A wet day? Must be Seana Bhraigh!

[Andy Milne]

I had planned to do Seana Bhraigh from Oykel Bridge, so with the bike in the back of the car, we headed up the landrover track to the walkers car park at Duag Bridge (NH 340 975) and were parked up at 8:50.
I was surprised to find another 5 cars here, as the forecast wasn't great for the day, but it turned out to be folk painting the outside of the bothy, who all had midgey head nets on!.
With no wind, and a 'claggy' feel, the midges were out in force!. So very little time was spent before setting off up the track into Strath Mulzie.

At this point of the morning the forecasted rain hadn't started, and as the track wasn't too bad good progress was made up the valley, although with low cloud my first view of Seana Bhraigh wasn't of a fine Coire but a clag covered hill.

First view of Seana Bhraigh

I had read other reports concerning the water crossings, so armed with swim shoes and a trek towel I was confident I would get across these with the bike. So footwear was changed, trousers rolled up past my knees, and my walking gear stowed into the rucksack it was time to cross.

First water crossing

Pushing the bike in, the water came up to my knees and thankfully no further, and I was quickly across. Knowing there was another water crossing to come, I set off cycling with the swim shoes on. The second crossing was as deep as the first, so once through it was back onto the bike to look for the cairn and the ATV track.

By now the rain was just beginning to lightly fall, and once the bike was parked up, I dried my legs and feet and put on my walking my shoes/gaiters etc, leaving the swim shoes with the bike.

I had left the bike at the first cairn and track past the second water crossing (NH 292 910) BUT the actual cairn and track I should have parked at were about 300-400m further along the track (which I didn't realise at this point in time!). So setting off into light rain I followed this ATV track, which came to an abrupt end after @15 minutes of walking, and from here on it was a case of heather bashing up the slope.

Due to the torrential rain the area had received over the last couple of days, this was wet and boggy, and once into the slightly flatter area between the 500 and 600m contours it was becoming even boggier. I was glad, therefore, to begin the ascent up onto stonier ground, even though the stones and boulders were wet and slippy, so care was taken to gain height, and eventually a view of the hill ahead came into view

By now the rain had intensified, and the wind was picking up. It was starting to become apparent that my Rohan Barricade trousers either weren't as waterproof or as breathable as claimed, so over trousers were donned, as was an extra layer inside my jacket. This was a steady ascent, and a semblance of a path was found, that lead to the summit wind shelter cairn at 11:30.
While the summit was clear, you could see the clouds coming in, but it still afforded a good view

As the rain was quite heavy, only a quick snack was had, and then it was a case of slowly retracing my steps. As the 'path' I was on was bringing me much closer to the small lochan than I had been on the ascent, I struck off in a more NW direction to get back into the 'flatter' area I had come up through. By now the rain was beginning to ease, and the forecasted hours of torrential rain didn't materialise.

Heading back down I came across an ATV track, and following this back it brought me out at the cairn I should have started from!. The rain had also decided that it had had enough and stopped, and was now threatening to allow the sun to come out!. Surely I can't be the only person that wonders why the sun comes out AFTER you have descended the hill?

Even though I was only @300-400m from where I left the bike it seemed to never appear!. Once back at the bike at 12:50, the midges decided they should be allowed to come out and play!. Even though I tried to be very quick getting my poles onto the rucksack, and my overtrousers off and stowed hanging out of the top of my sack I was covered by the little blighters.

At least cycling back they couldn't keep up with me, but as I needed change footwear and to roll my trousers up for the water crossings it became feast time for them. I cycled all the way back to the car with the swim shoes on, and just 'splashed' my way through the puddles on the track, and was back to the car at 13:43.
Here the sun was out with a gentle breeze, so the midges were being kept at bay allowing me to have my lunch and sort my gear out, without having to throw it all into the car and worry about it later.