Creigh Hill, Corwharn, Cat Law

[mattmunro]

Decided to head East today, fair-weather walker that I am...! It seems lately that most of the decent weather is to be found to the East; maybe this is something I'll have to get used to living in Scotland...
Quite a drive from Glasgow, but I made full use of the day with a long tramp over these heather-covered hills. Got to the start point (bend in the road at NO 285593) at 10.45.

Creigh Hill from start

Couldn't believe how warm it was for February! Wearing just a base layer on top, I headed back along the road for half a mile to 285584, where I gained the open hillside to tackle my "starter" for the day, Creigh Hill. Heading up the track alongside the forest at first, I branched off at around the 350m contour to head WSW for the south top.

slopes of Creigh Hill

Cat Law from S top of Creigh Hill

White Mounth from S top

Backwater Reservoir, White Mounth

Mount Blair, Mealna Letter

Nearing the top, Driesh and Mayar and the clutch of White Mounth munros started to come into view, and I reached the sprawling cairn with a grin on my face... back in the hills again! It was great to look across and reminisce about long days on Lochnagar and Glas Maol, although the higher summits were shrouded in mist today. A quick bite to eat, then off to the Marilyn summit. From here, I could see the majority of the day's route ahead of me... I'd have to get some pace on to get back before dark though!

Cat Law from Creigh Hill

A mile further north along the ridge took me to the cleft in the hills marked as Craig Of Balloch.

Craig of Balloch

A steep descent into the cleft, then L to a nice little gully at 271614. I followed the gully N, then picked a way through the heather to reach the 503m spot height and start of the ridge to Corwharn.

Ridge to Corwharn

Badandun Hill ( I think)

back to Creigh Hill

Driesh, Hill Of Strone

This section was more about the compelling views to the N and NW than the terrain close at hand. To my left, Mount Blair looked sullen under a dark cloud. It always seems to me to look higher than it actually is, maybe because of its isolated position. An ugly bulldozed track took me to to the unremarkable summit of Corwharn. Here I was greeted by several mountain hares in their white winter coats. I thought how easy a target they must be for birds of prey when there's no snow around...

N from Corwharn summit

Cat Law from Corwharn

After lunch near the cairn, I headed E to continue along the ridge over Hill of Adenaich and Finlet. From here I could see extensive heather burning taking place on the nearby slopes. Must have been a good day for it; light wind and dry ground.

heather burning

Beyond Finlet, I cut down to the band of forestry leading down to Glenuig, disturbing several young deer in the process. Cat Law, Graham no.2, stood ahead of me.

Cat Law from Finlet

Cat Law from Glenuig

I headed WNW into the upper reaches of the glen, slowly regaining height through the narrow defile of Craigie Shiel. At the top of the pass, 297643, I picked up a tiny spur, heading around a tiny corrie (mountain form in miniature!), then up to Tarapetmile. Legs tiring by this point, I got some energy on board before heading over Cormaud to begin the steady push to Cat Law summit. Looking back from this slope I got the best views of the day, although the cloud base had descended to 800m or so. From here I could see the whole route.

down into Glenuig

descending cloudbase on ascent to Cat Law

S from Cat Law summit

E from Cat Law summit

I didn't stay too long at the top as I had about 45 mins of light left, and was improvising the last bit... I'd gone off the edge of my map after leaving Cat Law summit! It turned out to be a very straightforward and pleasant descent SW on a grassy track all the way to the road at 297586.

sunset on descent

From here, it was just under a mile of road back to the car, passing the derelict Balintore Castle.... It looked rather eery in the dusk. Would be nice to see it restored one day...

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[Graeme D]

Interesting stuff Matt. I've been on the lookout for info on Creigh Hill and the neighbouring Subs, so this will come in very handy. Hope to get an evening outing up that way next month.

[Gable Gable End]

great report and an interesting route!