Feshie and Gaick Corbetts from Glen Bruar

[weaselmaster]

A solo weekend - what would I get up to. Good weather forecast so my main consideration was to achieve a mix of Corbetts and Simms. Thought about west of Glenshee - lots of Simms but not many Corbetts...so decided on a combination of the Feshie and Gaick Corbetts with a good handful of Simms thrown in. I'd previously done the Feshie Corbetts from Glen Feshie and Glen Tromie, so a new route up Glen Bruar was chosen. I'd been up here once previously, when Allison completed her Corbett Round Two on Beinn Bhreac.

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Headed up to Calvine on Thursday afternoon and parked at the phone box about 3.30pm. This left the possibility to get quite far up the glen tonight. Boy was it hot! Car had registered 27.5 degrees as I parked it, and Glen Bruar is pretty much devoid of shade. Anyway, set off, having put some sun-cream on my legs and passed through the tunnel under the A9 onto the track. The heat was intense and the clegs were horrific - buzzing around my eyes and head. I had to stop and apply some Smidge, which seemed to stop them landing on me, but they still buzzed around incessantly. Thank the Lord they only have a short season. I got as far as Bruar Lodge by 6pm and continued along Ruigh a Gaoithe as far as the footbridge, where I stopped for water and had my tea. It had been easy walking up til now, with little height having been gained. The track diminished in quality as it headed up Uchd a Chlarsair, my first Simm, then became sketchy.I continued on, heading out the 2km to Glas-Leathad Feshie, disturbing a large herd of hinds in the process - presumably not used to Hoomins wandering about in these parts of an evening. Where would I pitch? I thought it would be good to make the top of Leathad an Taobhain, although by this time the sun was starting to set. I pulled up to the 831m top to the east of the Corbett summit and decided to pitch there - good soft mossy ground and a bit of shelter from the wind provided by the extra 90m of the Corbett. Watched the sun depart and the pretty pink afterglow and lay in the tent reading Luis Jorge Borges and having a wee nip of Bunnahabainn.

A2939B07-594A-453B-B9C4-20387C1FB951_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

F2206981-3131-42B1-8706-3F43510022DD_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

60B51951-1E5C-42C6-A82D-4A3C0C8882C1_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

53782D43-8AE6-4901-8AA9-F000D4EBB115_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Looking over to Braeriach etc
EA451CDB-42FA-4C5B-B684-0FE171AFDFDD_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Sunset over Leathad an Taobhain
208527E8-E720-4847-A6F3-51A74360EE48_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

5CDA1EA7-6A1A-450D-B33E-D5053E1736C4_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

For some reason, sleep was hard to come by and I lingered in bed later than I'd intended, setting off about quarter to nine. No sun, but the clouds were above the hills and the awful heat of yesterday was not present. A quick jaunt to the top of the Corbett, then onto the Minigaig pass briefly before a sizeable Simm detour - this over rough heathery ground. Paused by the Allt Lorgaidh for water and lunch, watched by a minuscule frog which had squeezed between two layers of stone. Very pleasant sitting by the river, watching the fish come up for flies and being lulled by the rhythmic splashing of the water. Time to go on - over a boggy section to the 739m top, where it looks like some gross butts are being installed then onto the good track heading for Carn Dearg Mor.

046C44C4-9103-4874-BB41-E7476702405C_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Carn Dearg Mhor and Meallach Mhor
3AC3FC6C-586A-4547-87ED-B98889EBD3B2_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Tiny watcher
C7CC3132-1736-458C-8D1F-5578E3BC7629_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

There used to be a bulldozed track heading up CDM but this has been covered over with heather and new tree plantings which is good for the look of the valley, but a bit pants for getting up the hill. A couple of diggers were sat on the track coming up from the NW. I made the summit then took this track down in the direction of Meallach Mhor. I remembered this from last time, when we were going to camp between the two Corbetts but found the valley very wet indeed. There is an ATV track that provides good going over Meall an Dubh Chadha before disappearing somewhere before the final rise to the summit of Meallach Mhor. Not the most exciting summit - the best thing is the view down Loch an t-Seilich. I have a very soft spot for the Gaick Forest and was glad I'd be heading that way next. I came off Meallach Mhor in the general direction of the Allt Bhran and met a walker heading up as I was nearing the bottom. I hailed him with a hearty hello - he fixed my gaze then completely blanked me. I admit that I can get a bit weary of hellos on the hills when you are walking somewhere busy and the nine hundredth person you've passed has said hello, but there was only me and him, all day. "Rude tosser" was the more printable of my thoughts as I left him to it.

CDM - you can make out the covered-over old track
DB6984EC-DDBB-4353-86B7-F10591BC2338_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

528A6B8A-35EB-4D0D-9B00-5AE087D7D463_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Loch an t-Seilich
8AA8F708-445D-4FF3-A9C2-247D85B98647_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

On the track, my next mission was to get onto the track that runs south from the derelict Bhran Cottage. The map suggests a path leading to a footbridge - but try as I might I couldn't spot this in the undergrowth. I ended up going past Bhran Cottage and wading the river at the ford - was a pleasant cooling off for my feet. On the other side of the river I did find the path and spotted what appeared to be an intact footbridge amongst the trees. So seek and ye will find. I was followed along the path by two companions. One, a Goshawk, chattered above me as it flew in broad arcs, sometimes swooping low over my head. The other, a black and yellow dragonfly, was tailing me surreptitiously, stopping every time I turned round and clinging onto some vegetation or turning a small pebble over in its claws, but I knew what it was up to. Both kept me company for a few kilometres.

Bhran cottage
85F7144D-B0B9-47B9-A886-3346297012E0_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

One of my companions
86A2E6AA-9705-42F7-8E42-5A3DBD269874_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Bogha Cloiche ahead
C2CB6D01-EA77-47A9-9061-91313E91551D_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Sadly, the nice track comes to an end, leaving me with the task of climbing Bogha-Cloiche - at 898m a high hill for this time of the evening. I summoned up my reserves of stamina and pressed on up the grassy slopes, devouring the odd ripe cloudberry I found (tip - cloudberries turn light red/orange when ripe and part from their stalk without resistance - they have a delicious taste, but pick them too early at your peril). From the summit, it's a fairly level walk along the top of the impressive Coire Magadan Mor until you come to the equally impressive Sron Dearg which juts out between Loch an t-Seilich and Loch Bhrodainn. Absolutely stunning geology here. I thought about camping high to enjoy the views, but the wind was rather too forceful for that.

Meall a'Chuaich from Bogha Clioche
FF7813DD-CE53-464D-9C23-CE730627178C_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Sron Dearg
219ADB5A-3D46-40E4-8C16-93CC9E3AF3D1_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Loch an t-Seilich
155BFF13-0B79-481B-B8DC-BD7EDBA7687C_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

9089A345-26E4-4D59-8B53-08354DDF720E_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

ED974662-40F6-45CE-BE0E-C12B129777E6_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Loch Bhrodainn
EA922FAA-928E-489F-860A-ADD483C833B3_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Gaick Lodge
A650799A-5F51-466F-B49A-C90E973D02DE_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

There's a stalkers path that descends the otherwise scarily steep Red Nose, bringing one out at Gaick Lodge. I continued along the valley floor looking for a suitable spot to pitch - the ground either too tussocky or too wet to be of service. I was also a little worried, having gone from lots of wind to very little, that the midges might be a problem. I continued on along Domingo's Road finding a suitable spot where the Allt a Chaoirnich joins the Allt Loch an Duin. Breeze and running water - bliss!
I expected to sleep well, having had the biggest day (37km, 2000plus metres ascent) I've had in a long while, but once again I had a poor night's sleep.Did manage to nod off about 6am, which wasn't very helpful...

D0D9415A-088E-461B-8AB0-C1BAF9188371_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

8099AF1A-5CDD-4163-B060-DCD9406AA4B0_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

AB3576BD-7C9B-4C8C-B62D-E9B29476166D_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Sunshine and blue skies today but very windy indeed - I had the delightful prospect of climbing An Dun, one of the steeper Corbetts, from the north side where there's no path as a starter. Wasn't looking forward to that much...I found that bearing round to the NW flank made for easier going than a direct assault up the nose - there were some deer tracks to give succour. Some strips of scree to avoid, but it was easier than I'd feared. Up to the flat top - good views out to Schiehalion. Then it was all the way back down - on a path mind you. I could see quite a large tent pitched to the north of Stronphadruig Lodge, but no other signs of life. Weaving my way over to the side of A'Chaoirnich I used some deer tracks to begin the ascent - this turned into a "proper path" - well I met a man with an Aberdonian accent coming down it. He commented about the strength of the wind. I knew it was at least going to be on my back for much of the rest of the day. I puffed and panted to the top of A'Chaoirnich, which is always further away than you think it's going to be, then sat and looked out over the rounded hills heading back towards Glen Bruar. My legs were feeling it after yesterday and I admit I had a few wee rests today. I got a bit delirious when coming from Bac na Creige to Carn an Fhiadhain, thinking that the latter looked like it would involve an ascent of at least 300m (only 150) and generally cursing downs and ups. However, once I'd been to the trig point on Sron a'Chlerich it was easier walking and I knew the end was beginning to be in sight.

DC48719A-C807-4A55-A83B-A4D6B244B47B_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

An Dun
09432FC7-CC59-469D-B41A-E6E2FEE9C13A_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

View down the Edendon Water
73FE2CEF-0D94-485A-8FB6-844390D3ABB9_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

An Dun from the south - an easier prospect
000D22EB-EC81-4F4C-A9C3-7680906BC88E_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

EF2874E6-BC81-4909-A2D4-ABFF77A175BA_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

45C9B025-FFC1-4FBB-B904-4A181A41D304_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

I paused for my tea in a dip before Meall Odhar a'Chire then wandered over the hills directly to the west of Glen Bruar in the early evening sunshine. I picked up an unexpected and very welcome track from the 791m top that led me down to Sron na Faiceachan. I was withering what to do - would I camp high despite the wind, or venture down into the glen, where the ground seemed to be pretty tussocky? I chose the former, thinking I'd get some wind-shadow in the lee of the Sron, but the wind either got up more, or changed direction slightly as it whipped the tent all night - another sleepless one. During the night I felt a tickle inside my ear...I managed to evict whatever it was. Then about 3am I decided to get up and put additional guys on the tent, put my head torch on and noticed a red in the bed...clearly what had been trying to get into my ear. Not a happy thought

F7C164D3-820C-425F-B03C-CBC23F94563E_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Glen Bruar
3200EF01-ED88-4864-B8AD-7212A1EE2C27_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

39AAE372-632D-436A-843C-4D7F751CA320_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

6E8CB4DB-3718-4892-8389-3342CDC112C3_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr

Sunday morning was another warm one - I descended to the main track by Bruar Lodge and stomped merrily out of the glen. I had thought of camping by the bothy - and was glad I hadn't when I noticed folk in the vicinity. Wind had dropped a bit from the day before, clegs were nowhere as bad as on the way in, and I was back at the car for just after 11am, tired but pleased with the weekend's walking.

8DC2B89E-7C23-4659-A19F-604F0FD9BF85_1_201_a by Al, on Flickr