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- How the day started - with breakfast on the banks of the Clunie Water
Sgor Mor – passed frequently, but never really paid the attention it deserves. Apart from stretching the legs and taking advantage of my final free day, I plead guilty to not expecting a great deal from the outing. And anyway, I had to escape early to make sure I wasn’t caught by the overnight road closure south of Glen Shee.
- A gentle amble along the Dee to start the day
Flog your way up the Dee, and it’s one of those ever-presents on the right as you head for White Bridge and beyond. Cycle up Glen Lui and head past Derry Lodge, it’s just ‘there’ off to the left as you head for Luibeg and the Lairg Ghru. Carn a Mhaim looks with disdain at its Corbett cousin from across the glen. Sgor Mor had become one of those hills that was passed with scant attention while there were bigger fish to fry elsewhere.
For the first time, I strode out along the track from Linn of Dee. I didn’t need to worry where the stones and ruts were waiting to ambush a two-wheeled hurtle westwards. I could take my time. The plovers and lapwings entertained. The remnants of huddled townships and long-lost communities provoked images of a once thriving glen and thoughts about Clearances and evictions. For an hour, I could have been a slow-moving target for the blood-sucking midges and the flesh-piercing clegs. But no, they were mercifully absent, obviously enjoying better provisions further west. And the sun had time to burn.
- Lasting signs of earlier settlements - their scale and evidence of the hard work required to create the boundaries and to dress the corner stone ...
- ... and stretching out across the glen ...
- ... or nestling against the hillsides
It started well as a day to relish the exercise rather than revel in a spectacular achievement.
Another half an hour and I thought it was time to start gaining some height. Legs were well and truly limbered up by now and it was time to put them under some pressure by breaking away from the well-worn track heading for the Lairig Ghru.
- At White Bridge, the intersection for the Lairig Ghru - keep striding out ...
- ... and past the picturesque falls at the Chest of Dee ...
- ... and further towards the Lairig Ghru under the watchful eye of Beinn Bhrotain ...
There’s an enticing nobble on the western end of Sgor Mor’s western ridge that I thought should make an ideal spot for an early lunch, hopefully with an expansive view. After a long, diagonally rising traverse, I was not disappointed.
- ... then begin to strike upwards to the western spur of Sgor Mor
- ... to be greeted by a spectacular horizon of the Cairngorm big beasts
Just over a couple of hours after leaving Linn of Dee, I’d covered over half of the day’s distance and the climbing was behind me. All that was left to do was enjoy the spectacular setting and the prospect of a gentle stroll over Sgor Dubh, and then round to Carn an lc Duibhe before dropping back down to the Linn of Dee.
- The curious erosion on the summit of Sgor Mor - I resisted placing my banana and apple to create a face - I'm sure it's been done often enough
- A fine Cairngorm panorama from the summit of Sgor Mor
This was proving to be far better than expected.
- Stroll, amble, saunter - simply enjoy - over to Sgor Dubh and then Carn an lc Duibhe to the right
- A final look from the cairn and trig point on Sgor Dubh
OK, following the fence, after dropping from Sgor Dubh and over Carn an lc Duibhe, might not have been the most scintillating of company, and there was always the nagging question of how and when it was to be crossed, but there was no need to worry – no high-level teetering and balancing was required.
- Following the fence - down, along, down and along
- ... and pop through the back gate back to the car
And then, there was the outgoing track, just as it disappeared into the woodland at Linn of Dee. There was to be no lengthy trudge back as tired feet scrunched on the gravel – only a few hundred metres back to the car park.
The day had, I’m pleased to admit, been well worth the small effort required. It was good to be proved wrong – and I wouldn’t be surprised if I return – Sgor Mor has put itself high on my list of favourite Corbetts.