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Dillon has been my walking company for the last 11 years and having summitted 75 Munros, he has done more than my 3 previous dogs combined! But as old age approaches, the two Munros on Beinn Alligin last year are very likely to be his last "big hills". The few Munros I have done this year have all been "big days", so he has stayed at home to look after his younger brother Cuilean (gaelic for puppy) who joined our family last year. We have been up a few wee hills this year, including some easy Fionas and Corbetts, that he has done with Cuilean, all part of Cuilean's training, getting some hill legs in him before he starts tackling Munros.
- Dillon (left) and Cuilean (right) on Carn an Fhreiceadain
The next stage of Cuilean's training was to try a hill that had a reasonable path, so not heather hopping, but not "a road" like an estate track. Also wanted the walk to be under 10 Km so it wasn't too taxing. Looking at the available "new" options for me, close to the Black Isle, I hit upon the Corbett, Beinn a' Chaisteil. I knew the route in, having walked it and cycled it several times before with Dillon. The overall 24 km would be too much for both dogs but last year we had purchased a canine chariot to cycle Dillon into the start of walks, and so this would be a good opportunity to test Cuilean in the chariot. In addition the chariot makes it easier to get past the sheep and cows that are often found along the cycle up Strath Vaich. However there is only room for 1 dog in the chariot, so this was going to be Cuilean's first "solo" hill, without his big brother! The plan was to park at the Black Bridge and then cycle up Strath Vaich along Loch Vaich to the derelict cottages at Lubachlaggan. At that point we would leave the bike and go up the stalkers path to the summit, then just retrace our steps for the return journey.
8.8 Km cycle in
7 Km walk
Woke up to what was supposed to be a glorious day, to find that the Black Isle was thick with haar, which actually didn't lift all day. But decided to go anyway because the weather in the west was meant to be better. Disappointingly, as we pulled into the black bridge, things were no better, the cloud was still very low. I assembled the bike and chariot and set off for the 9 Km cycle. As we came over the hill to get the first views of Loch Vaich the cloud just started to lift. Cuilean was being a dream in the chariot, he just sat and watched the world go by, even when we cycled through a small herd of highland cows. Dillon had always hated the chariot, he wanted to be running alongside the bikes so barked/whined with frustration if he was being towed along. There was not a peep from the pup, the advantage of introducing it at an early age.
- Are we nearly there yet?
We cycled down the estate track to Lubachlaggan and the clouds were now lifting fast to give the promised glorious day.
- Looking back down Loch Vaich from where we had come
- At Lubachlaggan, looking further up the valley
- Beinn a' Chaisteil, our target for the day
I locked the bike and chariot just off the track next to the Allt Lub a' Chlaiginn burn and we set off for the hill. Cuilean was going to be on the lead for the walk so as to limit any extra curriculum activities. I thought the stalkers path was really good, despite the walkhighland walk report saying it was a bit overgrown; even when it faded in and out in places, it was easy to see further up the hill where to find it again. The initial ascent was quite steep but once above about 600m it started plateauing out, although the stalkers path disappeared at this point, it was now easy walking over good ground all the way to the top. We made good progress and 90 mins after starting walking we were at the summit cairn!
- At the top with Càrn Chuinneag in the distance
- Seana Bhràigh?
After lunch it was time to set off back down the hill. It was easy to find where the start of the stalkers path was, because there was a conveniently placed cairn near the start of the steep descent.
- cairn to mark the location of the stalkers path on the way back with the return estate track in the distance
- This is fun Dad!
- Cottages at Lubachlaggan
Once back down to the estate track it was time to get back on the bike and set off for home, all in all a good day in the hills. Cuilean had great fun and coped well with his first stalkers path trip!
