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We decided on the inauspiciously named Sow of Atholl because the weather was better than where we'd planned to go. It was also a much shorter drive. And more importantly it was a better length for Julie's young spaniel on his first proper hill walk.
Driving south you need to be alert approaching the turn off for Dalnaspidal because the road becomes dual carriageway straight after. Having successfully turned off we didn't go left down to the level crossing but straight on to a parking area where a number of cars were already parked. A couple of ladies were preparing to cycle along Loch Garry to Beinn Mholach and asked which way to go to get over the railway line. I'm assuming they had a clearer idea of where they were going after that!
Spaniel Seamus having a pre walk scratch
I didn't take a photo of the crossing but here's one from 2017 when we climbed Meall na Leitreach. The only difference is the pedestrian side gate is now on the left, not on the right.
Railway crossing (May 2017)
Line looking north towards the Sow of Atholl (May 2017)
Take next turn through a gate on right (May 2017)
Looking back at Dalnaspidal Lodge (Nov 2022)
After crossing the sluice bridge over the Allt Dubhaig we came to the bridge over the Allt Coire Luidhearnaidh, which the ladies on bikes would have crossed, but we wouldn't as heading for the Sow of Atholl.
Keira on the bridge we wouldn't cross
Loch Garry below the steep west side of Meall na Leitreach
Looking towards Loch Garry and despite having no bike I felt the pull of Mholach, peat hags and all. But today it was our porcine friend, long time rejected for sounding like a pathless plod through heather. Today it looked rather inviting bathed in sunshine, with the surrounding hills in the shade.
Sow of Atholl in the sun
We followed the hard track alongside the Allt Coire Luidhearnaidh for about 1km until a fork to the right, off which a muddy ATV track marked by a small cairn continues up the slopes of the Sow.
The Sow of Atholl is not known for being a hill rich in geographical highlights. Its steep slopes are covered in heather interspersed with grass and the occasional boulder. But the steep glen which drops 660 feet from the summit plateau on its west side is said to be a fine example of a parabolic glacial valley. It's also interesting that along with most of Perthshire, all rainfall on the Sow goes to join the drainage basin of the River Tay and eventually reaches the coast near Dundee, which when I was living there felt a world away from the hills of Drumochter!
Take right fork here
The track was churned up sodden mud so we walked beside it rather than along it. But it was useful to have a line to follow.
Muddy ATV track
Julie's pup is a working cocker spaniel with bags of energy. He'd have gladly joined her on her hill walks this summer but she's been careful not to over exercise him and cause joint problems later. Today was to be his first hill so an easy Corbett was a good choice. His recall is excellent, obedience rewarded by tasty treats. It's helpful that labradors and spaniels are food obsessed.... or training might be so much harder.
Time for treats
Eyes only for Julie
Track levelled off and was drier towards the summit
Several interesting plants can be found on the slopes of the Sow. One example is Norwegian blue heather, a subarctic plant which needs steep, partially stabilised scree slopes and peaty soil. At one time The Sow of Atholl was thought to be the only site in the British Isles where it grew but it has now been found growing on the Alder hills as well. Other plants native to subarctic regions such as the Eurasian Dwarf Cornel are to be found, but we didn't spot anything interesting - mainly because we didn't know this until after we'd been. It only goes to show how much we probably miss because we're not looking!
No hat here but needed one at summit
Dark cloud gathered over us as we reached the summit and there was a shower so the waterproof jacket went on which also helped with the drop in temperature.
More treats at the summit cairn
Well done Seamus!
On the ascent we'd been sheltered by the hill but once on the summit plateau we felt the full force of the wind. It was cold so we didn't hang about but headed off to find a sheltered spot for lunch. We followed a more easterly line than the ascent had been and found a nice bed of sphagnum moss on a shelf which gave us a comfy sofa to sit on out of the blast of the wind. There were hares about with coats starting to turn white. They kept a wary eye on us and loped off at speed if they decided we were too close.
Dogs picking up scent of mountain hares
Hills on east side of Drumochter Pass
Carrots for lunch
What a good boy
A9 going south
The Sow's strange English-sounding name is believed to have been adopted to match the Boar of Badenoch which lies 2km to the north. Its more ancient Gaelic name is Meall an Dobharchain which probably means "Watercress Hill" and refers to the marshy ground on the lower southeast flanks of the hill where watercress would have grown in the past. Although Watercress Hill is the accepted translation today, in 1854 The New Statistical Account of Scotland referred to the hill as Carnan Dóbhrain which can be translated as Small Cairn of the Otters. Whether it's watercress or otters the name is a nod to the expanse of watery ground between the hill and Dalnaspidal.
We avoided the muddy ATV track by descending on easy ground further east and took a curved line to meet the hard track at the same point we had left it. Then it was an easy amble along the Allt which had my wild swimming pal salivating at the thought of a refreshing dip in one of its pools. She didn't have a towel with her so the possibility of hypothermia was mercifully averted.
Allt Coire Luidhearnmaidh
Towards Loch Garry
Old stone bridge leading to where car was parked
It had been a most enjoyable half day with Julie and our trusty hounds. The dogs had a blast, the autumn colours were wonderful and Seamus excelled himself on his first proper hill. The Sow also turned out to be a more worthwhile hill to climb than I'd ever expected.
