Views of The Bad Boys Penis, ahem...
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:05 pm* No actual male genitals included.
Headed to Braemar a few Saturdays ago to attempt Carn A Mhaim and Ben Macdui from Lin of Dee...
Left at 5am from Dundee, didn't eat breakfast (uh oh).
Walked via stunning Glen Lui, with the views slowly opening up, and the Scots Pine glistening in the early morning sunshine. Although bright it was FREEZING! It's quite a long donder along, loads of folk were cleverly on bikes, might consider this in future.
I'll let the piccies speak for themselves...
- Glen Lui
- Beautiful Lui Water
We reached the Derry Lodge soon enough, what a pity it's all boarded up as it's alovely building in a pretty magic setting. Stopped for some breakfast biscuits and a drink. Chatted to a guy here who had stayed the night before at Bob Scott's and was off up Macdui for the 5th or 6th time to do some photography. He was on his second round of the Munros ( I was impressed). Loads of familys camping round about, and what appeared to be a few DoE expeditions. Great seeing so many kids out enjoying the outdoors.
We continued over the 'boggy' bit, it wasn't too bad but I imagine it could be a nightmare after a spell of rubbish weather. Onwards along Glen Luibeg, towards the Luibeg burn, which we crosses by hopping over the boulders...I however slid over on my bum at one bit and managed to rip a hole in my trousers (right of my erse cheek
) Och well excuse to buy a better pair I suppose! Any Recommendations? 
Past here the path begins to climb slowly up the shoulder of Carn A Mhaim, getting suddenly quite steep. I found this a real slog, and was sweating like mad...so off came the layers, and ended up in a T Shirt despite it being quite cold (uh oh). I struggled up, but started to feel really rubbish (uh oh). As the path starts to level out just below the crags, I started feeling shakey and dizzy, and got quite, what I can only decribe as, 'boaktastic'. I struggled onto the summit, finding it difficult to even get one foot in front of the other by now. Mike quickly realised I wasn't right and swamped me with layers, got me out of the wind, forced food into me and made me do the 'helicopter' to get the blood flowing...10 minutes later I felt better, but absolutely shattered. Lesson learned...starting in negative calories and letting yourself get cold does not a happy hillwalker make! ( I'm a terrible nurse!)
Oh yeah.... the summit.....FANTASTIC! It really feels as though you are dwarfed by the surrounding big boys of Macdui, Cairntoul and Braeriach, just wonderful. And yes of couse the Devils Penis ( Did anyone else know this is it what it was originally named until Queen Vic's sensibilities were offended...I'm sure mikes winding me up??? )...what a great looking hill! The Lairig Ghru looked enticing, thats one for another time definately. Again I'll let the photos speak for themselves...
- Devils Point...or Penis apparently!
At this point I had decided it would probably be a bad idea to continue on to Ben Macdui since I still felt crap, I was very aware we had a long walk back, and on reflection I think this was the right decision...The Big Macdui will still be there another time. We did however have a we wonder along the ridge. Quite an interesting wee ridge it is as well. Had some fun posing here...
After that we headed back the way we had came, and I must admit by the time we reached Derry Lodge I was cursing the lucky bikers scooting past us...however by walking we had all the time in the world to savour those views backalong Glen Luibeg....
