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Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:02 pm
by Alan S
DATE:31/05/09

ASCENT:1230m

TIME TAKEN:bang on 7hrs + 1hr of stops

WEATHER:scorching hot,blue skies no breeze,brilliant


set off from the lawers hotel car park at 8:15 and headed east along the main road for a few hundred yards turning left at the horn carvers cottage and heading up the farm track then through the woods.not much chance of losing your way here as the farmer has plenty of signs so you dont wander.a good walk in here but with no breeze it was like an oven in the trees.after cosssing a large stile this brings you out to in the open with fine views up to meall greigh.
meall greigh.JPG
an stuc and meall garbh.JPG
an stuc.JPG
ben lawers and an stuc.JPG

on reading the directions from this site it says to follow a stream which is further along the path we decided to climb straight up the slopes of sron mhor,bad idea in the heat.this was the hardest part of the walk the climb is relentless and very testing on the calf muscles,plenty of stops required here and if one of the other 2 had said to turn around i might not have argued.
after a long 2 and a half hours we finally reached the summit of meall greigh and the moans and regrets were soon forgotten with the cracking views to loch tay and ben lawers
carn mairg group.JPG
ben lawers.JPG
ben lawers from meall greigh.JPG


after a good rest here it was on to meall garbh with us all agreeing that the next 2 hours where probably one of the most enjoyable walks yet from the top of meall greigh right over to an stuc.the climb up to meall garbh looks really steep but its not as bad as it looks and was a great climb to the top
meall greigh from meall garbh.JPG
nearing the summit of meall garbh.JPG
summit of meall garbh.JPG
summit of meall garbh.2.JPG
an stuc from meall garbh.JPG

another break here and couldnt help but worry about an stuc.the view from meall garbh looks very daunting with what looks like an impossible climb but couldnt wait all the same.
an stuc from beallach.JPG

the next 20mins or so was very exciting having never climbed anything like this before but we stuck close together and where up in no time.not as bad as it looked but still a few squeaky bum moments :D
on reaching the top we all had a right feel of acheivement,no bad for a couple of amateurs.
lochan nan cat from an stuc.JPG
looking toward ben more.JPG
ben lawers and beinn ghlas.JPG

with another long break it was down the wset slopes of an stuc to the beallach and then dropping south following a small stream toward lochan nan cat
lochan nan cat.JPG

really tricky here as the slopes are very steep
burn from an stuc.JPG

on finally reaching lochan nan cat we went round the left side of the loch which was very boggy and with no breeze at all the heat at times was unbearable and was so tempted to strip and jump in
lochan nan cat and an stuc.JPG
lochan nan cat to ben lawers.JPG
lochan nan cat.2.JPG

the next hour or so was a real slog through the bogs and now couldnt wait to get back to the car.
once the small dam is reached the path back wasnt to bad but was just compleatly knackered all the way back to the hotel with the promise of a pint really getting that close i could taste it.
on reading you have to pay to use the car park which seems fair enough i dont think it would have mattered as it was the best 2 pints of lager ive ever had (not driving :D )

all in a great walk again with an stuc one of my favourites and a very enjoyable day
well reccomended in good weather 8)

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:04 pm
by cjwaugh
Nice report Alan loking to do these soon :)

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:47 pm
by Alan S
cjwaugh wrote:Nice report Alan loking to do these soon :)


hope you enjoy cj and have good weather like me.
my best walk yet in the lawers range but the clear skies obviously helped.
wouldnt fancy doing it in poor conditions as an stuc could be tricky

cheers alan :)

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:46 pm
by Paul Webster
Cracking report and photos Alan, what is that weather like at the moment 8)

An Stac certainly got my heart racing too :shock:

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:02 am
by mountain coward
Great photos - thanks for the one of 'An Stuc from the Bealach' - I was wondering what that looked like. If you (or should I say I) don't like the steep ascent/descent, what are the chances of going up and down the easy (Ben Lawers) side and then traversing round the back under it? Anyone know?

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:39 am
by Alan S
thanks paul

i hope everyone enjoyed the recent weather coz that was our summer :D
couldn't believe my luck on my last 2 trips,really enjoyed the sunshine.it was good to see where i was going for a change
enjoyed an stuc also the walk over meall garbh 8)

hi mountain coward
could be a good option if you are up for that after an stuc
im not really sure as when i done ben lawers i couldnt see a thing
the track round the south side of lawers looks good tho 8)

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:35 pm
by GSPAT
Alan

We did the same circuit on 31/05/09 and both the walk and weather were fantastic . Unfortunately I did not notice until we were on the An Stuc top that my camera had slipped off my rucksack when we had stopped for lunch at the top of Meall Garb. I asked people who were behind me if they had picked up my camera but no luck. I am leading a group up Meall Garb on 16/08/09 so I will see if my camera is still there then!! So it was great viewing your photos.

Cheers

Gregor

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:14 pm
by Alan S
sorry to hear about your camera gregor
unfotunatley we were first on the hill on sunday so you must have been behind me.
i saw a group on top of meall garbh from an stuc it might have been you :)
i nearly had the same problem when i realised i had my spare memory card in the case.its got 500 pics on it mostly of the weans.i was guarding it with my life in fear of a doin off the wife :D

Re: Circuit of Coire nan Cat

PostPosted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:16 pm
by SCOTRAIL DRIVER
hi allan
i walked from the v/c at lawers up to lawers nice to see the rest of the route on to an stuc etc
check out my report... :D :D :D