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I was sitting one evening perusing some maps, thinking about future outings - we all do it I'm sure - when, on OS 43, I came across Crungie Dubh and Crungie Clach. Wonderfully weird names, I thought. I determined next time I was in that area I would ignore the usual higher hills and have a walk up these two.
So, having been up Turkey Hill last week (I must be developing a 'thing' for strangely named hills), I was in the Pitlochry area so I drove along the A924 to park in a good-sized gravel pull-in on the south side of the road between Dalnavaid and Clunskea. I walked back along the road a short distance and headed up to Stronhavie and found the start of the track heading west below Stronhavie Crag before turning north up a shallow corrie before reaching more open moorland. Crungie Dubh came into view, looking like quite a craggy wee hill.
- Crungie Dubh coming into view
As I approached, I could see some grassy rakes on the east side of the hill which looked as if they would afford me a nice straightforward ascent. And so it proved. I reached the unmarked summit in good time. Just as the day before, the weather was not being kind to me and a strong wind was blowing and there was low cloud and drizzle - not exactly 'flaming June'. There was a large well-build cairn off to the east of the summit but it did not seem to have any significance. I looked north to Crungie Clach which looked a fair distance away across the moorland.
- On Crungie Dubh looking over the moorland to Crungie Clach
Actually, it was only about a k and a half as the crow flies but as we know hillwalkers are not crows and there were lots of undulations and detours to take to avoid bogs and peat hags on the walk over. Not exactly a gentle stroll but not too bad. A short sharp ascent brought me to the top of Crungie Clach.
- On the summit of Crungie Clach looking over to Ben Vuirich
By now, though, the weather was deteriorating and the cloud was getting lower and drizzle turning to rain. I decided to change my plans to walk over to Gurlet and instead descend Crungie Clach to the east to pick up the OS marked track beside the Clunskea Burn.
- descending Crungie Clach, heading towards the Clunskea Burn track
- Looking back on the descent of Crungie Clach
This worked out well and I enjoyed the stroll down the glen on this good track all the way to Clunskea back on the main road, only a short distance from my car. A short drive back to Pitlochry and I was having lunch with my wife. Did i enjoy my morning on these strangely named Tumps? Indeed I did.