A bike ride with Munro thrown in!

[PathfinderPaul]

An Sochach 2022.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

The good weather as we stayed in Braemar meant it was time to do these two Once on the bike I discovered there was a head wind :crazy and there was some drizzly rain.

However once I’d negotiated the burn the rain stopped and brighter weather started. I parked the bike by the old ruin and got the poles ready & was on my way.
4C0468AA-9D4B-4BEC-806A-0CEC0356509F by Paul Howard, on Flickr
As the route describes there was a good stalkers path, until you reach the gulley between the two mountains. Very rounded hills.
7631A80E-9611-463C-B8EB-CED022D49803 by Paul Howard, on Flickr

FF623A6B-8EB0-4CCD-BF91-519D4CE5B924 by Paul Howard, on Flickr

DD8BC498-B161-425B-97EE-74535B794CD1 by Paul Howard, on Flickr

F0E0F32D-4169-4721-9C04-5A4D15C50171 by Paul Howard, on Flickr
Once past the gulley you lose the path & although using the route on the gps , any path is difficult to keep track of. Fortunately it was very dry so no real problem with the peat hags A bit of a grind in the heat to gain the ridge to the first stop, but then a good path. A rather understated summit

6F2B4A05-EA5E-4C92-AA8C-BEEB7F73DF1C by Paul Howard, on Flickr
Then onto the the second top, & a good path along the ridge, before a sharp descent to the valley for lunch. Then onto find the path again up the second hill of the day. So far seen no one, only parked bikes on the way up.

Views back to the last Munro.

719C1448-FFCA-4E3D-A98E-5CED5156CA63 by Paul Howard, on Flickr

F064FFEE-5ED0-4B1A-8AB6-5A4C59CCD265 by Paul Howard, on Flickr
Soon at the summit

B0F45205-8257-40B9-86A1-D2D8F8402AB7 by Paul Howard, on Flickr
A good path to start down & then quick progress before the path petered out for a while until I regained the stalkers path. I was caught up by Jenny from Carlisle for the walk back to the bikes. She very kindly sent me two photos of me crossing the Geldie Burn
Glad it was dry and it was not in spate

87351388-7430-4FE4-966A-C2C8C2400C2C by Paul Howard, on Flickr

10FFC4B0-B2DB-4667-839F-CD093FCD0E82 by Paul Howard, on Flickr

Then a very fast bumpy bike road back, keeping the brakes on

[KeithS]

Well done on a great walk into some very remote Munros. Wish I had a bike when I did them, saves a long walk in and out. Nice to read your report.
Keith