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Graham near Dalwhinnie with Kids - Adder again

Graham near Dalwhinnie with Kids - Adder again


Postby WalkingWithKids » Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:15 pm

Fionas included on this walk: Meall nan Eagan

Date walked: 22/06/2022

Time taken: 5.5 hours

Distance: 9.6 km

Ascent: 300m

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Hill no. 123 - Graham no. 23

Two ways up Meall nan Eagan near Dalwhinnie with Kids (9, 12 y.)


Stats:
Total distance - 9.6 km
Total time - 5h30m
Walking time - 2h52m
Altitude gain - 273 m
Terrain:
4.0 km - good track
2.5 km - an animal path
3.1 km - pathless, mix of tussocky grass and heather, several boggy places; shorter heather higher

There are two good ways to get closer to the graham Meall nan Eagan. Lower track in the glen and an upper path above the glen. We walked on both. But the ascent of the graham itself is pathless and steep.
And again we saw the adder, yup! :thumbup:


20220622-Meall-nan-Eagan-from-Quarry-at-A889-near-Dalwhinnie-Track.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Meall nan Eagan.png


Parking on A889 at the entrance to the quarry. There is space for 3-4 cars:
IMG_20220622_165745724-50.jpg


Start of the track to Allt An't Sluic Lodge at A889, opposite the entrance to the quarry:
IMG_20220622_112817630_HDR-50.jpg


The track to The Fara on the left, we continued to the Lodge:
IMG_20220622_114622827_HDR-50.jpg


We walked around the lodge:
IMG_0823-50.JPG


Track behind the lodge:
IMG_20220622_115556982-50.jpg


About 500 m behind the lodge there is a fork. The left track leads through the glen, crossing the burn several times. The path on the right leads parallel to the track, roughly 30 m higher above the glen and goes closer to the hill. We used the upper path for the return route:
IMG_20220622_162905179_HDR-50.jpg


The first ford:
IMG_20220622_121235920-50.jpg


It was possible to cross the ford, but we stayed on the north side of the burn there was a good path:
IMG_20220622_121545343_HDR-50.jpg


The second ford, we continued on the track to the third ford. Meall nan Eagan in the back:
IMG_20220622_121811939_HDR-50.jpg


The third ford:
IMG_20220622_122421203_HDR-50.jpg


We could also cross the ford, but we stayed on the original side of the burn again. There was a path, but this time was a bit boggy in some places, nothing wrong 8) :
IMG_20220622_122510119_HDR-50.jpg


Remains of a playground? :D :
IMG_20220622_123616875_HDR-50.jpg


At this place on the other side of the burn, the track turns left and the ATV track goes from the sign across the burn and continues for about 300 m:
IMG_20220622_124146161_HDR-50.jpg

IMG_20220622_124532227_HDR-50.jpg


Approximately 300 m behind the ford we left the ATV track and followed a (sheep?) path towards the hill:
IMG_20220622_125239553_HDR-50.jpg

IMG_20220622_125551328-50.jpg


The path disappeared and appeared several times and after a few hundred meters we walked pathless towards a shallow gully, through the rough soggy ground covered with tussocks and short heather :roll: :
IMG_0960-50.JPG


We reached the old fence posts on the ridge and followed them (more or less :) ) to the summit. There was the steepest section of our walk:
IMG_20220622_133726312_HDR-50.jpg


Looking back - Graham Creag Dhubh (Newtonmore) behind a loch:
IMG_0933-50.JPG


Closer to the summit, we spotted an adder:
IMG_20220622_140006713_HDR-adder.jpg

Summit area is definitely an area of adders 8) , because an adder is already mentioned in Graeme D's report from 20.8.2011. Or maybe it was the same adder Graeme D saw :lol: .
Anyway, we have been lucky with snakes in recent days. Five days ago we saw an adder at Kerloch.

Conni on the top. Looking NE:
1 - Graham Creag Dhubh (Newtonmore)
2 - Sub2000 Crùban Beag
IMG_0948-50.JPG


Conni on the top - looking east:
1 - Munro Meall Chuaich
2 - Graham Creag Ruadh (Dalwhinnie)
IMG_0945-50.JPG


Conni on the top. Looking SSE - Corbett The Fara:
IMG_0947-50.JPG


Looking SSW - Dirc Mhòr (zoomed):
IMG_0954-50.JPG



We returned another way. We walked almost straight down the hill and crossed the soggy section by the hill to find the upper path to the lodge.
IMG_20220622_154431192.jpg


The path is quite good. It is faint and indistinct in some places, with a few boggy section, but easily walkable.

Looking back - Meall nan Eagan on the right:
IMG_0967-50.JPG


The path (between the red lines) and the glen with the track:
IMG_20220622_161056274_HDR-50.jpg


Back at the lodge:
IMG_20220622_163414444_HDR-50.jpg


I think both routes are good. Maybe it is easier to walk the upper path first. It is not so easy to find the path by the hill :)
WalkingWithKids
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 182
Munros:19   Corbetts:33
Fionas:43   
Sub 2000:102   
Joined: Sep 26, 2020
Location: Moray

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