Beautiful (if Windy) day on the Glen Lyon Horseshoe

[EuanWardrop]

With the forecast of excellent weather this weekend I was determined to get out and enjoy some hills. I think Saturday may have been a slightly better day with the wind but Sunday was to be good also. These 4 have been on my list for some time as they are some of the further South outstanding.

An early start and I was on the road just after 6, we arrived at Invervar for about 8.20 and started walking about 8.30. A nice walk to start with, through the forest and the felled area. We got to the hydro track gate and unfortunately this was locked so Cooper was rather unceremoniously lifted over it, don't think he enjoyed that too much!

From here we split off the main hydro track and crossed over the very rickety bridge! on the other side of the burn the going was good and we rounded the corner where the climb starts properly. At this point the higher tops were in cloud but I was hopeful they would be clear by the time we summited.

Spot the dog!

It is a hard slog up the first ridge of Meall Garbh but eventually we made the shoulder of Carn Gorm. There was still a fair amount of snow lying and though I had crampons in the bag I was able to follow footprints from the day before which we well compacted so the going was relatively good.

"We're going up there?"

Pretty Chilly!

The last pull up to the summit of Carn Gorm is pretty steep and tiring but eventually we managed to reach the summit, I was very happy to see the cairn! It was a tough drag up but I knew we had done what would probably be the worst of the climbing for the day. Time to summit was just over 90 minutes and I felt that was good going with the snow.

Fantastic views from here North towards the Mamores and Glen Coe and to the South of the Lawers range. Whilst the summit was clear it was from now that the wind really picked up! Coming from the South we were really buffeted by strong winds for the rest of the walk. MWIS had said between 20-30 mph but this was supposed to die off later on (It didn't). We swiftly got off the summit and started the descent to the Bealach.

It was tricky descending to start with on the snow but I was able to follow the footprints again and the visibility was excellent so I could see the way to the next Munro. We got a nice break from the wind when we passed by An Sgorr but we right back into it on the ascent to the 2nd of the day. This was reached reasonably quickly, impossible to miss that cairn! It was hard going now walking perpendicular to the wind but we soldiered on. Cooper's fur showing the extent of the wind here!

Blown away!

Walking along the broad ridge was good going and we stopped on Meall a Bharr for some food as we managed to find a little shelter in the crags here. I did think this was the 3rd Munro of the day initially but a quick check of the map confirmed there was a bit further to go to reach Carn Mairg! Apart from the wind the walking here was good as the snow patches were mostly very firm and gave easy walking.

The final drag to the summit was a bit tiring but great to reach Carn Mairg and get the views over to the Lawers range, back to Schiehallion and also looking back we could trace our entire route so far.

With heavy snow on the descent to the bealach here it did take a bit of time getting down, Cooper took the easy way and gently slid past me! I was tempted by this method but stuck to walking down and soon enough we were on the final ascent of the day. Our progress had slowed a bit as it is a fairly long day and I was very happy to reach the final summit of the day! I chatted for a little time to a young fell runner who had left his car about 11.30 I felt I was doing well getting here for 13.30!

Eventually we headed off the summit and started the descent back to Invervar. It is a good gradient initially but towards the end there are a few steeper sections which took it out of my knees and ankles! It was a relief to get back to the flat of the hydro track and eventually the car after almost exactly 7 hours.

A fantastic day with incredible views, superb!

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Great report, beautiful photos!

Cooper looks very "windswept" on Meall Garbh.

I did this round last Tuesday. Found it very tiring, but I had covid a couple of weeks before and I think I am still recovering.

I started walking around 9.30 and ended up using the headtorch for the last bit back through the felled forest, got to the car at 7pm. Have rarely felt more tired after a walk!

Nice views though - this was from the last summit, which I had been tempted to miss out but was glad I didn't.