunity is there to return one day for the other Munro.

Ascent: 801m

Distance: 21.5km

Time: 5.02

Wildlife: Red Grouse; Red Kite; Common Frog; Vole; Redstart; Willow Warbler; Peacock Butterfly; Meadow Pipit; Coal Tit; Chaffinch; Goldcrest; Azure Hawker; Cuckoo;

No wet feet today.....Am Faochagach

Hill: Am Faochagach (The Heathery Place)

Type: Munro

Height: 954m

There is one big problem with bagging this Munro and that is the Abhainn a’Ghrabainn. Described by Walkhighlands as ‘a substantial watercourse and can be a formidable obstacle when in spate conditions impassable’. Indeed I have watched videos of less than spate conditions and even in these the crossing looked challenging, at least the chance of wet feet.

We started at the same car park for the eastern Fannichs on another glorious day. The renowned initial section is known for its bogs and although there were some it was mainly dry.

Just think about this flowing knee high and you cannot see the bottom when wading?

I had brought along my river crossing sandals but on the day a decision had to be made. It was running very low but I had not appreciate just how much of a boulder field it was on the river bed. We decided to rock hop, there were many slimy boulders waiting to catch us out but we made it. Even with knee deep water this would be a nasty little crossing with the amount of boulders embedded in the river bed.

Heading for the bealach, summit not in sight from here

Once across the terrain was very dry, the 2^nd bog patch not really arriving. However with the dry & heat there were lots of flying bitey stuff, glad I had sprayed fully before walking.

It is a steady climb to the bealach. The lower section was on a reasonable narrow path running alongside the burn with a small waterfall, no doubt more spectacular at other times but still a good spot for refilling bottles.

After that the going is more boulder strewn with the path coming and going and quite a few not required cairns, more for artistic merit than navigation aids.

Beinn Dearg & Loch nan Eilean (and a UFO)

Although it is a direct plod the higher you go the more mountains you can see so lots of stops and looking around, Beinn Dearg is so close.

After reaching the ridge it is a reasonable slog on a decent gradient all the way to the summit. Again on and off paths but much more boulder strewn. On our way to the summit we passed at least 3 Ptarmigan so a good spot for them.

Summit comes into view

The final 50m rise to the summit was interesting as there seemed to be a series of moraines all with around a foot or so of rise/drop. Possibly the effect of the ice age where the glaciers were melting bit by bit? Interesting geological feature anyway.

Summit to Beinn Dearg

Seana Braigh from summit, cairn is on the left

Worth spending time up here as the views are top notch. A super view of the top plateau of Seana Braigh.

Straightforward descent by simply repeating the ascent including the boulder hop. On the way down we passed more walkers than I expected to see for a midweek ramble, a busy hill today.

Great views on the descent of the Fannichs and Loch a’Ghrabainn. In the distance the Fisherfields, Torridon and much more.

Annoyingly we also saw two walkers with dogs, off leads, running about the boulders potentially scaring away any ground nesting birds, there are still idiots around.

Ascent: 774m

Distance: 14.6km

Time: 5.22

Wildlife: Cuckoo (heard); Meadow Pipit; Ptarmigan x3; Raven; Red Grouse; Chimney Sweep moth;

It's a long walk to a very remote Munro.....Seana Bhraigh

Hill: Seana Braigh (The Old Height)

Type: Munro

Height: 926m

This Munro would not have a lot going for it other than it is one of the longest walks to bag a single Munro. It can be accessed from Inverlael or Oykel and a bike can be used from Oykel but this route could involve a scramble that a lot of walkers might not fancy.

The SMC book describes it as ‘occupying a remote position in true wilderness’, spot on.

Both routes are long walk ins/out. I joined the majority and hiked in from Inverlael.

It was another cracking blue sky day and although I was travelling as light as possible the rucksack still felt too heavy. Well laden with fluids, liquid rather than food today's priority.

Cairn to turn off spot bikes hidden behind tree

A couple of miles of fairly flat walking and then there is the steep section that gained height quickly and got my lungs and heart working hard. Leaving the trees behind and out into the open, exposed to the sun, moorland. 

No hazard today. Bikers just ahead.

The route guide mentioned the possible hazard of a swollen water crossing which thankfully today was negligible, minimal water flowing.

Seana Bhraigh summit on left, a few more hours before reaching it

Another dried up burn, heading up through the boulder field

After a couple of hours of walking on a good ascending gradient we stopped for refreshments at a small dried up lochan. The summit target had been briefly sighted but it would be quite a while before we saw it again.

Then we headed to cross the pathless section which despite some small cairns could indeed be very difficult route finding in bad weather. Indeed not all the cairns lined up together, not good in bad weather and one possible route leads to crags not marked on the map.

SB summit on left route goes right of gully

Cracking view down the glen, Coigath prominent

Then there was the unwanted descent which gave a good look up the ascent route up the side of the impressively steep north facing cliffs of Cadha Dearg.

Impressive crags

Wider shot into the glen

Looking over it was a long way down into the barren ground of Glen Douchary.

Ptarmigan in summer gear

They were nor sure where to go when they ran off as a walker on the summit

A track of sorts took us up to the rocky slopes from where you can go all the way up to the south top. But we contoured the slopes where amongst the rocks a Ptarmigan appeared. By the time I got the camera out it had moved but luckily just snapped it when two heads appeared in the photo on the ridge. It was a pair of red deer hinds, the 1^st red deer that I have seen for yonks.

Another track was stumbled across which took a short descent before heading up the final 70m of ascent to the summit. Always the hardest part that final ascent.

The cairn is sited at the edge of the precipitous cliffs of Luchd Choire, be very careful, looking straight down was not good for my vertigo.

View from cairn Assynt peaks magnificent

Panorama back over Beinn Dearg group with Fannichs behind on right

Panorama with An Teallach on left

The views north to the mighty peaks of Assynt and Coigath were a fine reward for the effort.

Looking north, Oykel track leading to Loch a' Choire Mhoir

Scramble that ridge from Oykel if you want

On the way back there are superb views of the Beinn Dearg group and to the left of them is the Munro of Am Faochagach.

Getting there the trees hopefully will provide shade. An Teallach behind.

The return was via the outward route but it felt a lot longer walking back. Very hot at times but luckily there was some options to take on fresh water.

I will be honest to say that this was the toughest Munro that I have done for a long time. It was not just the walk length, which is long, but the length of time spent on poor terrain or a narrow hard path which seemed to last for ever. It didn’t help that I was feely chesty so not on top form. Still not a shabby time so the pace remained high throughout.

Luckily I got the weather to appreciate the great views that were alongside throughout the walk but I can’t see me doing it again.

Ascent: 1195m

Distance: 28.2km

Time: 8.45

Wildlife: Raven; Common Frog; Golden Plover; Ptarmigan; Tortoiseshell; Small White; Speckled?; Meadow Pipit;

Three Munros, nae views, a grey day.....Creag Meadaidh circuit

Hill: Carn Liath (1006m) (Grey Hill); Stob Poite Coire Ardair (1054m) (Peak of the pot of the high corrie); Creag Meadaidh (1128m) (Bogland Rock)

Type: Munro x 3

When I was compiling my original list of 100 Munros this circuit was on that list but for whatever reason was not part of the completed 100. Having achieved my target I was ticking off some of those hills that were on the original list. Now it is not about numbers but rather about walking hills that I really want to do.

Last night when I looked at the forecast I considered aborting as it was to be fog and very poor visibility from low levels covering all day. But this morning it hag changed to fog at higher levels and mist from lunchtime onward. Okay lets do it. Apologies not many snaps as the conditions up top were grey and more grey.

The parking area was already pretty full when I met up with my walking buddies. Some I knew including Gillian from my hometown and other groups walking companion. From here the cloud level looked to be around the 700m level, fingers crossed that it would rise. Nobody was late so a prompt start.

Clouds still lower than I hoped

We decided to go clockwise and get the biggest out of the way first which meant ascending the scree/boulder field rather than the more awkward descent.

Beautiful setting for the Lochan a Choire

A gentle rising gradient took about an hour to reach the Lochan a’ Choire and the mightily impressive rock cliffs of Coire Ardair. These are huge and considered to be the 2^nd best winter climbing routes in Scotland, 2^nd only to Ben Nevis. A privilege to see them close up.

Looks a lot flatter in the snap than it did on the day

Next was the awkward section up through the scree and boulders to the bealach ‘The Window’. On off track and lots of hands on light scrambling up the steep slopes. The weather had not improved but rather deteriorated so outer layers donned in the drizzle and cloud.

Looking above wild landscape

Across the plateau and the final climb to Creag Meadaidh, we had not followed the track in the photo

From the bealach it is another steep section to get to the plateau. Thankfully it was softer grass up top and about 1.5km of flat walking to the summit, bypassing the false cairn which is bigger than the real one. A short steep slope and Creag Meadaidh was reached. Munro number 1 and just over 3 hours.

Back to the bealach and you can see back to the lochan

Reversed back along the plateau, the descent to the bealach seemed longer and steeper for some reason. Then the short stiff pull up to the 2^nd Munro of Stob Poite Coire Ardair. That did not seem to long and included a food break.

Now it was an undulating plateau walk to number three. The feel good factor of ticking of number 2 so quickly kind of diminished as there was just over 4km to walk along the plateau. Typical of a high plateau it was a mixture of grass and boulder sections making for easier and tougher walking. Not so good for good pacing.

Starting final descent towards Loch Laggan

On the descent a view back across to the lochan higher ground still in the clouds

Finally we were there with a brief weather window to see back to ‘The Window’ but overall a very disappointing viewing day.

For me the hardest part of the walk was this descent. It was steep and a knee was beginning to hurt. The track became a narrow muddy gloop fest and one heel slip left me with a nice covering of black dirty peat mud but at least I had kept on my over trousers so my main gear was protected for the car journey, others were not so fortunate.

Near the bottom it became a well constructed stone section which was great but no kinder on my knees.

Overall I was pleased that I did the circuit and if I had been bagging for the 100 I would have taken the day and its weather conditions. But, as these are now ‘for me’ trips, the lack of views were disappointing, but that is just another part of this crap Scottish summer.

Ascent: 1248m

Distance: 22.48

Time: 8.06

Wildlife: Common Frog; Hooded crow; House Martins;