Corryhabbie Hill

I was staying with my grandfather in Macduff the previous evening on an Aiberdeenshire present drop. With my folks not expecting me until the afternoon of the next day, I had chosen to nip over to Glen Fiddich and take in Corryhabbie Hill. I didn't fancy the walk over the farmland from the West so opted for a longer walk/run from the Cabrach road. Probably wise since there was a tonne of snow in Glen Fiddich further up. I had forgotten my head torch so as I rolled up at 0600, I was solely dependent on the super-moon, which did a grand job of illuminating the way up and down to the abandoned buildings of Glen Fiddich estate. What a pity they have been left to ruin by the London-based land owner, Christopher Moran. According to his profile, he has 'a passion for national and built heritage'. Obvious balderdash. I headed through the dilapidated state and began the walk up the track to Morton's Way. At approximately 400m, the snow became quite deep so it took me a wee while to wend my way round to the path proper. I surprised a gentleman and his two dugs who were out early. I began the final approach along the plateau and the sun began to break over Cook's Cairn to the East. It was bitterly cold at the top and I didn't hand around. I descended steeply down into Glen Fiddich and ran most of the way back. A good 24km run taking approximately 3.5 hours.

Beinn nan Imirean

Another week of hard work, another Sunday where I had permission to bugger off for the day. I had spied Beinn nan Imirean for a while being one of the closest Corbetts to the house (about 75 minutes drive). However, most books and accounts suggested it was very boggy thus I waited for a cold day to head over from Auchessan. While there had been a good drop of snow, I would find that the ground was still boggy underfoot and this made for quite a slog to the top. I arrived at Auchessan, not quite remembering the etiquette about parking. I decided to park well away from the exit, just off the road and on to the verge. Rather than hill running gear, I had decided to take plenty of gear and boots so this would be more of a fast hike.

The approach was exactly the same as for Sgiath Chuil and I vaguely remembered it. I think it may have been 7 years since I had been here. Once up past the farmland fencing, I struck off more or less West-North-West and ploughed through the snow-fields and bogs. The snow began to fall but there was no issues of navigation and when it did at last stop, the view up to the summit was grand. I stopped before the last pull up on the ridge beside the lochain and had a mince pie - sublime. Views over to the Munros were fantastic with wee pockets of sunshine penetrating the Winter grey. I re-embarked upon the ascent and found the wee summit cairn with a great view into Glen Lochay. I had also considered coming at this hill from that approach as part of a 20K run but that could wait for the 2nd round of Corbetts! At 849m, the wind was stiff and I set off back home. Uneventful until a slip on the wee grassy mound just behind the farm, with a 5-yard skite on shitey grass. A quick wash in the burn and a skip back to the car in just under 3 hours for this 11km hike. This might be a boggy affair but one that saw nobody on the Corbett except me, while the Munroists were in evidence across the hills.

Beinn Stacath (and Creag Mhor)

 

I was able to have breakfast with the family before I left this morning. No need to sneak out and be silent. Consequently, I arrived just before Ballimore farm at 0800 and knew that I'd be privy to a cold approach. However, this was to develop into a fantastic run across these two hills, once I was up and on to Creag Mhor, the Graham. From Ballimore farm and the emerging sunrise over Benvane, I began the rise over Creag Mhor (what a steep pad). Eventually I found the two stones sitting on a large boulder (the smallest cairn ever?) and took a moment to breathe in the views. Surprisingly, Lochearnhead was still in shadow and was undoubtedly a few degrees colder than my present sunny clime. 

 

I began the descent down to the bealach between Creag Mhor and Beinn Stacath. There were considerable numbers of deer here and they scattered quickly before I could take some snaps. Then began the last major climb of the day but I felt very fit and things soon levelled off. Once again, the ground hardened and it was a joy to run with views across to Stob Binnein. I even had a fox accompany me up over point 701m. Perhaps a first on the hills. Once up at the trig point of Beinn Stacath, the sky began to change and it was an odd hue, looking over to Ben Ledi and beyond (Dumgoyne and even Tinto in the distance). All that was left was to descend off the Eastern ridge and down the snaking land rover track before a simple run back to the car. 2 hours 55 minutes and 10 miles of trip.

 

Beinn a Chuallaich - the 100th!

The day had arrived - my 100th Corbett would be Beinn a Chuallaich, a solitary hill famed for its views to Schiehallion. I would be accompanied by Ian Clayton, a friend of several years, who would then join me on a trip to Duinish bothy to celebrate. I wanted to do this hill with Ian, as it was a short day out but would provide a nice wee view around Scotland. We parked to the east after a delightful drive down the B road and through Trinafour. From here, we walked steeply up the hill and past the old shelter, which looked robust enough on the inside. Not as 'grand' as most bothies but it would certainly do on a whiteout. The steep ground eventually gave way to flatter terrain, that was lined with boggy moraines. Unfortunately, while the views were pretty, ian's feet had degenerated into stumps and he could no longer continue the final ascent on to the summit. With his permission, I shot off and sped up the hill at haste. I was at the summit cairn and trig point, 20 minutes after leaving him. Great views to the hills and lochs and I decided to contour round off the ESE ridge and then back over the burn. Eventually I located him and we had an undramatic tramp back to the cars, before we eventually walked into Duinish for a beer, dram and some convivial chat. Here's to the next 100.

 

Garbh Bheinn (Kinlochleven)

I was taken by the profile of this hill in the SMC Corbetts book. Also, it wasn't too far from home and as it was a short day trip, I wanted to retain some of the deposit in the emotional bank account. It only looked like a short trip and so it proved to be, although it was very steep up and down. The great thing about this hill aside from the spectacular views back up Loch Leven, is that within 1km, you're already 1000ft up. It's a rather boggy start but once on to the ridge proper, it's sheer joy. The relentless zig-zags only ended at a lovely crag, which was easily skirted and then the final approach to the summit. From here, the views across Rannoch Moor and to the Mamores were outstanding. I took shelter in the small rock hide and had some lunch before a quick and awkward run back to the car. All in all, a 7km walk with 817m of ascent done in 1 hour 40. The thighs today are complaining. This was my 99th Corbett so what next for Corbett 100?

Geal Charn (Cairngorms)

On the way up to Inverness for Exam Board, I wished to add to my Corbett count and I was now approaching the centenary. This hill wasn't one I had long considered but it would fit well with a minor deviation off the A9. That said, it took a wee while to eventually get down to the lodge, where I parked at the edge of the turning circle. The forecast was mixed and it was certainly that type of day, where it was warm enough but once the wind and rain hit me on the summit, it was pretty chilly. June in Scotland really. I didn't get a true appreciation of the views for this hill although Ben Rinnes could be seen to the North-East. The ground was a bit awkward off the North-West so it took me a wee while to get round this but I eventually hit Corbett 98, and ran around this 13km route in just over 2 hours. I enjoyed the remote aspect of this hill. Although considered a Cairngorm hill, it feels rather separate from the main range.

Beinn nan Oighreag

Apparently in the 1930s, this hill attracted considerable attention as it was found to approximate the height of a Munro - I say ould chep. However, at 909m, it falls several metres short of the Munro-bagger's requirements. I fancied it as a short run and decent preparation for the Fling, in 2 weeks. It would also be the first time with my Brooks Cascadia trail shoes so would allow me to break them in sufficiently. I followed the land rover track and missed the hill path, which would meander around and eventually to the old shielings. As a consequence, I ended up climbing too high, too early although it was just good to be getting out in the hills again. I crossed the Allt Dhuin Croisg where on the map there should be old shielings but I couldn't see any. However, there was a decent path, which must have been the old drovers route from Glen Lochay over into Glen Lyon.

Eventually, I began the trudge up the hill proper and it didn't take long before the snow fields on the NE face of Meall Ghaordaidh came into view. There were a few false summits before I finally encountered the summit cairn with outstanding views up to Loch Lyon and the reservoir dam. The views back South were also very pleasant too. However, it was very cold and I layered up to full Winter gear, with evidence of light snow on the summit area. A wee bit of food and I began the run back down the hill to the car. I was back at the car in 2 hours 30 minutes and felt very good. Good way to hit my 97th Corbett and i see my hill jaunts being more like this in the future.

Ben Vuirich

As part of my Highland Fling ultra-marathon training, I had hatched a plan to run out to Ben Vuirich and back. The great thing about running light and being fit enough is that if conditions allow it, you can grab these distant hills in relatively quick time. The forecast had been for settled weather over the weekend and I noted the glorious conditions on the Saturday before I was due to head out. Getting a wee lie-in on the Sunday meant that I awoke in good spirits and not that worried about the grey hanging over the local environs. I departed home at 0730 and was delighted with how quiet the A9 was, the whole way to Blair Atholl. It had been a few years since I had romped around Beinn a Ghlo and I had forgotten the road route, though didn't go wrong until I drove past Loch Moraig. I pulled in beside another couple of cars and donned my light pack, running trainers and gloves. I was away by 0930 and began the light run up the land rover track.

Carn Liath was covered in clag but the sporadic snowfields showed how much snow had fallen up here recently. At -2C, it was a chilly start so I was glad to get running. The track rises quite slowly but enough that I didn't run the whole of the first 2km. Once past the cattle gate though, it was delightful running all the way down to the river. The cloud threatened to lift now and again, with the occasional bit of blue shining through. After the burn crossing, the path gained height over Sron na-h Innereach but it was still possible to run the good majority of it. Eventually and reluctantly I left the track just past the crags of Stac nam Bodach and began a direct climb over this wee hill to 672m. From here, it was a negotiation of what would have been a boggy set of hags but the conditions meant it was a delightful tramp up on to the final steep climb to Ben Vuirich. The last 200m were a bit of a slog but within 2 hours of leaving the car, I was sheltered beside the trig point with occasional views to jigsaw pieces of Carn nan Gabhar. I sent my wife a wee message and then headed due North down to the track.

I picked up the track after a relatively steep descent and was glad for the slightly warmer conditions. Although I had a lightweight duvet jacket and trousers if conditions deteriorated, I hadn't used them much as I tend to overheat quickly, if I run. Ben Vuirich popped out of the cloud long enough for me to see its flat top but then was covered once again. The run back to the car was an absolute joy and I was back at the car within 3 hours 45 min. A good wee run (just short of 24km and 816m of ascent) and one that saw me back home before dark, which is always a bonus (and earns some brownie points)!