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An Socach from Baddoch near Braemar with Kids (10, 13 y/o)Munro An Socach seemed a bit featureless when I read the WH walk description, but it was better than I expected. I would say it was not a very challenging hike, more flat than steep. In the middle part there was a short flatter section which is quite boggy. The broad ridge is mostly stony, but most of the stones can be easily avoided.
One obstacle - Need to cross a burn, that could be a problem when there is a lot of water in it.
The icing on the cake - a flock of 14 ptarmigans!
Stats:Total distance - 18.0 km
Total time - 7h32m
Altitude gain - 532 m
Map of our route:Elevation profile of our route:We arrived at the place about 9 am. A lay-by opposite the gate for 6-7 cars was already full (sunny Saturday), so we parked about 300 m further south. There is space for 2-3 cars.
- Parking.
We walked back down the road and passed through the gate (There were two more gates on the track, both unlocked).
- Gate with kissing gate and start of the track.
We followed a good track for about 3 km.
- Ponies at Baddoch.
- Baddoch burn and the track in Glen Baddoch.
After 3 km the track fords the Allt Coire Fhearneasg. I could cross the ford, but kids did not have the gaiters on and I was worried about water getting into their boots (kids boots are lower than adult boots), so we crossed the burn above the ford. There are more options where to cross the burn.
- The place where we crossed the burn.
After crossing the burn we continued uphill on a path along the burn. This was the first steep section.
- The path initially runs parallel to the burn.
As the gradient eased the path became boggy (quite wet). First we headed to the cairn and then to the eastern top of An Socach.
- Boggy path. Cairn in the middle and the eastern top of An Socach on the right.
- Cairn at an altitude of 691 m and the eastern top of An Socach.
The path from the cairn first led through flatter ground and was wet. Closer to the eastern top before the second steep section and in the steep section, the path was dry.
- Dry section of the path.
Once on the ridge, we continued along it. The ridge of An Socach is the broad and stony. We bypassed most of the stones by following a faint path just to the south side.
- Broad stony ridge of An Socach.
- Getting closer. People at the shelter on the summit of An Socach.
- Looking SSW, Munro Glas Tulaichean and Loch nan Eun.
As we walked along the ridge, a flock of white birds caught our attention. They were ptarmigans.
Can you find the 11 ptarmigans in the following picture?
- Can you find the 11 ptarmigans? :)
Here thay are!
- 11 ptarmigans. :)
- Great camouflage!
We saw a total of 14 ptarmigans.
- 14 ptarmigans fly away.
We soon reached the summit of An Socach.
- Conni on the top, looking NW towards Ben Macdui.
- Zoomed in. Ben Macdui and Co.
- Looking NNE, Glen Ey and Ben Avon in the back.
We spent about an hour at the top, had a picnic. After that we returned the same way, but this time we walked over the eastern top.
- Long ridge of An Socach.
- Shelter on the eastern top of An Socach. Ben Avon in the distance.
A hill with a telecommunication mast can be seen from the path. It is Munro
The Cairnwell.
- Looking SE, Munro The Cairnwell and Loch Vrotachan below it (zoomed in).
- Walking down the second steep section.
On the way back, we crossed the burn at another place.
- Crossing the Allt Coire Fhearneasg.
It was a nice, not very challenging hike and especially the ptarmigans were amazing!
