Carn Fiaclach, Glen Affric.

Carn Fiaclach

Carn Fiaclach, Glen Affric. - Section 11B

Height – 457 metres. Map – OS Landranger 25.
Climbed - 29 October 2010. Time taken – 3.75 hours.
Distance – 5.5 kilometres. Ascent – 330 metres.
Trip Report Details:

We had been staying for a few days in Tomch and as my walking friends were returning home on what was a very windy morning I decided to climb this nearby Sub 2000 Marilyn. It was a short drive to the Dog Falls Car Park in Glen Affric, where there were plenty of parking spaces.

I walked across the bridge over the River Affric and followed the vehicle track that headed south-west through the forest gradually gaining some height. At a junction of tracks I took the right fork and continued in the same direction searching for a suitable point to scramble through the forest onto this hill. I never found one and when the track started to loose height I decided that I had little option but wade my way through the forest undergrowth if I was going to reach the summit of this ‘little hill’. The map hadn’t helped as Carn Fiaclach was shown as surrounded by forest.

Firstly there was an area of watery ground to traverse before commencing a fairly steep climb through the trees. Underfoot the long vegetation, heather, mosses and some fallen timber made progress slow and awkward but eventually I appeared on the west ridge of Carn Fiaclach. It was then a short walk to the summit where a metal pole marked the top. I found some shelter from the wind for a coffee with views of Loch Affric and the cloud covered Affric Munros.

Maybe it was a mistake taking a coffee break, as while seated at the summit I decided to return by descending the north-east ridge which was initially quite pleasant. However lower down the vegetation and some rocks made the descent pretty awful so I wouldn’t recommend this route. Low down on the ridge I came to the vehicle track which I followed in a south-westerly direction until it joined the track used earlier that day. It was then a short walk back to the car park.

On checking Google the metal pole on the summit may be a trig point for the hydro electric station.

Photos taken on walk.

An Lean-Charn, Far North

An Lean-charn

An Lean-charn, Far North. – Section 16B
Height 521 metres. Map – OS Landranger 9.
Climbed – 25 October 2010. Time taken – 3.5 hours.
Distance – 8.5 kilometres. Ascent – 550 metres.
Trip Report Details:

I was heading south to Cannich later in the day so this Sub 2000 foot Marilyn appeared to meet my requirement for a morning walk.

I drove west along the single track A838 Tongue to Durness Road to the head of the sea loch, Loch Eriboll. Despite being in some wild country there were few parking spaces. Once I managed to get my car off the road I headed south along a vehicle track to a couple of gates which were in poor condition. Here there was a sign giving advice during the stalking seasons, but no indication if stalking was taking place that day. However there was a contact number but I doubt if my mobile would have worked in such a remote location.

The vehicle track headed round the west side of the craggy, Creag na Faoilinn and along Srath Beag. However once beyond the crags I left the track and climbed east over some wet and rough vegetation as I made my way towards my target hill, An Lean-charn. The plan was to use the three lochans to the south-east of Creag na Faoilinn as navigation aids but the weather was clear enough for me to make a direct ascent. The ground did steepen in places but there was no real problem. A small dip containing a lochan was crossed before the final climb to the summit cairn of An Lean-charn.

Here I had a coffee break with views of Ben Hope and Lochs Hope and Eriboll.

My return was by the ascent route with views of the Corbetts, Foinaven, Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh as the cloud lifted clear of their tops.

Wildlife spotted on this walk included deer, grouse and a vole.

Photos taken on walk.

Craig of Monievreckie, Trossachs.

Menteith Hills

Craig of Monievreckie, Trossachs. Section 1C.
Height – 400 meters. Map – OS Landranger 57.
Climbed - 20 September 2010. Time taken – 4 hours.
Distance – 12.5 kilometres. Ascent – 550 metres.
Trip Report Details:

I was staying in the Trossachs and on advising my host I was planning climbing Craig of Monievreckie she offered me a lift to the start if I would take her dog with me. Not a problem as this would allow me to make the ascent of this Sub 2000 Marilyn a linear walk.

I was dropped off at the Braeval Forest car park on the A81 Port of Menteith to Aberfoyle Road and followed the ‘red route’ through the forest as indicated on the web site ‘Scottish Hills’. High up in the forest an unmarked path led along the side of a stream to a new gate in the mesh type fencing and this gave me access to the open hillside.

A walker’s path meandered through the bracken and onto the south west ridge of Craig of Monievreackie. The path was followed over a few knolls to the summit trig point where I had a coffee break with views of the Lake of Menteith and Ben Venue.

Afterwards I continued along the ridge to the Bealach Conasgach where I took the wrong option. Instead of continuing along the ridge I descended to the Rob Roy Way. This route was pretty awful as it was through long bracken and trees. I don’t think the dog enjoyed the experience either.

Eventually I came to the Rob Roy Way and made good progress through the forest until I reached a gate giving access to an open field. The gate was tied with wire which was impossible to undo. Even a gap in the gate was tied with barbed wire. There was a stile over the adjoining dyke and wire fence but it wasn’t suitable for dogs. I tried to entice the dog over the wall and through the fence, which also had a barbed wire strand, but without success. In the end I had to remove part of the wall then lift and push the now agitated dog through the gap and over the fence.

I rebuilt the wall and walked across the field, containing a few sheep, to the other side. Again I was confronted by a gate which this time was padlocked. Stones appeared to have been removed from the dyke and replaced so I did likewise.

We then walked through the forest, passed Lochan Allt a’Chip Dhuibh, and onto a forest track. This track was followed east before I came across signs restricting access due to forest operations. There was no obvious alternative route so I continued along the track but fortunately no one was working although a large area of the trees had been harvested.

The track took me to the East Lodge at Invertrossachs before the dog entered Loch Venachar for a swim and wash. We then continued along the road until we were picked up east of the Gobhain Bridge.

Photos taken on walk.

Benaquhallie, Aberdeenshire.

Benaquhallie

Benaquhallie, Aberdeenshire. Section 21B.
Height – 494 metres. Map – OS Landranger 37.
Climbed - 12 September 2010. Time taken – 0.75 hours.
Distance – 3 kilometres. Ascent – 195 metres.
Trip Report Details:

This was my third and final Sub 2000 Aberdeenshire Marilyn for the day. I was en-route home along the B9119 Tarland to Aberdeen Road and west of Tornaveen drove up the single track road that led to Upper Broomhill Farm. At the end of the tarred road I parked at the side of the access road leading to Upper Dagie, where it appeared renovations were in progress.

I walked the short distance to Upper Broomhill Farm then along the west side of the farm buildings which led to a gate in an electric fence. Once through the gate I crossed a field, initially following grassy vehicle tracks, to a wall and a few trees, which led to the top fence. Here I found all four strands of the fence were electrified. I didn’t notice until the descent that slightly to the west there was a short section with rubber tubing round the wires to facilitate a crossing. In the process of climbing the fence I did discover that it was in fact live.

Beyond the fence there was deep heather to contend with as I continued the ascent. I reached a large cairn and a short distance further north the summit trig point, where I had views of Craigievar Castle, the Howe of Alford and Aberdeen.

The return was by the ascent route crossing the fence where the rubber tubing protected me from another electric shock.

Photos taken on walk.

Coiliochbhar Hill, Aberdeenshire.

Coiliochbhar Hill

Coiliochbhar Hill, Aberdeenshire. Section 21B
Height – 533 metres. Map – OS Landranger 37.
Climbed - 12 September 2010. Time taken – 2 hours.
Distance – 6.5 kilometres. Ascent – 210 metres.
Trip Report Details:

The start of this walk was the unclassified Cushnie to Kildrummy Road, just west of Upper Minmore. I parked my car on the verge before passing through a gate and following a vehicle track along the edge of a field. This led to another gate which was tied at both ends. I climbed over this gate and continued along the track, across a field, to second tied down gate. The crossing of this gate was a bit awkward as it was in poor condition and the lower section was covered in wire netting.

Once over this third gate the track led through a forested area where new trees had been planted to replace those harvested. At the upper end of the forest there was no gate so I continued along the track, over heathery moorland, towards a cairn.

Beyond the cairn I came to another forested area and thought of walking round the edge but opted to follow a fence through the wood. The fence wasn’t easy to follow as there was quite a bit of fallen timber although in a strange way it was quite pleasant wandering through the old forest. Eventually I reached the northern edge of the wood and followed the fence to a cairn marking the summit of Coiliochbhar Hill.

It was quite breezy here so I returned to the edge of the forest where I had my lunch before returning by the ascent route.

Photos taken on walk.

Lord Arthur's Hill, Aberdeenshire

Lord Arthur's Hill

Lord Arthur’s Hill, Aberdeenshire. Section 21B.
Height – 518 metres. Map – OS Landranger 37.
Climbed - 12 September 2010. Time taken – 2.25 hours.
Distance – 8 kilometres. Ascent – 350 metres.
Trip Report Details:

I decided to climb this hill from the east as it made for a slightly longer and easier walk than the approach from the south. Dubston Farm was my starting point, reached from Tullyneesle on the single track road leading to Tullynessle Castle. Near the end of this tarred road there was a rough area of ground where I parked my car.

It was a bright and slightly breezy morning when I set off along the farm road leading to Dubston. I walked round the back of this farm onto a vehicle track which soon entered a fenced off area where new trees had been planted. A sign indicated that I was on the ‘Quarry Walk’ and that responsible walkers were welcome.

Beyond the fenced area the track followed the south side of the Esset Burn before it later split. The ‘Quarry Walk’ appeared to head north towards an old quarry and onto the Correen Hills while my route continued in a westerly direction following the track shown on the map as Fouchie Shank. Higher up the path passed through some larch and Caledonian Pine trees before crossing more heathery ground to reach Lord Arthur’s Cairn.

The summit trig point was slightly further to the north so I visited it where I had views of the Correen Hills and The Buck. I returned to the shelter of the cairn for a coffee break looking out over the Howe of Alford and to Coiliochbhar Hill.

The return was by the ascent route. Near Dubston Farm I met a group, who with the availability of two cars, were walking to Mossat.

Photos taken on walk.

Allermuir Hill, Midlothian.

Allermuir Hill

Allermuir Hill, Midlothian. Section 28A
Height – 493 metres. Map - OS Landranger 66.
Climbed - 20 August 2010. Time taken – 1.5 hours.
Distance – 5 kilometres. Ascent – 365 metres.
Trip Report Details:

The weather forecast wasn’t very good so I was planning on leaving Edinburgh and returning home. However some early morning blue sky convinced me to firstly take in this Sub 2000 Hill.

I drove the short distance to the Hillend Ski Centre, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and parked in the upper car park. By this time there was some light rain falling so it was on with the waterproofs before setting off up the side of the dry ski slope. Unfortunately cloud was floating around the hill tops, although the rain had eased.

There were various paths and I followed one that led onto the east ridge of Caerketton Hill where there was a directional sign. A couple of dog walkers were about as was a runner heading up the hill. I followed the fence line and path to the east top of Caerketton Hill which was in the cloud. A short descent and another climb took me to the summit of Caerketton Hill but the views weren’t great due to the cloud.

A steeper descent and re-ascent took me to the viewfinder and trig point on the summit of Allermuir Hill. It was rather windy here but at least I had some views of Arthur’s Seat, The Castle, and across the City of Edinburgh to the Firth of Forth and Fife beyond.

It was a bit too windy to linger at the summit so I returned down Allermuir Hill’s East Ridge and followed the path below Caerketton Crags towards Swanston Golf Course. A marked trail followed a path above the golf course back to the ski centre and the end of short but enjoyable hill day, despite the weather.

Photos taken on walk.