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Ben Newe - 6 Feb. 5.42km, 211m ascent
My first walk of this quick trip to the hills. I wasn't sure how my routes would be affected by Storm Eowyn, but in fact there were no problems on this lovely little hill. (The track from the road to the parking space may be a problem for low-slung vehicles, just be cautious!)
- Welcoming sign near carpark area
The route up is well-signed - follow the blue markers. It's obviously a well used hill (plenty of bike tracks, dog tracks, deer as well, orienteering markers) but late afternoon I met no-one.
- Summit - beautiful light this late afternoon with excellent all-round views
- The light even better as I walked back to the car. Some wind throw near the track - Storm Arwen?
Coilliochbhar Hill - 7 Feb. 10km, 230m ascent
Note - the Cushnie Forest sign is almost obscured by bushes at present.
Just as I arrived at the parking spot, a large lorry swept down the track and out on to the road - I parked as close to the verge as I could to leave as much space as possible. From there up to the gate just past the wind turbine, a fairly steady stream of lorries passed in both directions (I hadn't anticipated any traffic!) Through the gate, I turned left. The forest tracks here look as if they have been upgraded and extended fairly recently - and I was so pleased to be walking away from the lorries (all going right at the gate), I confess I relaxed and forgot to watch for the path heading up the hill! By the time I realised I had already lost a bit of height but was quite happy to go on and then find a way through the trees.
It would have been easier to turn back - but I've rarely turned down a challenge .............
The first problem was finding an easy place to scale the beautifully graded - and steep - bank at the side of the track. Then it was up through the trees, avoiding wet areas and windthrown trees. Next challenge was struggling through a thick belt of young self-seeded spruce, and finally out onto heather moorland. Great!!!
A short walk to reach the track heading for the summit, I happily walked through the gap in the wall - and was promptly faced by a real obstacle course of more fallen trees. At least here there were signs other walkers had also struggled through.
- The start of the obstacle course!
Then a final short open walk to the summit cairn.
- Low cloud today, even a snow shower sweeping across to the north.
For my return, fairly soon after I re-entered the wood, I walked to the right of the windblown area (west side of the wire fence) and found a much easier route back to the main path which I followed all the way back to the track. I have to confess that I found this somewhat uneventful after my uphill route. The path, heather-lined between the plantation, is straightforward with few views between the trees.
- Photo taken on my route back - this is where I should have turned off the main track
- Traffic obviously running all day at present
Afterthought - I'm not sure if the forest tracks are being extended/upgraded in advance of future timber extraction. Forestry and Land Scotland have a management plan in place so, future walkers, be cautious of more traffic on the forest roads as timber extraction begins.
