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With some illness in the family, we have not been out on bikes, boats or boots as regularly this winter. However, the forecast was superb and so my eldest phoned and suggested a day out together, I am so glad he did.
We are not particularly 'baggers' - we go out for nice hill days, and if that includes a Munro well we are happy to tick the box. That said, he is looking to get a few more done and so we agreed to head up to the Drumochter hills - dry ground, great view and many a time we have discussed 'we ought to do them' as we pass by - but having read or heard a few 'yeah, boring hills them' we had just never got around to it.
We were up at Balsporran at a reasonable time, my son having started the journey by train from Edinburgh earlier than I.
The initial paths are clear and easy really - a nice pull up left the traffic noise behind and suggested nice views. Were were only in baselayers or fleece, no windproof needed.
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
Our two hills - right side first, around the bowl and up to the left.
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
Once on the top it was a lazy wind - about freezing and went through rather than around you... However the first shelter was beautifully built for the prevailing wind, and had a perfect stone bed laid out. We made good use.
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
The actual summit of Geal Charn was a lovely wander across the top, and the views across Ericht and towards Creag Meagaidh were breathtaking. A real area of 'wildness', unbroken by road. It is however barren of true nature, the 'clear' dear forest and upland farm we are all used to.
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
We loitered in the shelter for a nice lunch - at this point we saw a good few families and others out on the hills. From bikers to hikers, families and runners. Excellent.
We now meandered down to the top of the track - it was sheltered out the wind and the spring sun was just lovely. The pull back up to A' Mharconaich was steep initially, but had a (surprisingly) good path, if a bit random on which bits were paved/stepped/drained. The 360* views across the summit ridge were excellent, and a phone just would not do it justice. "Boring Hills" they are not when you get a view like this.
As Muriel would say, I can see Schiehallion from here...
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
After a 40 minute(!) laze in the last summit shelter, again with perfect wind blocking capabilities, we thought we ought to move.
The last ridge down to our start point is a doozy - both of us as mountain bikers were itching for two wheels...
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
A few boggy bits back on the valley floor did see one wet foot, and with low water we found an easy and dry river crossing right next to the railway bridge.
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
What better to finish off a sunny hill day? We joined the (huge) crowds for an ice cream.
A' Mharconaich and Geal Chàrn by
Matt, on Flickr
One of those days where memories are made - a pleasure to spend time with my son, something I won't be able to do next year as he has Canada on his mind....
