Cat Law 24 Oct 2010

Could not have a hill blog and not include the hill that I look at every time I come out my front door. I think I first walked this hill when I was 10 but definitely remember climbing it for a sponsored walk aged 12. There are many ways to walk up Cat Law but since I had to take my dogs today and the older of the two has slight arthritis in her spine it was the best path for her also coming today was my dad. Started from Balintore where there is a great double track all the way to the summit, so really on a clear but very cold & windy day like it was it's very straightforward.

Looking towards the Cat Law

Looking to the west

On the summit with Poppy & Rosie

Looking east towards the sea over the Long Goat

Looking South over The Crandard to the Strathmore Valley

Although a short day today there were great views of Dreish, Mayer, Glas Maol, Creag Leacach, Glas Tulaichean, Ben Lawers, Schiehallion & many other hills. Another great walk on the Cat Law.

Marsco, Isle of Skye Sunday 10 October 2010

A last minute decision on friday night was to head for Skye on saturday morning and walk sunday, we did not want a huge day as had an early start to work on monday (4 hour drive home as well) but boy did we make the right choice! Had decided it was to be Glamaig or Marsco but I have always wanted to do Marsco as have a painting of it by Jean Thomas from Portnalong, the late great hill man Pete's widower.

Marsco from Sligachan

There are a few different ways to tackle this hill but we decided to use Andrew Dempster's route in the book The Grahams, as the walk in from the starting point at the head of Loch Ainort is shorter than starting at Sligachan and given the rain that Skye has had over the summer the less time walking over wet boggy ground the better and it would also mean finishing earlier too. After parking the car at the lay-by we followed the burn up Coire nam Bruardaran (Corrie of Dreams) with the red deer stags bellowing all round about us, to reach the bealach at 320m where the jaw dropping views of Corbett Garbh-bheinn and ClachGlas on Bla Bheinn came into view.
Belig, Garbh-bheinn & Clach Glas on Bla Bheinn

From the bealach it was up the steeping & narrowing SE ridge with the views of the black cullin ridge  appearing all the way up. At around 650m the ridge flattens out before a slight dip and another short pull up to a short narrow arete which leads to the summit cairn.
Sgurr nan Gillean & Summit Ridge of Marsco

On the summit ridge looking towards The Red Cullin 

Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr nan Gillean

The views from the summit are some of the best from any mountain in Scotland especially on a day like what we got. Our descent route was just the ascent in reverse with brilliant views looking towards Bla bheinn and Loch Scavaig.
Looking to wards Bla-Bheinn & Loch Scavaig

 

Beinn a' Ghlo Sunday 26 Sept 2010

Beinn a Ghlo (Carn Liath) From Monzie

Had not planned climbing Beinn a Ghlo today but when travelling up the A9 from Pitlochry the hill was so clear and was shouting "Climb Me". Started at Monzie and had already decided to walk the three munros in an anti clockwise direction therefore almost getting the hill to ourselves. This route does make for a long walk in but as I have done in a clockwise direction it feels like an even longer walk oot. The path is pretty good and leads to the base of Airgiod Bheinn.

Airgiod Bheinn from approach path

After a fairly steep pull up Airgiod Bheinn the whole of the mountain comes into view. We sat down here for a drink and a Golden Eagle came over Carn Liath caught a thermal or two then disappeared from sight.

Watching the Golden Eagle disappear

Carn Liath and Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain from Airgiod Bheinn

From the top of Airgiod Bheinn there is a slight drop then a climb up to the first munro of Carn nan Gabhar.
Looking at Carn nan Gabhar from Airgiod Bheinn

From the summit of Carn nan Gabhar a descent west leads to a fairly short sharp reclimb to the summit of the second munro Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, where the view to Carn Liath is fabulous.

Cairn Liath from Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain

After another descent south and a climbing traverse east, south, then east again we finally reached last munro of the day, Carn Liath.

Looking back to Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain from Carn Liath

From the summit of Carn Liath a steepish descent leads down a scree path and back to the approach path  to Monzie. Was an absolute fantastic day !

OS Bing Map of Our Route

Arkle Sunday 5 Sept 2010

Arkle from Loch Stack

Have had our sights set on Arkle since passing by it to climb Foinaven last May they both have the same starting point just past Achfary at the start of the private road to Lone bothy. Once past the bothy but still on the track we passed through the boulders which are almost like a gateway  into a small plantation.

Boulder Gateway

Ben Stack from above plantation

After climbing out of the plantation we reached the small cairn that marks the route up Arkle, this route continues unrelenting to reach Meall Aonghais but all the way up has great views. At this point we stopped for something to eat and were entertained by two ravens showing us their flying skills but I really think they wanted our lunch, also at this point you get the first glimpse of the Arkle ridge in front of you.

Watching the Raven & the Arkle Ridge

At 758m just further along the ridge is where you get the real first view of Foinaven and the real summit of Arkle

Arkle's narrowing ridge & summit

Foinaven from Arkle

After leaving point 758m the ridge begins to narrow and at one point just before the summit narrows considerably. The day was warm and sunny but rather windy and the wind was as usual much stronger(gusting 50-60mph) higher up, when we reached the very narrow  point we had to crawl along and traverse ledges to reach the wider summit plateau (not for the faint hearted) but the views from the top were well worth it, mindblowing !!

Foinaven and looking out to the Sea

The Summit Cairn

A VERY windblown me at the Summit

Looking back at the ridge

The descent was just the same as ascent but with great views to the Corbett Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill. A truely magic day and I think the best of the year so far. Sutherland is pure brilliant !!

Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill.

Beinn Narnain & Beinn Ime Wed 1 Sept 2010

Not climbed these two hills in a long time so as Paul off on holiday and me on day off decided a mid week hillwalk was on the cards I remember climbing these the first time and there was no car park at Succoth as there is now. The new path now seems to draw one towards the improved path that runs between The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain but we wanted to climb the Cruach nam Miseag ridge so after a bit of looking found the path that leads up the old railway blocks as the start has become a little overgrown. Once on ridge the views open out to Ben Lomond and Loch Long and the first glimpse to The Cobbler always blows me away.

The Cobbler

Loch Long

Just below the Summit of Beinn Narnain we stopped for a bite to eat and to admire the Spearhead on Narnain and The Cobbler, awesome !

The Cobbler & Beinn Narnain

Myself with Ben & Loch Lomond in background

After a wee easy scramble up the spearhead we  reached summit of Narnain where after that followed  a considerable drop and reclimb to Beinn Ime.

Beinn Ime from lower slopes of Beinn Narnain

Beinn Narnain from Beinn Ime

The descent goes back to meet the newly well constructed path between Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler then it leads one down beside the buttermilk burn and in between the gigantic Narnain Boulders and back to the car park.

Glas Tulaichean Carn an Righ Sunday 22 August 2010

With permisssion parked at Dalmunzie Hotel and began walk up the dismantled railway line to reach the ruined building of Glenlochsie Lodge. I always remember the first time doing this walk as this is fourth time but did not walk up railway line but path on other side of river which reached ruined lodge on wrong side, so had to cross river which was pretty much in spate (March) I would not recommend this as had to throw rucksac over and remove some items of clothing and wade nearly swim over, absolutely freezin !  Anyway  the route continues up a well established path that takes you right to the summit, we had a heavy shower during the ascent but the cloud cleared while at the summit.

Glenlochsie Lodge

Looking from the path back down Glenlochsie

From the summit of Glas Tulaichean we continued on N ridge until ground was less steep then turned and desended NW to reach the path on the south side of Mam nan Carn. Followed this obvious path to the stoney summit of Carn an Righ.

Carn an Righ from Glas Tulaichean

Glas Tulaichean from Carn an Righ

Path from Carn an Righ along Mam nan Carn Munro Beinn Lutharn Mhor on extreme right

From the summit of Carn an Righ followed path back along south side of Mam nan Carn and almost all the way back to Loch nan Eun but just before reaching loch cut across peathags (nightmare) at the end of N ridge of Glas Tulaichean to descend and reach the path that leads to Loch nan Eun from Glen Taitneach.Then we followed this long path back to Dalmunzie Hotel.

Tarmachan Ridge Sunday 8 August 2010

Having done twice before but not for some time decided on Sat that this would be the walk for today and to do it before the sna comes again !! Started at the usual starting point just beyond the Ben Lawers vistor centre and followed the well made path (was not there the first time I did it) that climbs the broad S ridge easily to the first top and only Munro, Meall nan Tarmachan. The ridge then heads south west passing two lochans to reach the shapely peak of Meall Garbh

Meall Garbh from Meall nan Tarmachan

Looking west towards the tops of Beinn nan Eachan & Creag na Caillich from Meall Garbh

From the summit the ridge narrows then there is a steep descent which requires some downward scrambling (care is required) this could be bypassed to the north but it will still be down steep grass.

Steep descent from Meal Garbh

The ridge then continues round and over knolls to reach top of Beinn nan Eachan

Looking back ridge to Meall Garbh & Meall nan Tarmachan from Beinn nan Eachan

Looking towards Loch Tay

A slight dip  in the ridge then leads to last top of Creag na Caillich where we retraced our route to a cairn marking the descend into the corrie to reach the old disused mine building and followed the road that was once used to reach mine back to the start.