Overlooking Loch Laggan this combination of Munros and tops constitutes a grand day out over relatively easy going terrain once the summit ridge is reached.
Parking is offered by the reserve car park and the initial walk is over the friendly track into the Corrie. Keep to this until the track heads down to the river at the point clearly visible on the photo. Cross over and start on one of only two really hard climbs for the day. A series of zig zags allows you to reach the first of the four outlier tops from which it is a series of gentle loops to pick up the remaining three summits.
Track back on yourself from the last of the four then there is a steady climb up to the highest point in the range at 1130m. A breather at a simple cairn allows you to take in the remainder of the group before heading on to the vee in the ridge that would be the safe escape in bad weather or the way up for the Munro only ascent.
The continuation marks a series of steady ups and downs over easy terrain however on reaching the end at Coire Dubh you are left with a less pleasant choice.
A retrace to the final Munro of Carn Laith is not immediately attractive but having dropped down into the valley and negotiated the deer fence and overgrown tracks I have to admit it is possibly the best option.
A nice long walk worth saving for a good day and definitely the highlight of the trip
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scotland. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Trip Report: Mayar and Dreish
After a very long day out yesterday I was looking for something a little more relaxed today. The very heavy overnight rain eased on the drive round from the hostel and by the time I reached the Glen Doll car park (£1.50) it was amazingly dry if cloudy.
the route itself follows forestry tracks signed to Corrie Fee passing several geocahes en route. On reaching the deer fence the corrie opens out before you with a stunning waterfall present after heavy rain.
The Track stays dominant climbing steadily on the left side of the falls before angling further left onto the fell side. a steady climb then brings you out on the summit.
The forward route is now a clearly visible path although the final climb to the trig is tricky in thick mist as it lacks a cairns as it heads across the mountain face towards Dreish and its trigpoint
A return to the last coll allows a cut across to the route down over tracks and forest drives almost directly to the cars.
A lovely shorter day (5 hours including looking for 7 caches) but if you can one to save for a dry day after heavy rain to get the corrie at its best
Additional Images
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Trip Report: East of the Devils Elbow
The area around Glenshee offers some of the fastest number crunching for the Munro bagger. West of the road the Cairnwell group is little more than an afternoon stroll but the real value comes to the east.
With a second driver it is possible to leave the road from the layby about 1 mile south of the ski centre and pick up a route that takes you though an open river valley onto a broad ridge then onto a plateau and finally a Pennine style hack over largely untracked ground to pick up a grand total of 6 Munros in a day.
As already suggested it is a day of contrasts. The initial climb is steady although picking a good route out from the river onto the ridge is vital to save effort. The crossing over Creag Leacach to Glas Maol is then reminiscent of the northern Carneddau and at this point it is always possible to head off west back down to the southern end of the ski centre car parking. Instead keep onward via the remnant snow patches to one more Munro on a distinct ridge path then two over open wet ground with reasonable tracks before returning from Tolmount for a final climb to Carn na Tuirc.
Care is needed here especially in mist as the tracks are indistinct and a direct bearing takes you over a steep slope with hidden crags. Instead head south four about 250m before striking out for the final summit.
Leaving the last top head North into the v of the stream shown on the 25k mapping before picking up a welcoming track back to the road
More images
With a second driver it is possible to leave the road from the layby about 1 mile south of the ski centre and pick up a route that takes you though an open river valley onto a broad ridge then onto a plateau and finally a Pennine style hack over largely untracked ground to pick up a grand total of 6 Munros in a day.
As already suggested it is a day of contrasts. The initial climb is steady although picking a good route out from the river onto the ridge is vital to save effort. The crossing over Creag Leacach to Glas Maol is then reminiscent of the northern Carneddau and at this point it is always possible to head off west back down to the southern end of the ski centre car parking. Instead keep onward via the remnant snow patches to one more Munro on a distinct ridge path then two over open wet ground with reasonable tracks before returning from Tolmount for a final climb to Carn na Tuirc.
Care is needed here especially in mist as the tracks are indistinct and a direct bearing takes you over a steep slope with hidden crags. Instead head south four about 250m before striking out for the final summit.
Leaving the last top head North into the v of the stream shown on the 25k mapping before picking up a welcoming track back to the road
More images
Friday, 20 June 2008
Trip Report: Mulloch Hill, St Johns Town of Dalry
It is quite common for me to make a short sprint up a roadside hump to a trigpoint but very rare I blog about them. Mulloch hill is however worth the effort.
Located just SE of the grandly named St Johns town of Dalry on the main road between Castle Douglas and Ayr this makes for a nice half hour break.
Parking is provided in a large lay by and a marked "core path" leads up the hill and thought the trees to within 200m of the summit. The final climb just after a stile is via a bracken slope but you cant win them all.
But why come here simply for the view you have an ever changing 360 degree view of the surrounding Southern upland terrain. Put simply a great way to break a long drive
Located just SE of the grandly named St Johns town of Dalry on the main road between Castle Douglas and Ayr this makes for a nice half hour break.
Parking is provided in a large lay by and a marked "core path" leads up the hill and thought the trees to within 200m of the summit. The final climb just after a stile is via a bracken slope but you cant win them all.
But why come here simply for the view you have an ever changing 360 degree view of the surrounding Southern upland terrain. Put simply a great way to break a long drive
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Trip report : Tyndrum 25-27th Oct
It's unusual for me to make it up to Scotland outside the summer window but a conference in Dunblane left me a chance to take in a weekend in the Southern highlands. Sad to say the weather had other ideas and the camera left my bag for only three snatched photos.
Day one: Beinn Dorain - Beinn an Dothaidh
A minor miscalculation on the weather saw me was 90 dry minutes in favour of a lie in not that it would have made any difference. Parking in Bridge of Orchy the track from the railway station heads straight in for a boggy walk up to the bealach. The track shown only half wayn on older OS maps now pushed right on to the summit of Dorain and is a welcome friend as the cloud closed in. Returning to the col the next climb is less clear cut with the track taking you a long way right before climbing up. Return is the way you came but keeping a 100m left of the track avoids the worst of the peat.
Day two : Beinn Achaladair - Beinn a'Chreachain
No improvement in the weather, nor conditions underfoot setting out from the car park at Achallader the track makes its boggy way into the valley and up to the bealach about 2 hours later. Underfoot things now easy but the weather worsened with the wind picking up making the ridge walk over both Munros and tops hard work. The final summit saw me link back up with the grup I had leapfrogged up earlier on before they made a direct climb for the first top and a short chat left us walking back out together. Here a work of caution is needed two parallel ridges run NE from the summit area the first from the cairn itself soon deteriorates into a nasty challenge with no easy way off while the second starting about 200m NNW of the cairn is like the northern ridge of the beacons.
Back in the valley there are a few challenges left following the woodline does give a crossing under the railway but only a ford on the river. higher up two stiles close together over the deer fence cut back to the car park and I assume eventually reach a bridge that we saw later on the walk back. and finally just by the car park the last ford may be impassible it was for me. If so dont panic just walk upstream and use the farm bridge round the corner.
Day three : Beinn Chablair
Another damp day and with rivers up plans for the final day in orchy were put on hold. Instead it was another initial climb long bog trot gain the ridge and hit the summit. All via the only break in the cloud and a very weak 30 second glimpse of a brocken spectre and a chance encounter with a colleagues husband. The return was far more pleasant a simple trade of a couple of hundred metes extra climbing over the three lower summits on the western "ridge"avoided all the peat and dropped me out just above the waterfalls.
Day four : travelling to Guildford
Typical a clear crisp day b£^^%r
Day one: Beinn Dorain - Beinn an Dothaidh
A minor miscalculation on the weather saw me was 90 dry minutes in favour of a lie in not that it would have made any difference. Parking in Bridge of Orchy the track from the railway station heads straight in for a boggy walk up to the bealach. The track shown only half wayn on older OS maps now pushed right on to the summit of Dorain and is a welcome friend as the cloud closed in. Returning to the col the next climb is less clear cut with the track taking you a long way right before climbing up. Return is the way you came but keeping a 100m left of the track avoids the worst of the peat.
Day two : Beinn Achaladair - Beinn a'Chreachain
No improvement in the weather, nor conditions underfoot setting out from the car park at Achallader the track makes its boggy way into the valley and up to the bealach about 2 hours later. Underfoot things now easy but the weather worsened with the wind picking up making the ridge walk over both Munros and tops hard work. The final summit saw me link back up with the grup I had leapfrogged up earlier on before they made a direct climb for the first top and a short chat left us walking back out together. Here a work of caution is needed two parallel ridges run NE from the summit area the first from the cairn itself soon deteriorates into a nasty challenge with no easy way off while the second starting about 200m NNW of the cairn is like the northern ridge of the beacons.
Back in the valley there are a few challenges left following the woodline does give a crossing under the railway but only a ford on the river. higher up two stiles close together over the deer fence cut back to the car park and I assume eventually reach a bridge that we saw later on the walk back. and finally just by the car park the last ford may be impassible it was for me. If so dont panic just walk upstream and use the farm bridge round the corner.
Day three : Beinn Chablair
Another damp day and with rivers up plans for the final day in orchy were put on hold. Instead it was another initial climb long bog trot gain the ridge and hit the summit. All via the only break in the cloud and a very weak 30 second glimpse of a brocken spectre and a chance encounter with a colleagues husband. The return was far more pleasant a simple trade of a couple of hundred metes extra climbing over the three lower summits on the western "ridge"avoided all the peat and dropped me out just above the waterfalls.
Day four : travelling to Guildford
Typical a clear crisp day b£^^%r
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