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5 @ Loch nan Eun

PostPosted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:59 pm
by steven65
I`d decided to have another go at wild camping albeit on a much further trek this time, so with excellent weather forecast for the w/end I set off on Sat 24 /3 aiming to camp out & returning home on Sun 25/3. After a bit of planning I decided to park at The Dalmunzie Castle Hotel, going via Glen Lochsie & bag 5 munros – Glas Tulaichean / Carn an Righ / Beinn Iutharn Mhor / Carn Bhac & finally An Socach . A lot of walking , with a fair bit of climbing – a tall order for me but I was up for it.
As usual I was accompanied by Oskar my partner in crime , I arrived at the hotel “checked” my car I so to speak ( the staff are wonderful) & was away about 1130am.
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The track up Glen Lochsie
Compared to all my recent walks my rucksack weighed a ton ! As well as the usual stuff I had my tent / sleeping bag / extra food / gas stove etc & a wee drop Shiraz –id rather carry more than do without .
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Ruined lodge bottom left
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And again , Oskar checking it out.
I followed the rough track way up the glen past Glenlochsie Lodge ruin , in doing so I crossed the river which wasn`t high – a better route would probably have been to have walked on the actual old railway route ,this would definitely be much drier on wet days.
Once past the ruined lodge the track climbs quite quickly up to the plateau, here I met 2 walkers on their way down -they said i`d done most of the hard work now & could enjoy myself .
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Track leading onto Glas Tu;aichean
The track continues now leading onto Glas Tulaichean – my 1st munro. I took some fotos here , really wonderful views all around with great clarity.
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1st top
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snow cornice – quite heavy
I continued down off G T towards Loch nan Eun aiming for the driest looking route to cross over to the path below Mam nan Carn leading to Carn an Righ .
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Loch nan Eun
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route onto Carn an Righ
Here Oskar decided to have fun chasing white mountain hares , thankfully the boggy ground was quite dry – it would be a nightmare to cross in wet conditions.
I`d hoped to camp at Loch nan Eun , but after seeing the distance between it & Carn an Righ , & my initial intended clockwise planned route I knew i`d be camping elsewhere . So I continued to Carn an Righ with wonderful views of Beinn a Ghlo from the summit.
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Beinn a Ghlo ?
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to Lairig Ghru
After a while I decided not to go back down the same way to the 771M spot at the bealach leading to Beinn Iutharn Mhor , but instead to descend from Carn an Righ directly towards Beinn Iutharn Mhor & camp overnight just a short distance away from Gleann Beag at 650M –lower than the bealach. Although a bit steep with small boulder fields it wasn`t too hard & I was quickly at the bottom , going down i`d spied a good spot to pitch the tent ideal for the night.
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Camping spot
It would also give a pretty straight line –but steep -to the top of Beinn Iutharn Mhor in the morning. It was a great place to camp overnight clear skies & very, very quiet – wonderful. Nice & simple food cooked on the gas stove & a wee shiraz as a treat for me & a wee something for Oskar too – mans best friend.
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not a great foto of camp
Sunday morning dawned the clocks having gone forward 1 hour & again it was going to be a beautiful day. Once coffee & breakfast were over I packed up & headed straight up to the top of Beinn Iutharn Mhor .
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camp spot green strip just above bottom L/H corner
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and again
It was a wee bit cold on the summit but sunny , I was surprised at how far it seemed to the end of the ridge. Fotos taken we were off again .
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Beinn iutharn Mhor summit
I used the WH route description from Inverey for the route towards Carn Bhac , there was a faint path off B I M leading to the thankfully dry peat bog bealach , this is quite a wee expanse leading up to Carn Bhac .
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vista over bealach to Carn Bhac
Quite a few of the Alt nan Clach Geata feeder burns were still covered in heavy snow deposits.
It was a relief to get to the platteau leading onto Carn Bhac , as I made my way up i`d briefly turned left towards the 920M point before realising I was going the wrong way ! I had a wee break on Carn Bhac & realised I was a very long way from my car at Dalmunzuie Castle !!!!!
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Carn Bhac top
At least it was all downhill , for now at least - & heading towards Altanour Lodge Ruin . I considered missing out An Socach ,
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An Socach looming
I was under a wee bit of pressure it had been a big 2nd day , I wished i`d done more on Saturday . It was also very warm & i`d refilled my water bottles twice already. I could see a steel bridge crossing the Allt Beinn Iuthan above the ruin of Altanour as I descended from Carn Bhac , but being lower down now I had lost site of it.
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Altanour Lodge Ruins
At the Allt Beinn Iuthan I stopped for 10 mins and refilled with water from the river , then forded it & decided to climb An Socach.

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An Socach from Allt Beinn Iuthan
The lower heather approach was badly scorched – a very recent fire ? This was also very steep , but quite short really – just brutal uphill & I was tirring.
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Glen Ey from the slopes of An Socach
It was a huge relief to get onto the plateau leading to the top , this was very short lived when I saw the HUGE distance from here to Loch nan Eun & the way out via Gleann Taitneach .
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An Socach summit looking to Loch nan Eun
I took 5 mins out , some fotos too & descended the steep scree slopes. Instead of traversing around to L n E , I cut across through boggy peat towards Carn Bhinnein
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looking back to An Socach before dropping to bog area
& descended just past the 785M point down via the Allt Elrig , this was exceptionally steep but there was a faint path & this led to a much more distinct route.
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looking back up towards the 785M point near Creag Easgaidh
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to Gleann Taitneach 7 long walk out
& then to a land rover track all the way back out of Gleann Taitneach & the final river crossing at the hotel . I gave Oskar a quick rub with a towel & a biscuit & I had a wonderful pot of coffee – silver service - at the Dalmunzie Castle for only £2.50 . Bargain. Then a fish supper in Blairgowrie £4.40 – 2nd bargain – the chippy beside the garage.
I enjoyed this trip tremendously , I did too much on the 2nd day so a better split of the route would have been a better option. My View Ranger App on my ifone worked perfectly for giving mapping & reference points & my Proporta USB 3400 World Power Pack kept the battery going , a great tool.

Re: 5 @ Loch nan Eun

PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2012 10:21 am
by 133richard
Walked in on friday night and through up the tent then followed this route it was a great route to follow on my gps.It was a tough old trip with lots of ups and downs 41km i made it with 3000m of ascent.We done it all in the one day though so i think this made it a bit extreme.Thanks again for the route :D

Re: 5 @ Loch nan Eun

PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:56 pm
by Graeme D
That's a fine looking overnighter route Steven! :D

Re: 5 @ Loch nan Eun

PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:11 pm
by John44
Thanks for the report Steven,
I'm also planning to do these hills from Inveray in July.
It will also be my first attempt at wild camping - great idea to take the Shiraz with you.
I'll be sure to pack my hipflask for a well deserved single malt before hitting the hay!