A long bike/hike but well worth it.....Stob an Aonaich Mhor

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;

Two hills required for one blue balloon.....Creag a' Mhadaidh

Hill: Creag a’ Mhadaidh (Cliff of the fox, dog) (612m) & Gualann Sheileach (Willow Hill)

Type: Fiona

Height: 612m

Typically it was once again a mixed weather forecast with rain and low cloud so I changed my plans and decided to go for the lowest hill available to me for my short ramble.

I had two options from the south, one starting at Loch Rannoch and one from the north at Dalnaspidal. I had used the northern route a few years back to the nearby Corbett Beinn Mholach so for a new perspective I opted for the southern start.

I wanted to get back to the good lady sooner than later so I opted to bike in saving about 2 hours on the trip. One of the reports I read mentioned pushing a bike around 2 fields before meeting the path, which was not on with my heavy bike so decision made.

My chosen route followed an old right of way which is a Scottish Hill track and included in the Scotways book (route 152).

As I got ready the light showers were already on/off, it was windy and the waves on Loch Rannoch were already crashing in beside my parking spot, I was close to not bothering.

This side of Perthshire has almost every lay by blocked but I got lucky to park up near my starting point and cycled to the small stone bridge over the Allt a’ Chreagain Odhair. A farm track headed towards Craiganour Lodge but veered north before entering the grounds and chased sheep into the woods.

Pleasant mixed wood

It was a pleasant cycle through the woods but there were a few cattle grids which meant it was a bit stop/start. Must be getting old and feart in the past I would have cycled over them.

Before long I was out of the trees and onto the moor. The good track for cycling was continuing to climb at a good gradient but twisting and turning so never boring.

My hills left and right with Meall na Leitreach under cloud behind them

I was starting to get glimpses of my two hills but just behind them there was a bigger peak with its top under cloud. Some doubt kicked in as I wondered if that indeed was my target. Thankfully it wasn't.

The sheep around here are the sprinting running type, that is sprinting in front of me until a mad leap left or right, my hands fingering the brakes just in case.

I arrived between my two hills and found a small quarry to leave the bike.

This is an interesting pair of hills as both are marked on the OS map as being 612m high but it appears that is is acknowledged that Gualann is 1m lower. Surprisingly the SMC guide to The Grahams makes no mention of this but do a search for Gualann and it is always measured at 612m.

Too climb both was the question, not to be answered until Mhadaidh has been conquered but almost certainly so.

The boggy section to cross first

Some showers running up Loch Rannoch

So off to Mhadaidh it was. There was about 1/2km of rough marshy moorland to cross before any height was gained. Quite wet after the recent rain. There are on/off quad bike and animal tracks but just as much is just using your skills to find the better going. The moor is criss-crossed with water channels, mostly hidden from above and some narrow knee deep ditches so being careful was obvious.

The flat ground up top

Circa 100m of steeper ground before it flattens out again and you realise that the top is about another 500m away over mixed ground.

But the final summit area offers super views over a barren landscape. Tempting to say unmarked by human hand but most of the lochs in this area maybe original water but the hydro industry will be involved somewhere along the line. The SMC book describes the hills name as a misnomer as it is indeed it is just a high point on the moor.

From summit view to Loch Errochty

View back to Loch Rannoch and the track I just cycled up

Still the views up north over Loch Garry and west over to Loch Errochty are quite special, not forgetting the huge mass of Loch Rannoch behind me.

View across to the top of Gualann Sheileach with the trig of Beinn Mholach behind

Looking back the first thing in my view was my 2^nd hill for today, Gualann Sheileach, but it is the huge bulk behind it that really catches my eye. This bulk is the Corbett of Beinn Mholach my aforementioned ramble from Dalnaspidal, no bikes then and from up here it looks an even longer walk than I remembered.

Summer has definitely moved on, the wind up here was on the cool side, no time to linger.

Duinish bothy centre left

Whilst descending the sun briefly shone through the clouds illuminating the Duinish bothy, a special moment on a grey day, everything Scotland's weather often unexpectedly delivers.

As per the forecast showers were passing over Loch Rannoch but so far none had encompassed me, long may it continue.

The mid peak on the right is the high spot

On my descent, I had observed a probable ascent route up Gualann via a grass gully. From here the terrain on Gualann looked easier going but not for the first time I was mistaken.

The grassy gully was fairly direct but it held another hidden water course so plenty more hidden narrow holes to do some damage. I could hear the water gurgling away as it dropped but rarely could I see it, lots of prodding with my poles.

Of course when I reached the top of the gully it was similar to Mhadaidh with about half a kilometre to the summit but much more of a contouring route. And if anything this was the worst walking section with tussocks, heather and peat hags to overcome.

Summit the mid point

The three tops thankfully descend in height from my left to right so the first one I reached was the highest top. A small cairn but no sign of the Willows, long since gone.

View from summit to Beinn Mholach

Very rough ground between here and Rannoch Station

View North to Loch Garry on the left

Again it was a smallish hill with decent views and it brought Mholach must closer and even more imposing. The ascent from the other side was fairly straightforward as I recall.

My descent back to the track was easier by picking out better lines, especially ;ower down on the bare grass grazed by the sheep. But then I had a problem. I could not find my bike. Normally I mark a GPS location but did not today. I had come down above where I expected so a frustrating time walking up and down until I spotted a bike handle further down the track towards Rannoch, big relief.

Typical view of the pointed peak of Schiehallion

The fast downhill descent to Loch Rannoch was fun, just over 15mins along with the downhill MTB buzz, a perfect end to a good short ramble.

Ascent: 664m

Distance: 19.6km

Time: 3.21

Wildlife: Common Frog; Meadow Pipit; Wren; Scotch Argus;

A fun bike/hike.....Beinn Dearg (Atholl)

Hill: Beinn Dearg (Red Mountain)

Type: Munro

Height: 1008m

The forecast for today had varied dramatically over the last 72 hours. 3 days ago torrential rain & strong winds. 2 days ago showers & strong winds. Yesterday blue skies & strong winds. I woke very early, looked out the window, low grey clouds scudding across the sky, back to bed. Up for real, looked out, higher clouds still scudding across, brighter outlook, go for it.

From the planning stage I had this pencilled, no inked in, as a bike/hike. Decision backed up by a torn medial calf muscle 3 weeks ago which meant I did not fancy a forced march for almost 30 kilometres. It had improved but it was far from normal so if it strained again it could be a long, painful hobble back. So no debate bike/hike it was.

Although I was an early starter I was surprised that only 3 other vehicles at the car park.

On the road, literally, for a short section before hitting the track through the trees, a lovely early morning setting.

From reports I knew that there was a gate to access the moor and my only concern was would I get the bike through it, kissing gates are a no no for a bulky ebike. Main gate locked but thankfully there was a normal side gate that I could squeeze it through.

Not even any sheep

Now onto the old land rover track where there was a fair amount of climbing for a heavy MTB so the battery power was used more than I wanted but hey that’s what I bought it for.

I cycled with the Banvie Burn on my left along with the vast open moorland but the track required full concentration so viewing was limited unless I stopped. A pity as this was my first visit to Glen Banvie.

View back towards Blair Atholl

The track ahead

Reached the large Lady March cairn which has no significance other than a rich persons picnic spot. Stood around and took in the long desolate moorland, really glad I was not walking this.

Beinn Dearg pointed top in centre

Just before the 4 mile mark I got my 1^st sighting of the huge boulder cairn at the summit of Beinn Dearg. I would not see it again until I was on the top plateau towards the end of the walk.

From the cairn it was more rolling with some ups and downs, battery power on and off.

Picturesque bothy

There is a final fast drop of 60m to the bothy. This descent tested the brakes and my bike skills, everything bouncing and juddering and trying not to fall off with the many boulders kicking the bike sideways and potentially off the track. Still, it got the adrenalin going, good fun.

At the bothy I spoke to a couple who had overnighted and were about to walk back to Blair Atholl. Said it was very peaceful place to spend the night.

Corbett of Beinn Mheadhonach directly ahead

Start of zig zags

I had originally planned to leave the bike at the bothy but with the deteriorating forecast for the afternoon I cycled further on to the start of the zig zags. Before that I had a wee bike push across the burn, glad it was not running deeper.

The track up the zig zags was in good condition and the gradient was not too bad at all, views behind opening up for my brief respites.

Been a while since I spotted the top

The final section was a straight line up to the plateau. Just before reaching the plateau I spotted the summit which came into view on my left. On the plateau I stuck to the high path, just one boggy section with deer prints deep in the mud.

The predicted wind for the top was 30mph gusting to 45mph and it felt every bit like it. Luckily it was mostly behind for my final ascent. Spoke to a walker coming off the top, another bike/hiker,who told me it was worse on the summit. Why do people constantly do that, do they think I will turn back?

The boulder strewn rocks were sandy and the top occasionally gave gave an insight of what might be viewed in the right light for the named red hill. Ptarmigan droppings around the boulders but never spotted one.

Impressive trig

View north towards the Cairngorms and a lot of nothing

Reached the top, 2.35 from the start which I was delighted with. No 10 hour walking day today. Although with the wind I did not hang about, a few snaps and gone. To be fair one gust did almost knock me off my feet. 

Bottom of zig zag. On left track via Glen Tilt if doing a circular route

Happy to see bike still there

Back the same way into the face of the wind so very glad to be off the plateau, descending on the zig zags and back to the bike. I had not eaten since my brief stop earlier so cycled back to the bothy for a pleasant break, minimal wind and some warmth in this sheltered spot.

The track up from Glen Tilt and a quarry

The return cycle was obviously more downhill so fast and fun, full concentration very much still required.

When I was back into the woods I diverted from the ascent route and followed a couple of marked trails. I had made good time and was happy cycling about the woods before heading back to the start.

Apart from the distance it is as straightforward a Munro as you get.

It was only when I got back to the parking area that I noticed it was now an electronic pay car park, I hadn't paid so wondered if I would get fined?

A cracking bike hike which delivered everything I wanted from this outing. A bit less wind would have been nice, it is meant to be summer after all!!

Ascent: 1187m

Distance: 34.1km

Time: 4.55

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit; Skylark; Chaffinch