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With showers predicted for the day and MWIS having reduced probability of cloud free munros I stuck to the low lands once more and headed out to a local corbett. I have looked at Conachraig a number of times whilst in the area but never saw anything that made me want to rush up there, so I saved it for ......a rainy day
The car park at the Spittle of Glen Muick was almost empty when I arrived at 11.30, both pay and display machines are still out of order whilst improvement works are taking place. So I leave the car on a freebie and head out toward the hill, the vans ahead are workers who seem to be doing a complete overhaul of the toilet block.
I am soon past the little visitor centre and looking at the familiar junction, its a right turn for me and off on the lochnagar path.
from the path Conachcraig is dead ahead with a beautiful blue sky overhead
to the far left are the hills surrounding Loch Muick and above the small cottages on the right just the smallest glimpse of the flat top of lochnagar corrie
I pass a couple of MTB's tucked away behind the disused building as I enter the woodland which is a little boggy today and leaves me wondering about the ford up ahead
a few dark clouds are floating by as I ascend via the well constructed path which climbs at a very steady pace
on reaching the ford I was surprised to see only a little water and an easy crossing
looking back down the path it's surprising to see how much ascent is gained on the very gentle grade, mount keen is just visible away on the horizon
continuing the ascent lochnagar appears to be having the best of the weather and I'm beginning to wonder is the weatherman was a bit 'glass half empty' with his prediction
On reaching the small cairn where the route splits I can see the rain falling on the horizon and Conachcraig is overshadowed by a lurking dark cloud
to my left Meikle Pap is the only hill not clouded over and by the looks of things that won't last long
I turned right at the small cairn and followed a well worn path up through the heather, looking back to lochnagar the clouds descended and soon after this shot I had to stop and get the waterproofs out before continuing my ascent
as you can tell from my jacket the wind was wicked on top, but the rain had moved on and and I had a little blue sky for my summit pic
looking north toward Crathie from the summit as another dark cloud creeps into the shot
the view to the west suggests I might want to find a suitable spot for a drink and a snack as a heavy shower engulfs lochnagar
looking to the south I see a large overhang that appears to be the very thing
a quick wander over there confirms my belief and I tuck in to a cracking little spot (suitable for al least 3 people to get comfortable) and settle in for a 10 minute tea break
the shower is short lived and is soon replaced by blue sky again
I emerged from the comfort of my wind free overhang and headed over toward the two smaller bumps that share this hill, particularly Caisteal na Callich which is only 3m lower than Conachcraig, would hate for someone to move the summit in future
from the lesser of the two there are open views of Loch Muick and Mount Keen which appears to be remaining clag free
the view to the north east shows the wooded glen and a second pathway that runs all the way to the 'royal lochnagar distillery'
I walk across a short boggy section to the summit of Caisteal na Callich where I see another dark sky creeping in over lochnagar
looking north shows the two dominant tracks that both run over toward Crathie from either side of Conachcraig
the storm I saw approaching over lochnagar has blown over without rain and the sky is once again blue
after skipping around the rocks a while and generally enjoying myself I decide on a circular route home and I set off down toward Carn an Daimh and watch the shadows as they dash across glen muick below
I then descend at a steep angle toward the woodland below and the pathway clearly visible beyond it, the heather is short and the ground good underfoot as I charge down the slope really enjoying my descent
I pass through the wooded area startling a couple of deer that were sheltering there and emerge onto a track just a few metres from the disused building where I will pick up the usual route back to the car park
as I cross the river muick another dark cloud threatens to chase me back to the car park
though it does throw a few spots of rain about, it's not enough to wet your head and I make the rest of the journey at a nice steady pace
This turned out to be a much more interesting little corbett than I first assumed and it certainly has the best natural summit shelter I've seen on a little un
