A little rocky gem in Glen Cannich

[MusicalHiker]

A beautiful morning, my husband's birthday, and I was up at 5.30 making a picnic lunch. It was a big day, because I hadn't climbed a proper hill since last August, due partly to my left knee being strange..... for no obvious reason, it had suddenly become painful when I put weight on it, and back in December and January I couldn't walk more than half a mile without feeling like I had to stop. However, it seems to be easing, whatever it is, and after building up to a couple of 2-3 hour treks without much discomfort I decided it was time to see what happened if I went up a hill....

It may have been Trevor's birthday but he was occupied with Business, so we waited until the following Sunday to have a day out together (Loch Clair and Loch Coulin) and so I abandoned him on his birthday to climb Sgorr na Diollaid instead!

This time my companion was Amy, who hadn't climbed it yet either, so we met in Cannich and drove over to the bridge over the river at Muckrachd, the start point for the steep hike up the grassy slopes.

The start - straight up the slopes

Rocky hillside as we climbed higher

I hadn't slept very much because I was worried about my knee, and also because whenever I get up incredibly early I don't sleep so well - it's the excitement - and of course the silly knee was aching as we set off, but soon the aches faded away and it felt better for being used. Relieved, I carried on climbing, being a little unfit for this at the moment.....

Morning sun on the rocks

Looking back into Glen Cannich

The weather was glorious, and there was the odd meadow pipit, tweeting away in the heather. There was no path so it was a case of bashing on through knee deep heather, up over a knoll that we probably should have gone around, and carrying on up the next section which had some photogenic rocky slabs and a slight easing of the gradient.

River heading towards Cannich

Rocky hillside

Sunshine and shadows

I seem to have an Amy on my hat

Lovely pool in the rocks

There are lots of rocks around the summit, which makes it fun, and the very top is a rocky edge which involves a very tiny and not-at-all-scary scramble, if you fancy it. We left poles and bags at the bottom of this rocky top and went up to sit for a bit admiring the views into Strathfarrer, and as far as the Kessock Bridge, which we could see glinting in the sunshine down the Beauly Firth.

Approaching the summit area

Getting near the top....

Photogenic rocks

The top!

For once I had someone to take a photo of me and Bea! We sat and ate lunch at the bottom of the summit rock, out of the wind. It was very peaceful.

Summit views

Looking into Strathfarrer

Rather special lunch view

Looking back at the summit

On the way back, we made our way across to the lower top and down from there, negotiating a peaty bog and hopping between tussocks of grass. By the time we got to the bottom I was very glad to stick my feet in the river by the bridge, before the drive back to Beauly. My knee was a little achey the next day, but nothing that would stop me getting out there again soon.

The best thing about it - we were the only ones up that hill on Thursday, and it was so beautiful and quiet. I got home for lunch and then worked until about 7, giving people violin lessons on zoom - it's good having mornings free!