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We thought we had a bit of weather window, the forecast was OK so after making sure everyone was available we decided to finish off the Donald's on what is arguably the hardest trio on offer. It was 5 years since my last visit and I remember the previous visit very well and as a bit of a comparison I will add the odd photo from my previous visit - if nothing else it will highlight the totally different conditions.
Anyone who hasn't tackled hills without paths will think just over 1000m of ascent and 20km should be fairly easy, all I will say is once you experience the terrain and underfoot conditions you will understand why it takes over 8 hours. It took us 3 hours to each the first summit, Mullwarchar and that was after 4.5km on a fairly decent path/track.
We arranged to meet Tommy at the car park that is mainly used for the Merrick at 9am, we made quite good time on the journey SW and we were surprised to find quite a few spaces in the car park.
Here we go, we were on the path a month ago and the bracken has shot up
Bracken not as bad 5 years ago
Plenty of water down in the SW
Culsharg bothy in the distance
Bothy 5 years ago
This is the path that also used for the Merrick
Storm damage from a few years ago
Now we are fortunate, there is a new track that gradually winds and rises uphill for about an extra 1km
This is what life was like before the new track 5 years ago
Also from 5 years ago
5 Years ago, I was glad of the shade
There is even a nice new bridge over a tiny burn
Nice looking gully
Not a pretty sight, the path can be seen wiggling gradually uphill
George and Tommy donning their waterproof trousers, that turned out to be a very wise decision as wet knee high grass is a recipe for wet feet, as Parminder and myself found out. I never seem to learn, my trousers were in the car
Heading down towards Loch Enoch, even though we can't see it yet
The first view of Loch Enoch 5 years ago
Loch Enoch again 5 years ago
Loch Enoch looking rather spooky
Looking along the shore line
The walk along the shore of Enoch 5 years ago
Carefully following the shore
Is the cloud lifting? Looking back
Looking across the loch
Our first view of Mullwarchar - just
The walk along the shore is not flat
Mullwarchar from Lochside 5 years ago
Similar photo to the one above
Mullwarchar from slightly closer 5 years ago
Parminder concentrating hard
I can't say I remember it on my last visit, if it was there it was just a trickle of water
Looking across the loch to our two final hills - hiding in the cloud
The summit cairn on Mullwarchar, our 87th Donald
Dungeon Hill now visible
The whole of Loch Enoch now visible, lovely loch and only a few metres short of 500m
Looking back to Parminder descending Mullwarchar, great care is needed as the long grass hides all sorts of nasties, holes, rocks and plenty of unevenness
Something different, there are literally millions of them in the area
Looking across to Loch Neldricken which would be our eventual descent route, you can also see how rocky the general area is
Look at that, the cloud has lifted, we can now see Merrick, Kirriereoch and further along the broad round ridge, well that's what it looks like from here
We are now on the summit of Dungeon Hill, looking across to Craignaw
Dungeon Hill 5 years ago looking across to Craignaw
Dungeon Hill summit cairn
Loch Doon in the distance, shame we didn't see it from Mullwarchar
The way across to Craignaw, head to the obvious bealach to keep as much height as possible, there is even a path
Craignaw from 5 years ago
Looking back to Dungeon Hill so you can see what the descent is like
We opted to do a bit of extra ascending, anyone following in our footsteps, you can avoid this ascent be keeping to the left
Merrick on the left, Enoch in the middle and Mullwarchar on the right
Dungeon Hill & Mullwarchar
Craignaw summit, the end of yet another journey. Well done to my colleagues on compleating their first Donald round, I doubt they will be as daft as me and do a second round?
5 years ago, I opted for a different descent route that took me along the southern banks of Loch Enoch. I remember being physically exhausted and soaking my cap in the water
Looking down to Loch Neldricken, we would be picking up a path (if you can call it that) that goes along the north banks and then down the west side
We followed the fence south until we almost reached the loch, as I said there is a path but it is very well hidden by the lovely long wet grass
One of the many little beaches in the area, you can see Tommy's dog Max loving this area - plenty of water to swim in
Looking back along the beach, Craignaw in the background, we descended on the left as you look at the hill
Looking across Neldricken to Craignaw
There you are, look how good the path is
Loch Valley
Gradual descent, the good news there wasn't much ascending
The way ahead and down
We are obviously lower as the bracken is trying to takeover
Loch Trool, the good news is we are getting close to the car
Love this
Parminder is in there somewhere
A few photo's borrowed from my colleagues, this is one of the better parts of the descent path
Quite a few local wild goats
The end of another journey, just like my previous round of Donald's I really do enjoy the Borders and what they have to offer. I know they don't have pointy summits and scary ridges but they still have remoteness and you can plan your route to be as short or as long as you want.
Next on the horizon for us is to try and compleat the Munro's, unfortunately we are a victim of Covid and that won't be happening this year. Parminder has 22 left and I have 25 left on my second round. We will certainly manage a few more before the end of the years as we have a couple of weekends away planned, first Torridon and then Ullapool, they are ideal for us as it will save the long drives.
