Walkhighlands

Dawn light drifting through the bothy window roused me from the best kip I’d enjoyed for a while. The wind had dropped overnight and the last stars were just fading – in short the weather looked promising to say the least Motivation enough to have me crawl out of my cosy bag and start galumphing around. A brew, tidy the place, stow my kit and off.
It had been a surprise to have Bob Scott’s to myself on a Friday night but now I could fully enjoy the peace of an early morning at the Derry Lodge.



A few cheery greetings along the lines of ‘cracking morning’ were shared with the campers near the Lodge as I passed then it was over the Derry burn and along the path through the pine woods.



Out of the main woods, across the footbridge and round the first corner in upper Glen Derry my first objective, Stob Coire Etchachan, appeared with the Barns of Beinn Mheadhoin behind. I’ve walked past it often enough, the bold mountain face rising above the entrance to Coire Etchachan, always meaning to head up it one day. Today was the day



Heading towards the top of the Lairig an Laoigh the view into Coire Etchachan opened out, as did the view back down the Derry.




The slopes up onto Stob Coire Etchachan from the top of the Lairig an Laoigh felt steeper than they looked and the vegetation was deep in places. Not a place to rush the ascent, too many ‘Pooh traps’ for that. ‘Watch where you are putting your feet’ as the wise man said.



Views of Ptarmigan, Deer and a Noisy Yellow Thing enlivened the ascent.





The top was a fine place to sunbathe and enjoy the views across Coire Etchachan then it was off over a typical bit of gravelly plateau heading for Beinn Mheadhoin itself.





The summit is on top of one of the barns. Approaching from the South it looks impregnable but, on the East side, there is a relatively easy way up - though MC might disagree with that description





The name Beinn Mheadhoin translates as ‘Middle Hill’ but Peter Drummond in his ‘Scottish Hill Names’ suggests that the connotation ‘at the centre, or at the Heart’ might be a fairer translation given its position. The view from the summit certainly supports this idea.

Next it was back over the 1163m top and then North West down easy slopes to Stacan Dubha – a really fine viewpoint for the head of Loch A’an.





A kilometre to the South and I'd arrived at the high point on the path between Loch A’an and Loch Etchachan. From there it was a lazy potter back down Coire Etchachan and the Derry. Not a day to rush things.




In the late afternoon light the trees of the Derry seemed luminous.
Anyone know of a better way to end a day on The Hill

Great report John, you were so lucky with the weather considering the deluge suffered by the highlands this 'summer'. Beautiful pics. Not good for me to view this being stuck in the office down here [in Essex]

Thanks for the kind words.
As you say days like that have been too few and far between this summer. If it's any consolation it's horrible weather up here this morning. My son has just moved down to Basildon so I'll probably have to be visiting your neck of the woods before long. Can't say the prospect fills me with joy

Going to Basildon doesn't fill many people with joy - it has little to recommed it. I rarely venture south of the A127 - the dividing line in Essex!

Hi John,
Great report and stunning pictures. The summit looks amazing, like a great big meteorite fallen from space and plonked on the top. I haven't seen a top like that yet. Cant wait

I was planning on doing this exact route next week. I see nothing in this report to suggest I should deviate from that.
fab clarity of views and photos. I suspect I'll have a chillier sojourn but really enjoyed that description, John.

A cracking report there john

love the "carribean" pic

Hi John

Beautiful pictures,these trip reports are an inspiration for newbies like myself.

Cheers

David.

monty wrote:Hi John,
Great report and stunning pictures. The summit looks amazing, like a great big meteorite fallen from space and plonked on the top. I haven't seen a top like that yet. Cant wait

Hi Monty,

It's not quite the Inn Pinn but it gives a little spice to the ascent Hadn't thought of it as an X files plot though
It count's as one of your local hills so head up there and be thankthful that NTS are trying to care for Glen Derry. Mind you the deer fences round the regenerating pine areas are a nightmare for photographs - but I'll put up with that if my grandchildren can see some fine trees.

All the best,

John

kevsbald wrote:I was planning on doing this exact route next week. I see nothing in this report to suggest I should deviate from that.
fab clarity of views and photos. I suspect I'll have a chillier sojourn but really enjoyed that description, John.

Hi Kev,
Hope you have something like the day I had. If you get the chance get down to Stacan Dubha. You have to go a bit below the top but the views down to Loch A'an are sublime. That said, you'll probably get one of those days I've endured too often in the Gorms
Good luck,
John

alan sherry wrote:love the "carribean" pic

Hi Alan,

Yep, I sat there thinking for 3 hours a year that could compete with anything
I actually saw two people making their way across the larger beach at the head of the loch. That's what made me think ...
It looked gorgeous

All the best,

John

Wow - a gorgeous Cairngorms report.

Beinn Mheadhoin is a nice hill, but I've not climbed it from the south.

Good to know about Stacan Dubha's view I was thinking about diverting to this one next time. Now I definitely will

kinley wrote:8) Wow - a gorgeous Cairngorms report.

Beinn Mheadhoin is a nice hill, but I've not climbed it from the south.

Good to know about Stacan Dubha's view I was thinking about diverting to this one next time. Now I definitely will

Hi Kinley,

Now that's a compliment if ever I had one

Stacan Dubha is definitely worth the visit - you just have to go a bit below the top if you want the best views.

Look forward to seeing your report

All the best,

John

David.Ferguson wrote:Hi John

Beautiful pictures,these trip reports are an inspiration for newbies like myself.

Cheers

David.

Thanks David,

I quite envy you newbies - all this to see for the first time
Respect the hills and you'll get a lifetime of pleasure from them.
Enjoy.

John

I cant believe it ..as victor meldrew says.....

this is the very weather i was expecting on MONDAY...2 days before your trip


your hill on the right looks a bit trickier on monday than your stroll in the sun just 2 days after
[the dots are a group of helicopters heading to inverness i was told]
great pic .... i still have this hill to do and spoke at length on monday whether to go for it but the 30km was plenty without the snowy summit of Mheadhoin to tackle

might do it from this side as well though i loved the glen walk

doogz