Carn Mor & Glen Pean bothy

And so it was the annual Winter bothy trip with Graeme was back on. Cancelled in 2020 because of this damned pandemic, we confirmed the date of 3rd weekend in November for a new bothy experience, and a new hill! I had forgotten how long the drive takes down Loch Arkaig but what a rollercoaster it is. Total concentration for 40 minutes and eventually I rolled up to the car park at Strathan with a few of the beasts as welcoming party. 

It's amazing how close you can get to them. But, that was terrible of me calling Graeme and Luna beasts - they had only been in A'Chuil one evening. We got the packs sorted and began the yomp into Glen Pean; although a threat of rain, it didn't really take hold and we had fine views as we walked further into our destination. It was good to catch up again as we hadn't been on the hill since Knoydart - our Munro extravanganza and the sad acceptance that it was currently two thirds of my total Munros for the year. But it's quality over quantity, isn't it? Not when you're 15 from completing....

After a good hour of walking and catching up, we saw our home for the night and it looked a cracking wee abode.

We unpacked, got the sleeping bags set out on the sleeping platforms and became German for the afternoon - towels down, our platforms claimed for the evening! We needn't have worried as we'd be the only folks in the bothy that night. Our plan now was straight up on to the ridge of Carn Mor, a Corbett that would lead us out to the edge of Knoydart and Loch Morar. It was a brute of ascent and unforgiving but we appeared on the flat ridge after about 45 minutes. From here, our summit lay 2 miles to the West and despite the odd burst of rain, we had a great walk along to the final climb. 

We could see the massive slip to the South of the summit and carefully walked along the cleft, before the wind blasted us on our final walk to the summit cairn, and Loch Morar beyond. We didn't hang about at the summit and Luna was unimpressed by the wind chill. It took me a good 15 minutes to warm up on the way down towards the bothy.

Our descent was careful and we were both relieved to get back to the bothy and into the warmth of a braw bothy fire. Glen Pean has a rather foreboding feel to it - in stark contrast to the magnificent bothy - we sat from 1715 until 2215, watching bothy TV, supping beer and even stretched to a fine bottle of bubbly with the now compulsory Diablo toasties. The walk out the next day was fine, with the hill summits covered in snow. Winter is soon upon us.

Garbh Bheinn (Ardgour)

I managed to get some sleep after my summit camp on Beinn Bheag (report here https://grahammadness.blogspot.com/2021/09/sgurr-mhic-eacharna-beinn-bheag.html) and the tent was packed up with breakfast in my belly by 0630. The cloud was just beginning to break and my objective for the day looked me right in the face. Granite slabs dropped down most of this impressive mountain - one for summer for sure.

I made my way down to the lochain below Garbh Bheinn and looked up at its steep climb - I had a climb of about 1100 feet ahead of me but I would just take my time as a slip here would be problematic. The climb eventually wound its way into a Coire and I followed the route to the summit but not before I stopped and took a photo back to Beinn Bheag, which paled into comparison beside this brute of a hill.

The summit view was obscured by clag so I just made my way down the long shoulder of the Corbett until I got back to the road. Only 7.5km of a walk out from camp but it took my 3 hours which highlights how tough the terrain was. All that remained was the short ferry trip back over and the drive home. I felt very relaxed and recharged. This was my 125th Corbett - tough to beat this experience.

Creagan na Bainne from Newton Bridge

I was in dire need of an end to the working week. Scunnered is the word. I had a pass for an overnight but I couldn't be doing with the long drive or a night under the stars - my mind was in monkey-mind. Best to keep it local and do something non-technical. I decided to head to the Sma' Glen and take the bike with me. I parked up at Newton Bridge, and began the bike along Glen Almond. It was dry and warm so it wasn't long before I was generating a good sweat. I hadn't been down this way before so was enjoying the great Land Rover track in. I decided to take the bike as far as Dalriech but rather than leave the bike in the glen, I would ascend the lower slopes of the Corbett. Tough going but I reached a high enough point before it got really steep. It was as I ascended that the first shower came down the glen. Not unpleasant but it had been a long time since I'd been out in rain. Changed days.

I followed the track that wend its way up the hill and eventually started to get decent views North over Loch Tay to the Ben Lawers Munros. The apparent hump over some peat hags was my destination for the day - not particularly inspiring but once I got to the summit, I was happy to get another summit in the bag. The number of mountain hares was incredible, darting all over the place. I re-traced my steps back where I came and began to feel better as the showers died down and I began to dry off. 

I had some nourishment back at the bike, donned the gear and began the cycle back out. I took 20 minutes off the return leg as it was mainly downhill - I hadn't appreciated how much ascent there was to the initial journey in. A couple of lovely ladies asked if I'd enjoyed my day and it was great to exchange pleasantries before the fairly short drive home. Always good to see a new bit of this great, wee country we live in.

Mam na Gualainn

And so after 18 months, I was back out on the hills with Graeme who I had not seen since pre-pandemic. And this time, we'd be joined by Luna, his new black Labrador. We had agreed to do Mam na Gualainn from Kinlochleven and got there nice and early (0830). The pooch was keen to go and we began the hike along the road before ascending the WHW path on to the lairig. It had been about 15 months since I'd tried this with my brother-in-law in very heavy snow. At that time, we had got as far as the shoulder and then bailed. This time, the weather was fine with no rain or inclement weather forecast. Indeed, we made good time up on to Being na Caillichand the views were stupendous. This hill is ideally placed for views to Glencoe, down the Loch, and over to the Mamores. An absolute gem of a hill. 

At some point, Luna had absorbed a tick and Graeme was able to unlatch and dispatch. She seemed non-plussed and only had eyes for lunch! We made our way along the ridge to the Corbett summit, where there was a poignant summit trig point ('Keep on climbing, Tony') - he had died very young and had served his country in the Royal Marines. A fitting tribute to someone who had given so much. I thought about it for a while and we pushed on. The descent back into the lairig was uncomplicated and once back on to the Land Rover track, we were assailed by numerous WHWers asking us how far to Fort William. We began to make the numbers up by the 3rd or 4th lot of people "Only 14 miles to go now" etc. We were down by 1430 and it was a most enjoyable hill. Great to see Graeme again and the plans for Knoydart were in full flow for July. Encore!  

Gairbeinn from Melgarve

I had intended on heading back up the Munros again but the timings weren't right so I decided to keep the drive reasonable, and instead decided on Gairbeinn from Melgarve bothy. I had the bike unloaded once more, and from Garva bridge, it was a nice ride along the road for about 4 miles, all done in 22 minutes. Unsurprisingly, the bothy was locked but it looked a nice place to spend an evening so I'll definitely come back in Winter. Gairbeinn stood tall and as it had been so dry, what would have been a boggy approach was actually dry underfoot. I fair pelted up the slopes, and once at the plateau, the views opened up nicely to surrounding hills. Although the wind turbines were a definite blot on the landscape. There was still some snow patches lying around and there was a real frigidity to the wind blowing from the North. I didn't hang about and descended quickly to the bike. The 4-mile cycle back out was lovely and the amount of deer near the river was incredible. When I got back to the car, I fired up the cooker and got some curry down my throat, with a wee can of Dr Pepper. I felt great and it was good to get Corbett 122 in the bag - ONLY 100 to go!

Mount Battock feat. Clachnaben

As the dictat to 'stay at home' was relaxed to 'stay local', I decided to head up and see my parents who I hadn't seen for months. My mum, in particular, seemed to be suffering from a depression of sorts and so for me, as they had both been double vaccinated I felt justified in heading up and dropping M off with them before I took in this hill. I arrived at the Glen Dye car park at 0830, about 10th in line! So, others had decided to explore and get out and about. I took the path out of the car park and hared along to Miller's Bog, where a stream of people were up ahead. Clachnaben could now be seen, the prominent tor that prompted the now infamous quote "Clachnaben and Bennachie, twa landmarks fae the sea'. 

The yomp along the excellent path made for quick going and within the hour, I was up at the Clachnaben tor, which was becoming busy already. The wind at the top was perishing and I really wondered whether I was ready to walk the extra 4 miles out to Mount Battock, and back. However, I was determined to make the most of every trip from now on. I could see my objective away in the distance, and conditions looked dry. I was going for it. 

I passed a couple of guys at the smaller tor further on and said hello; one of the guys with shorts said 'it's f£$king freezing!' - I had to laugh. It was but I was fully clad. I motored on and began to enjoy the solitude. The Land Rover track made for easy walking albeit it was bordering on environmental vandalism. I eventually came across a hut about 3km from the summit and decided to leave my pack here. I had some refreshments and then started a run along the track and up to the summit. I topped out at the trig point and large shelter cairn just as the clag dropped. So, there wasn't much point in taking in the view. Plus, I still had the 13-km walk-out. I ran back to the pack, had a lovely can of San Pellegrino and started my walk out. I enjoyed the walk out, passing many people who all seemed jovial and delighted to be out. After 5 hours of walking, I made it back to the car - pretty good-going for a 26-km day. My Winter training had really put me in a good place physically and mentally. Really enjoyable day.

Stob an Aonaich Mhoir

Weeks and weeks of lockdown. We hadn't seen our parents at Christmas as it would have been folly to spend time with them when Covid was rife. We had abided by the rules but having only had 2 days off in 10 weeks since the start of the year, I was beginning to lose the plot. I decided I would take a day off and fuel the car up to full, before leaving early and avoiding any traffic. I drove the 2.5 hours along past Kinloch Rannoch and parked in the car park, just beside the power station. Not a soul around. I got the MTB out of the car, and began the cycle round to the start of the Land Rover track that would take me to the high point of the road down to the lodge. The track is excellent and while some of the road was steep in places, it took me just over an hour to get to the 655m point, where plenty of snow was lying on the hills. I left the bike just off the road, and began the last wee ascent up to the summit. Although the views were lovely to the point where I left the bike, the same could not be said for the summit.

I romped back to the bike, had some nourishment; pumped up the tyres and began the 14.5km descent back to the car - I fair flew down the road and at one point hit 35 mph. A LOT OF FUN. Views across Rannoch Moor were lovely and back down at the loch, I enjoyed the stillness and placid aspect. It was only 1100 and I was home by 1400, not having seen or encountered a soul. This Corbett deserves the bike approach and I'll be using the bike much more in future trips for hills.