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Against the wind up the Ben Stack's brother with Kids

Against the wind up the Ben Stack's brother with Kids


Postby WalkingWithKids » Wed Oct 04, 2023 7:35 pm

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Ben Dreavie

Date walked: 01/10/2023

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 10.7 km

Ascent: 500m

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Ben Dreavie from the A838 near Achfary with Kids (10, 13 y/o)

Hill no. 177 - Sub2000 no. 92

Ben Dreavie is a rough moorland summit, but it is very nice area. It is easily accessible from the A838 near Achfary on a good forestry track and then an old grassy track. It is actually a pleasant walk, but ours was not so pleasant because of the wind. All the way up we walked against a relatively strong wind. :roll: IronKids! 8) Luckily, the wind was at our backs on the way down.

There is a bit of confusion with this hill as to where the true summit is. Ben Dreavie has two tops - north-eastern (NE) and south-western (SW). The OS map 1:25 000 shows the NE top with an altitude of 501 m. However, the OS map 1:50 000 shows the SW top with an altitude of 503 m.
In reality, the summit cairn is on the NE top and it also appears to be the highest point, but with an altitude of approximately 512 m (Hill Bagging or OS Grid Ref: NC 26106 39832, Altitude: 512 m). :lol: Anyway, It is a nice hill.

Stats:
Total distance - 10.7 km
Total time - 5h05m
Altitude gain - 460 m

Map of our route:

BenDreaviefromA838nearAchfary-Track.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Elevation profile of our route:
Ben Dreavie.png


We parked just off the A838 at the start of the forestry track near Achfary (OS Grid Ref: NC 2949 3919). Parking there is very limited. There was a no parking sign on the other side, but not on ours. We parked without obstructing the track.
Another option to park is in Achfary, by the telephone box or a few hundred meters north of Achfary, there is a car park (starting point for the Ben Stack or Arkle hike).

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Parking at the start of the track.

A good track leads from here to Bealach nam Fiann. There are two gates on the track, both with a pedestrian gate.

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First gate right at the start of the track.

We walked on the forestry track up to Bealach nam Fiann. After about 700 m we reached a fork where we branched left and later behind the second gate we turned right. Already from the track there is a good view of Graham Ben Stack and Corbett Arkle.

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The fork.

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Looking north - Ben Stack (left) and Arkle (right), taken from above the second gate.

The gusts of wind were really unpleasant, sometimes they even stopped me, poor kids! :roll: At some points I wondered if we should go back, but the kids just silently walked and walked and walked... IronKids! :thumbup:
After about 3 km of challenging ascent (not because of the steepness, but because of the wind), we reached a shieling at Bealach nam Fiann, where we left the forestry track and continued to the right on a grassy track.

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Bealach nam Fiann.

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Grassy track leading to the top of Ben Dreavie.

The old grassy track is in surprisingly good condition. There were just a few wet spots, easily avoidable, but otherwise it was mostly firm underfoot. The track goes through a very rough beautiful area, full of lochans and rocky outcrops, I like it. Surprisingly the wind was not that strong there.
The old grassy track is part of the Cape Wrath Trail. We actually walked the Cape Wrath Trail. :lol:

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In the middle of the rough wilderness. The top of Ben Stack sticks out in the back.

When the track reaches the top of the hill, there is a cairn just off the track on the right, but this is not the true summit of Ben Dreavie. The true summit, shown in the OS map 1:25 000 with an altitude of 501 m, lies approximately 60 m to the southwest.

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Cairn to the right of the track and Ben Stack, looking NNW. In the distance, the ocean in a haze.

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Conni on the true summit. The previous cairn can be seen in the distance on the right.

Since it is getting colder, Conni got a new hat and because Halloween is coming up, it is a Bat Hat! :twisted: The bat hat was crocheted by my elder daughter.

I went to the southwest top, which is shown on the OS map 1:50 000 with an altitude of 503 m, just to see if it was higher, but it is not. At least there was a great view of the true summit.

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Summit of Ben Dreavie from SW.

1IMG_6649_01.jpg
The summit is very interesting, it looks like a slab of conglomerate rock filled of small round pebbles.


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Facing the wind on the conglomerate summit.

We managed to find a place where we were at least somewhat sheltered from the wind, so we had a picnic and spent about an hour there.

We returned the same way. I know a lot of people prefer a circuit (which is actually possible via Strath Stack), but walking back the same way offers different views of the landscape.

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Looking ESE, towards Loch More and Ben Hee. Corbett Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill on the left.

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Lochan next to the track, Corbett Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill behind in the distance.

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Winding track

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Back at Bealach nam Fiann, Ben Hee in the distance, Meallan Liath Coire Mhic Dhughaill on the left.

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Looking towards Arkle, Ben Stack on the left.

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Ben Stack and Arkle.

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Arkle.

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Almost down. Loch nan Ealachan, Achfary on the left.

Shortly before we reached the car, we got caught in the rain and got wet. :lol:
Aside from the wind and rain at the end, it was a pretty nice hike.
WalkingWithKids
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 189
Munros:24   Corbetts:35
Fionas:47   
Sub 2000:106   
Joined: Sep 26, 2020
Location: Moray

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