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Sub 2k Marilyns: Creag Loch nan Dearcag.
Date: 11/02/2024.
Distance: 19.5km.
Ascent: 630m.
Time taken: 6 hours.
Weather: Calm and mild with a heavy shower on the summit.
Part 3 of our long weekend of walking with David was back to being fairly unadventurous and not driving too far from home. Neither David or Jackie had been up Creag Loch nan Dearcag so that appeared to be a good option, staying away from the poor weather of the higher hills further inland. We parked at the gate for the Luichart Dam and set off up the road to Loch Luichart, the sun shining.
Crags above the Luichart Dam 
Loch Luichart Once over the dam we climbed up the track to Glenmarksie. This appears to have been renovated since our last walk up this way (late 2020) and is now lived in full time. Above the house, the track goes way further up Gleann Marcasaidh than the OS maps show, and there is also a lot of new tree planting. We stopped for lunch about an hour in and debated how best to get onto Creag Loch nan Dearcag.
Down Strathconon from Glenmarksie 
Deer at Glenmarksie 
Gleann Mharcasaidh Having looked at the most direct way across the glen from the track we opted to keep going. There were numerous new deer fences to cross with new tree planting between them and the heather looked deep and lush. We reckoned if we kept following the track (now a good quad track) up to Loch Bad Ghaineamhaich, we could sneak onto Creag Loch nan Dearcaig from the north, minimising the worst ground and fence crossings. After passing Loch a' Chairn Dhuibh, the quad track deteriorated to mud - we left it soon after.
Loch Bad Ghaineamhaich and Sgurr a Mhuilinn Loch Bad Ghaineamhaich was surprisingly pleasant, even boasting a tiny sandy beach at the eastern end. Predictably Jackie wanted to swim in it so David and I sat down while she went for a dip.
Jackie in Loch Bad Ghaineamhaich 
Eastern Fannaichs From here the terrain wasn't exactly great but the heather was shorter and there were no more fences to climb. We could see poorer weather moving in from the west - would we make the top first?
Loch a Bhealaich 
West up Strathconon from Carn Loch nan Dearcag We were on the summit ridge when the rain started. Despite making us fairly wet in a short space of time there was also some really impressive light over Strathconon - helped by it being sunset. We were much later up here than intended! Thankfully the shower passed quickly (despite looking as if it would set in for the rest of the evening) and we were able to think about the best way back.
West from Carn Loch nan Dearcag We only had an hour or so of daylight remaining so despite having avoided the deer fences and heather on the way up, we decided to follow the ridge a short way east then take the shortest line for the track up Gleann Marcasaidh.
Loch nan Dearcag 
Sgurr Mharcasaidh and Carn Faire nan ConOur downward route wasn't too bad at first but as we descended east of Loch nan Dearcag we found ourselves floundering in extremely deep heather. Finally arriving at the first deer fence we found a gate, but the next two required a climb followed by using the fence to make a somewhat hairy crossing of the burn. Once on the other side there was potentially the option to follow faint, boggy quad tracks and find a gate through the final fence, but we decided to make a beeline for the track with one final fence climb. It was almost dark at this point but we were back on easy ground with another hour or so of walking out in the dark. An interesting combination of enjoyable walking, good scenery and absolute sub 2k Marilyn torture!
