The Stuic

[litljortindan]

Didn't have a good start to this walk in terms of feeling energetic so I decided that the end of the track up from Invercauld bridge would be where I'd choose between continuing and retreating. I was feeling a bit better at the end of the track so I kept going.

In the end I found the walking easy enough but next day I did seem to have a bit of a cold so that would explain my wobbly start.

It is a pleasant walk up through the trees and Falls of Garbh Allt is a worthwhile diversion though I saved that for the way down. After the track end the path continuation is a bit boggy in places but all fairly avoidable on this dry day. A pleasant surprise was the bridge across Feindallacher Burn. I'd been a bit apprehensive about the burn crossing because I think there'd been heavy rain overnight.

Once across the bridge the path started to improve gradually and between the 727m point and the foot of Carn an t-Saigart Beag it made for a very easy and pleasant ascent. I made my way up throught the mix of grassy ledges and boulders with my plan being to head north east from the summit to get a view of The Stuic crags and lochans from the west. Decent views on the way up to The Stuic and I continued from the summit eastwards for a short distance before joining the path for Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach. The latter is a decent viewpoint but very flat. I was tempted southwards a bit to gain better views of Creag an Dubh Loch but the map told me this was folly and that a better option woudl be simply to follow the path to Carn an t-Saigart Mor.

Got to the Saigart beaalach and its better view of Creag an Dubh Loch thinking I'd call it a day and plodded up over boggy ground to a point where I could see a path to Carn an t-Saiagrt Mor. I still debated whether to leave the latter for another day but the map told me only an extra kilomtere of walking and less than 100m of ascent so I was tempted to extend the walk that little bit. Then I saw a couple make rapid progress with the descent and that.made my mind up for me. Of course and energetic couple bounding downhill and me lugging my leaden legs uphill are two different matters and I made slow work of the extra bit of walking but now I am glad that I did because a peasant breeze kept me cool and there were some more interesting views to see of the hills around. Thought the descent might trouble my knees a bit but I located a well worn path down that took teh sting out of the slope and I was absolutely fine.

Showers were forecast for about 1pm onwards and it looked as if my forty minute diversion woudl still spare me a soaking as I set off on the main descent at about 11am. You never know though, of course!

No showers as it turned out so I was quite pleased about that. The diversion to the waterfalls was well worth it too.

My original intention for this walk was to ascend from Callater car park but I had exactly £2.90 of change as I'd forgotten to get hold of the (I believe) extra pound coin needed. I could have parked along the road I suppose but I did have Invecauld in mind as an alternative and it turned out to be a good decision to go this way.


Pleasant start, walking throgh the woods.


A glimpse of the Garbh Allt o the way up -there's a good path there but I leave my visit there for the way down.


Good view north of early morning light on eastern Cairngorms.


It is warm and sunny but there's a breeze and plenty of shade in the woods so all good.


View north from near the end of the track.


First view of my target, The Stuic. At some point along the way I have a seat but feel wobbly getting back up so at this point I am in two minds about whether to continue with the walk.


Time for more sunscreen.


At the end of the track I am feeling a bit more energetic and decide to go ahead with teh rest of the walk.


The path beyond the track is a bit boggy in places but the bog is mostly avoidable. A big plus is the surprise bridge after half a kilometre.

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Across the bridge the ground gradually becomes less boggy and there's a good, if dull, view of Lochnagar.


After the 727m point it is plain sailing up to the foot of Carn an t-Saigart Beag.


Good view south west of Glas Maol from the bouldery and grassy slopes of Carn an tp-Saigart Beag.


Zoom shot of Lochnagar and The Stuic crags.


View south east of Creag an Dubh Loch and Borad Cairn.


It's an easy and pleasant stroll east to get to The Stuic.




Following the crag edge up to The Stuic.




View ENE from The Stuic.


View north west.


Glas Maol showing up well again.


And a glimpse of the sea to the south east.


Gully overlooking Loch nan Eun.


Looking back at The Stuic summit.


And then it's off to the gentle dome of Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach.


The large, flat summit area does curtail the views a bit but these are still good.




The view south east is particularly enticing and draws me in that direction for a while but teh mp tells me this is not a great idea.






I head back to the path and follow this round to the foot of Carn an t-Saigart Mor and get another decent view of Creag an Dubh Loch from here. There's no obvious path up through teh boggy ground to the north and I'm in two minds anout whether to call it a day or include Carn an t-Saigart Mor.


Eventually I decide on including Carn an t-Saigart Mor. This adds forty minutes to the walk.


At the northernmost cairn.




Then a short walk south to the southernmost cairn and after that there's a good descent path from the north east end of Carn an t-Saigart Mor.


Mottled view.


And then I'm on my way back to the car. There's a mix of clouding sky to the south and breaking cloud to the north.


From near the 727m point.




Pleasant diversion to Falls of Garbh Allt.