Carn Gorm to Creag Mhor - Photos
Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:04 pm
Don't want to repeat what the other's have said about this circuit on their trip reports, but I do have a few general observations and a bit of advice for anyone new to hillwalking for this route. Not many pics on the other reports so I've included a few here of my day.
1) If you are fairly new to this munro bagging/hillwalking hobby do not underestimate this route. It can be rough and tiresome in the beginning and in the descent.
2) Keep a sharpe eye out for the path heading that turns away from the burn and heads 'around the edge of the forestry' as I followed a nice clear path a bit too far and ended up slogging up the mucky lower slope of Carn Gorm.
3) If the cloud and mist is hovering over Carn Mairg you will be fine making it to the summit on the clear path. Once at the top, from the summit cairn, start to retrace your steps back to the rocky tor. Almost between the cairn and the tor a grassy slope will appear and slope to your left. The steep trail down the hill is not immediately clear from the summit, but if you explore this grassy slope you should find it.
4) In cloud and mist the final munro Creag Mhor (Meall na Aighean) can be very tricky. Retracing one's steps to pick up the decent trail is easier said than done. There are plenty of goat paths to confuse novices up there and the descent trail didn't seem to be appearent on the ascent (in the cloud). Myself and two walkers (Nicky and Nicho) searched for about 30 minutes before finally running into the path.
This was a tough day out after doing four munros the previous day. It also reinforced the notion that proper map and compass skills are essential.
1) If you are fairly new to this munro bagging/hillwalking hobby do not underestimate this route. It can be rough and tiresome in the beginning and in the descent.
2) Keep a sharpe eye out for the path heading that turns away from the burn and heads 'around the edge of the forestry' as I followed a nice clear path a bit too far and ended up slogging up the mucky lower slope of Carn Gorm.
3) If the cloud and mist is hovering over Carn Mairg you will be fine making it to the summit on the clear path. Once at the top, from the summit cairn, start to retrace your steps back to the rocky tor. Almost between the cairn and the tor a grassy slope will appear and slope to your left. The steep trail down the hill is not immediately clear from the summit, but if you explore this grassy slope you should find it.
4) In cloud and mist the final munro Creag Mhor (Meall na Aighean) can be very tricky. Retracing one's steps to pick up the decent trail is easier said than done. There are plenty of goat paths to confuse novices up there and the descent trail didn't seem to be appearent on the ascent (in the cloud). Myself and two walkers (Nicky and Nicho) searched for about 30 minutes before finally running into the path.
This was a tough day out after doing four munros the previous day. It also reinforced the notion that proper map and compass skills are essential.