free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I had plans to do DIY type stuff but the sun was streaming in the window and blue skies abounded once I got out of bed. So I checked the Mountain Weather Guide, just to make sure, and packed up the rucksack and ran out the door. The dog whined at me all the way to Grantown on Spey so I had to stop at the Anagach Woods to allow him a wee jobby!
A quick stop at the Esso station in Aviemore for sandwiches in chocolate and I finally hit the Glen Feshie road. The road up to the car park before Achlean was a bit longer than I expected and it was 11.45am before I started the hike. A wee bit late for a November start but I'm quite a quick walker so wasn't too troubled.
My OS Landranger 36 map is about 30 years old and I realised the land has changed a bit since it was printed! The car park is not on my map and I discovered it's about half a mile before you reach the farmhouse at Achlean. As you reach the farmhouse there's a rough path to the left marked with a stone. I almost missed it even though it's carved with <- Carn Bán Mòr! This track takes you across quite boggy heath until a delapidated gate into the forestry plantation. I had to check my map again as the plantation is tiny in my version and the path hardly touches it. In reality you walk through this newish plantation for a while. The path is loose stone, a bit like a dried up burn bed.
Before too long you emerge from the woods to look up the Allt Fhearnagan towards Carn Bán Mòr and what I guess is Meall Dubhag. The path continues to your left and is very visible as it hugs the southern slopes of Carn Bán Beag.
- Emerging from the trees
- The path off to the left
The path is in good order and the incline isn't too tough but I've been renovating an old fireplace in my cottage and the stone and plaster dust made me feel like I'd borrowed the lungs of a 60 Marlboro a day Jazz singer, so I found it quite hard work for a change. I was maybe pushing myself unnecessarily too.
- The path ahead
The path and the source of the burn meet just as you near the top of the bealach. Shortly after there's a cairn marking where several tracks converge. Just as I was nearing here the clouds suddenly descended and I couldn't see a damned thing. A quick map-check confirmed my thoughts and I took the first track to the left.
- The cairn marking the paths
The climb up Carn Bán Mòr is uneventful and there is a track that is fairly discernible. Although viz was poor I found the cairn for the top and passed it to the left dropping to the next col and the ascent to Sgor Gaoith. I passed a couple here who told me they'd had glorious clear views from the top. I was getting worried that I wouldn't be able to see my sandwich under my nose!
- The summit emerging
- Getting closer
Then all of a sudden it cleared and I was greeted by amazing views of the craggy outcrop at the peak, Loch Einich, across the loch to Einich Cairn and Braeriach. There's also a glimpse of Loch Morlich and Meall a' Bhuachaille. I was also pleased to see Ben Rinnes off in the distance which I live on the western slope of. Although I couldn't make out my house!
- The craggy outcrop at the peak
- Loch Einich
- 2 other walkers descending
I thought rather than descending the way I came up I'd consider dropping to the ext hill along the ridge, Sgòran Dubh Mór, for another view to the North then drop back to the col and down and up and down etc along the 3 bumps including Geal Charn (920m) the join the path at GR870010(ish) and back to the road that way.
Sadly as I reached the top the clouds had dropped again, it was after 3pm and I decided against it and returned to Sgor Gaoith and my original path. Bloody typically the clouds cleared again and I was blessed with some more amazing views.
- My loyal walking partner, Barnie
The wander down was a dawdle and I reached the car again just as it was getting dark. A thoroughly enjoyable walk all-in-all.