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Somehow the hills to the east of Drumochter had never appealed which I suppose is why I left them almost to the end of my Munro list but they had to be done so I booked in for two nights at Silverfjord at Kingussie which I enjoyed. I set off early ( well 8 o’clock was early for me having the luxury of being in retirement), sustained by a very good breakfast and drove south down the A9 to layby 94.
Grid Ref NN 654 866( If Coming north layby 93 will do fine).
A look at the map shows the path on reaching Loch Cuaich ( someone explain the vagaries of Gaelic- why is it not Chuaich like the hill or maybe some ignorant sassenach map maker in the nineteenth century just made a mistake) is at 402m- only a rise from just above the A9 of 30m spread over 4km so crying out for a bike. Walk north from layby 94 about 100m and turn R up the track( across the road from Cuaich farm).
The track is very smooth and good for cycling and I reached the loch by bike in 35 minutes ( and dear reader , the combined age of my knees added together is 141 years so you may be quicker than I ).You cycle beside the aqueduct leading from the dam and hydro-electic plant. Not very pretty but it passes quickly.
I left the bike a little beyond the loch( and a large collection of beehives) at the foot of the hill GR 693 869
.
I have never seen so many red grouse ( and this nine weeks after the “ glorious twelfth” though I don’t suppose the grouse would use that adjective).
The path begins quite steeply
but is mainly good though there are parts reminiscent of Eeyore’s gloomy place “ rather boggy and sad”.
The gradient lessens and 90 minutes after leaving the loch I was on the top of what is a rather boring top but….
The view all around is very good and worth the small effort of this easy Munro.
I looked south to my efforts of the day before ( Carn na Caim and all those A’Bhuidheanachs) and a lovely sight to the SW of Loch Ericht and Ben Alder. To the NE the real proper Cairngorms ( sorry Meall Chuaich but…) were easy to see with a dusting of new snow.
Then an easy walk down ( even for my knees ) a quick cycle back and lunch when back in the car ( having carried it all the way out and back). 272 done 10 to go- maybe I will make it though I think it will require 2022.