Creag Dubh (graham nr Newtonmore) from Auchmore
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2021 4:00 pm
Finally got round to doing Creag Dubh, a hill I've seen so often and yet always decided it was too wet, too windy or too snowy to do when I've been in the area having read of the path going close to the edge of the cliffs. I didn't do the WalkHighlands route up, parked instead in a small layby (room for 2 cars) opposite the entrance to Auchmore, and walked a very short distance west to go through the gate and head up the field. My intention was to follow the track shown on the map, but it wasn't clear at the start at all, so I just walked up the hill over rough ground and ended up not going where I'd intended (hadn't meant to head for the monument marked on the map, but that's where I ended up initially as I hadn't bothered getting my map out). Took a curving route round then from the memorial to avoid the steep descent and re-ascent, followed a fence for a bit, then seemed to naturally join the path up the Creag Dhubh ridge as all starting points from this end converge on to one route up the actual ridge.
Over a couple of stiles and up the ridge, bits of snow still around. Came to the first cairn but the next, bigger, one looked slightly higher. Good views over to Carn Liath, the graham I did last week, and the Monadhliath munros.
Headed back down the ridge the same way, but at the 2nd stile, stayed to the right and didn't go over the stile this time. The ground was quite wet and boggy at this part, even when I eventually came across the track. Followed it all the way down to the gate at the start (the track almost disappearing on the approach to the gate, hence me not seeing it on the way up, just a track running perpendicular to the road was obvious).
It was good to finally get round to doing Creag Dubh, it looks an impressive hill from Kingussie and isn't a long day by any means. Quite fancy trying it from the other end next time, starting at Biallaid, I'm sure there must be a decent route up through the rocks and trees
Over a couple of stiles and up the ridge, bits of snow still around. Came to the first cairn but the next, bigger, one looked slightly higher. Good views over to Carn Liath, the graham I did last week, and the Monadhliath munros.
Headed back down the ridge the same way, but at the 2nd stile, stayed to the right and didn't go over the stile this time. The ground was quite wet and boggy at this part, even when I eventually came across the track. Followed it all the way down to the gate at the start (the track almost disappearing on the approach to the gate, hence me not seeing it on the way up, just a track running perpendicular to the road was obvious).
It was good to finally get round to doing Creag Dubh, it looks an impressive hill from Kingussie and isn't a long day by any means. Quite fancy trying it from the other end next time, starting at Biallaid, I'm sure there must be a decent route up through the rocks and trees