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Traversing the Cromdale Hills

Traversing the Cromdale Hills


Postby malky_c » Sat Dec 03, 2022 10:01 pm

Fionas included on this walk: Càrn a'Ghille Chearr, Creagan a' Chaise

Date walked: 20/11/2022

Time taken: 4.75 hours

Distance: 20 km

Ascent: 750m

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Grahams: Càrn a'Ghille Chearr, Creagan a' Chaise.
Date: 20/11/2022.
Distance: 20km.
Ascent: 750m.
Time taken: 4 hours 45 minutes.
Weather: Calm, cool and overcast with some sun.

Another short day out, but rather than going up the hills closest to home I'd go a little further afield. I had pleasant memories of this pair but hadn't been up them in over 10 years. After considering a shorter route taking in Creagan a' Chaise from the southwest I decided to go with something similar to what I had done before - it seemed to be the most sensible way to include both summits without too much backtracking. There is a handy enough parking area between Claggersnich and Wester Rynaballoch which got me off the road, then a good track up past Clach nam Piobair onto the shoulder of the ridge.


Cromdale_Hills (1).gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


ImageCarn a Ghille Chearr from the Haughs of Cromdale

ImageNorth across the Spey

ImageClach nam Piobair

Above the highest point of the track there was a line of grouse butts and accompanying quad bike track to follow which took me nicely to the Coronation cairn on the main Cromdale ridge.

ImageSpeyside

ImageCoronation cairn

ImageCarn a Ghille Chearr and Ben Rinnes

A few sloppy sections alongside a new fence took me to the final rise up to Creagan a' Chaise. The sun popped out for a bit and I could see plenty of fresh snow on the Cairngorm plateau. I hadn't expected to meet anyone else but I could hear voices approaching from the southwest - a couple with a dog.

ImageApproaching Creagan a Chaise

ImageCarn a Ghille Chearr from Creagan a Chaise

ImageStrathavon and Glenlivet

ImageJubilee cairn on Creagan a Chaise

A bit of retracing of steps took me back to the Coronation cairn after which things got a bit rougher. I remembered from my previous walk over these hills that the two main summits have more drop and distance between them than a casual glance at the map suggests. I remembered the ridge being a little rough in places but I didn't remember how wet the lowest section was! Maybe this was partly because it was late autumn instead of late summer this time, but most likely I just blanked it out. There is a semblance of a quad bike track to follow in places but it doesn't really keep you any drier.

Image

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2o1wZfN]Image
Knock of Braemoray and the Moray Firth

Howevwer it didn't take too much of a climb out towards Carn Eachie to find firmer ground again and the rest of the ridge to Càrn a'Ghille Chearr was pleasant walking. Although the sky had turned greyer again over the last hour, I reached the second summit in time for some lovely golden colours.

ImageSnow on Ben Avon and Beinn a Bhuird

ImageBen Rinnes from Carn a Gille Chearr

ImageMorven and Scaraben across the Moray Firth

ImageCarn Daimh and the Ladder Hills

ImageAcross Glenlivet to Ben Rinnes

ImageBen Rinnes and Corryhabbie Hill

ImageLooking towards Tomintoul

After enjoying the summit I retraced my steps (also taking in a cairn just to the east of the trig point for better views over Glenlivet and Strathavon) and eventually started dropping down one of the many western spurs which would lead back to the starting point. Things got a bit heathery and I probably should have stayed on the main ridge longer. After crossing the Allt na Croite and crashing through a little more heather I picked up a good track towards the car.

ImageSpeyside from the Braes of Cromdale

The good track re-ascends quite a bit to get back to the car so I cut directly across rough grazing and long grass, reaching the road as the light faded.
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malky_c
 
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Re: Traversing the Cromdale Hills

Postby Sgurr » Sat Dec 03, 2022 10:41 pm

There used to be a visitor's book in the Jubilee cairn. Dave Hewitt had been a couple of days before us.
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Re: Traversing the Cromdale Hills

Postby Mal Grey » Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:54 pm

There's something great about being up on open hills with vast panoramas, different to the more dramatic pointy hills, but satisfying nonetheless.

The views to the Cairngorms look lovely in that light.
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Location: Surrey, probably in a canoe! www.wildernessisastateofmind.co.uk

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