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Having done a load of jobs around the house, I got out for an afternoon walk on a day with very strong (>60mph) winds on the high tops. I thought something a tad lower might be more pleasant!
Setting out from near Gairnshiel and heading for the River Gairn, the slopes of Mona Gowan are ahead. There are numerous ruins and "rickles o' stanes" all along the Gairn, this must once have been a well populated area. Today the only sounds were Lapwings and Curlews, that most wonderfully wild call.
The walk along the Gairn is really pleasant on a sunny day, but it's a different experience in wind and rain! The bulk of Ben Avon dominates the head of the glen.
The bridge over the Gairn looks quite military from a distance, but the ironwork looks to be Victorian. It bears a passing resemblance to parts of the Forth Bridge. Beyond is Tom Breac, the high point of the walk.
A couple of kilometres beyond the bridge, Corndavon Lodge is reached. It's still in occasional use by Invercauld Estate. The building behind, marked as "bothy" on the 1:50K maps has been locked and boarded for as long as I can remember, sadly. A shoogly bridge crosses the Gairn at the lodge and a track strikes uphill toward Tom Breac. The first bit is quite steep but it's very easy going after that.
Looking back along the walk-in, the hill in the distance is Morven. Once the angle eases the walk is across clipped heather and gravels. Lots of hares up here and the constant calling of Golden Plover.
As the summit is reached, a view of Lochnagar appears suddenly having been hidden all day. The view to the south and south west is very fine; Morrone, Cairnwell, the Glen Ey hills and right through to Beinn a' Ghlo. To the west there's a grandstand view into Ben Avon's corries while to the south east Clachnaben is visble beyond Mount Keen.
The onward route goes ESE over An Creagan and down past a large ruined clachan to meet an estate track. From here you can go back to the start via tracks to Rinettin, or along the Crathie-Gairnshiel road as I did. If using the road, there are hut circles and a field system to explore just off the road.
This walk has some of what's best about the Cairngorms, good walking under huge skies and a sense of vast space. Tom Breac isn't on any tick list as far as I know, but is well worth a visit. It has views way beyond expectation - if you do it, save it for a good day!
Ian
http://mountainandseascotland.blogspot.com/