After the strenuous walk of yesterday I was grateful for the five minute drive back to the hotel and a lovely warm shower (though the benefits of a hot bath would become apparent after the 2nd day of long slog!!). I had spent the evening trying to relax with some lovely supper and a bottle of Crabbies (well deserved if I do say so myself), but instead got increasingly frustrated at my inability to log onto the wifi that the hotel had advertised (and had been one of the main reasons for choosing it) as it meant I could not do my blog as I had hoped!! Small things, but they make all the difference when I'm away from home. An early bed beckoned after tea and the chance to have a bit of a late start by my usual standard...the start point being a mere five minute drive away after all. I was anticipating a decent standard of breakfast, given the quality of the meal last night, but could not have got it more wrong!! Admittedly the chef serves a fine warm plate...unfortunately the contents of said plate were merely lukewarm!! Who wants slightly warm beans and potato scone with barely warmer sausage and bacon??? Certainly not me, but that's what I got!! At least they had a fine line in fruity tea and some decent homemade jam to spread on my toast...but between the breakfast and wifi issue I don't think I will be returning.
Having settled my bill and packing the car I set off to the car park at Old Blair once more.
Unfortunately the weather was less than decent today and had been chucking it down all night long...the strum of rain against my window had endeavoured to keep me awake most of the night. This meant I would require to wear my hardshell against the wet, but minimal layering beneath as it was still surprisingly mild for the time of year. I had also decided to dig out my comfortable old Scarpa ZG10's for the occasion...try to save wear and tear on that blister from yesterday.
I followed the path out through the trees, crossed the small bridge over the access road, into trees once more and through the woods surrounding Old Blair. The path rises high above the river flowing through the town, wooden fencing erected along the way to fend off the risk of falling.
Certainly if the wooden fencing is not enough to fend off the risk of falling then the nifty sign with the coolest graphic imaginable should do the trick.
Follow the path through the woods, then out onto the road, back into the woods, then out onto the road again for a while...I was so glad of having comfortable boots on again, almost slipperesque compared to yesterday. Onwards and upwards through a variety of scenery, steep gorges to my right, rolling farm land to my left, then back into the trees again. There are tracks off to the left and right, notably to the falls of Fender on the right, but I continued on the main path until a noticeable branch off to the left through silver birches, eventually bringing you out onto a farm access road at the top. Follow this road for a while until you arrive at the edge of the firing range (which I had passed on the return leg yesterday).
If the red flag is flying then there are shooters about...but the information board back at the car park had informed me it was safe to walk today...phew...who wants to get shot at just for walking a Munro!!
I followed the track as it headed downhill, across cattle grid and over stone bridge, past the shooting range, keeping to the track on the right as any left turn would take you up onto the shooting range.
Eventually the path flattens out again and heads out towards Gilbert's bridge (not a clue who Gilbert is/was but he has a bridge named after him so he must be important around these parts). Just before the bridge there is a gate to the left heading uphill (with a stupid looking little diamond gate beside it for pedestrian access apparently) which is the route to take outbound if you want to admire the scenery and beauty that would be apparent of there were any views through the low clouds!!
This path takes you high up through the woods once more, with expansive views of the river and glen floor below, including a large white farm that I would pass on the return journey. Then the path meanders gently to the glen basin once more...care must be taken in places as the path has eroded to such an extent that some of it more or less fell into the river. Thankfully there are tracks leading away from the river edge and are easily followed out along the valley floor adjacent to the river. There was a high rise in the path which brings you out at a small gate amongst a rocky patch of ground as the path crosses the Ach-Mhairc on a stone bridge...don't know why but all I could think of was "carry on up the Khyber"...very surreal moment in the mind of a lonely Munro bagger.
The path to the left is to a view point, presumably of the beautiful Glen Tilt, whilst the path I followed was to the right and headed back downhill to the glen floor once more. As I walked along this route I passed marble lodge at the other side of the river...arriving at Gaw's bridge. From here the walk carries on along a farm road for a while, crossing Allt Craoinidh on a small bridge.
Once over the bridge look for a faint track through the grass rising up the slope (there are around four or five boulders here to look out for if you cant see the path). Continue to rise steeply for a couple of hundred meters, leaving the bridge and glen floor far below, on the right side of the waterfall, eventually pulling up to join a bulldozed track at 400m. From here the path is well defined and bloody long!! It rises very gradually in places and covers a fair distance until you top out at Glac a Bhuic Eairb at around 750m...from here the track turns NW through increasingly boggy terrain and soft ground on the track (probably from all the rain and melted snow in the past week or so) until it pulls up onto the stony plateau of Carn a' Chlamian. I had to pass through a few patches of icy snow, carefully I might add, and then hauled up through the rocky scree to reach the summit cairn 963m...it took me 3.5 hrs to reach the summit cairn today (yesterday was 3hrs bang on and was a mile longer).
The wind had picked up speed and ferocity as I had gained height along the way...so much so that when I reached the summit cairn I was almost blown backwards by the blast of wind coming across the stony plateau...when I took the pic of Jelly McBaby I was actually lying flat on the ground for fear of being blown over!! There was absolutely no chance of seeing anything from here today, which is a shame as Beinn Dearg is so close, as is Beinn a Ghlo, and the hills of Drumochter...not forgetting Schiehallion of course. Picture taken and getting increasingly cold I headed off to find the path once more...returning via the exact same route as I had ascended until I reached the glen floor once more. I stopped at the bridge to have a sandwich break and was surprised that even at this lever (200m or so) the wind was still managing to buffet me around. Thankfully the rain had long since stopped on the descent and visibility had returned at around 500m, and the temperature had increased as I had lost height.
I crossed the river Tilt at Gaw's bridge and returned on the opposite bank of the river, passing marble lodge and the white farm from earlier (the dogs wer going mental as i approached but were thankfully locked in pens) before eventually crossing Cumhann Leum bridge to take me back to the diamond gate once more.
The remainder of the walk back passed through the same route as outward, once more through the firing range, along the road, through the woods, along the bank high above the river and finally crossing the little stone bridge leading back to the car park. After taking so long to get up to the summit I was pleased to find that I had saved some time on the return route and completed it in exactly 6 hours. Because of the heat in the sun on the return my jacket had more or less dried out also...bonus!! Once back at the car I took time to consider the two journeys I had undertaken over the past two days...upon reflection I would not be adverse to doing either again, though only on a very clear day to guarantee views from upon high.
On the drive back up to Aberdeen my legs seized up after so many miles walked, though the good news is my blister has subsided enough for me to not feel it any longer...roll on Saturday 25th and a chance to catch up with the guys out at Kinlochleven...the Crabbies are on them!!
Wow, another Munro completed, Jelly McBaby, and well done John as well!!! So glad JMcB that you didn't get blown over on the summit when your photo was taken. Shame about the weather. Really enjoyed the report and looking at the photos.
ReplyDeleteSusieThePensioner