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Stac na Cathaig between the showers

PostPosted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:58 pm
by malky_c
Sub 2k Marilyns: Stac na Cathaig.
Date: 13/03/2021.
Distance: 4.5 km.
Ascent: 210m.
Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Weather: Breezy but with sunshine between showers (all showers missed).

A short afternoon out for some fresh air. I had suggested Stac Gorm, but have been up the adjacent Stac na Cathaig far fewer times (probably as it is much more heather-clad). However Jackie had found an easy, tussock and heather-free route up here a couple of years ago, so we decided to do that for a change. The rain tipped down on the 15 minute drive to Loch Ruthven, and we delayed starting the walk until it had let up a bit. When it was finally down to a light drizzle, went for it.


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Parked up near Tullich

2 hours ago in Inverness it had been warm and sunny, but up here the breeze sliced through us. Fortunately after we had been walking up the track towards Loch a' Choire for 20 minutes or so, the clouds cleared away. Taking a right fork, we continued to a gate, on the far side of which there was a tight squeeze up the side of the deer fence through the trees. Despite being a bit hemmed in by branches, this was only a little wet and easy going underfoot. This soon joined a more open forest ride which took us to the treeline.

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Stac Gorm

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Break in the trees

From the top of the trees the summit was close by, with even a faint path visible in parts through the heather. There were intermittent bits of bare rock slab to walk over too, making the going pretty easy. I'm not sure how I have managed to mess up my approaches to this hill in the past - probably too busy looking for aesthetically pleasing routes on the map!

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Carn a Bhodaich, with Beinn a Bhach Ard beyond

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Inverness and the Black Isle

From the first summit, a second bump to the NE seemed higher, so we went over to that.

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Creag nan Clag and Meall Fuar Mhonaidh

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Loch Duntelchaig and Loch Ashie

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Loch a Chlachain and Strathnairn

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Beinn a' Bhach Ard

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Summit of Stac na Cathaig

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South towards Stratherrick

We could see more rain moving in from the SW, so we decided to retreat without hanging about, contouring the initial summit on the western flank. Before long we were back in the trees but it looked like the rain had missed us anyway. We stopped for a short break before following the fenceline back through the trees to the track.

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Stac Gorm

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Loch a Choire

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Stac Gorm and Loch Ruthven

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Carn Glac an Eich

All was nice at the car, but within 5 minutes of setting off home, we were hit by a massive downpour of hailstones. A walk well stolen!

Re: Stac na Cathaig between the showers

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:02 pm
by dogplodder
Looks a bonny interlude between the showers. Was the gate you came to open? We've twice been up to find gate locked and had we climbed adjacent fence no way of getting dog through. :?

Re: Stac na Cathaig between the showers

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:24 pm
by malky_c
dogplodder wrote:Looks a bonny interlude between the showers. Was the gate you came to open? We've twice been up to find gate locked and had we climbed adjacent fence no way of getting dog through. :?

Worth looking closer at it. It was open but the chain and padlock had been placed to make it look locked. I was all ready to climb it but discovered that the lock wasn't actually on properly. No idea if this was a one-off or whether it's always like that.

Re: Stac na Cathaig between the showers

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:05 pm
by dogplodder
malky_c wrote:
dogplodder wrote:Looks a bonny interlude between the showers. Was the gate you came to open? We've twice been up to find gate locked and had we climbed adjacent fence no way of getting dog through. :?

Worth looking closer at it. It was open but the chain and padlock had been placed to make it look locked. I was all ready to climb it but discovered that the lock wasn't actually on properly. No idea if this was a one-off or whether it's always like that.


Ahh thanks. I've been caught out with gates that look padlocked before so should have known! :lol:

Re: Stac na Cathaig between the showers

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 12:25 am
by Alteknacker
"I'm not sure how I have managed to mess up my approaches to this hill in the past..."

Hey, as you know, you have to train for years to acquire this skill. I reckon I might give you some competition!!!