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Creag Meagaidh Circuit and an extra liath

Creag Meagaidh Circuit and an extra liath


Postby scottishkennyg » Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:11 pm

Munros included on this walk: Càrn Liath (Creag Meagaidh), Creag Meagaidh, Stob Poite Coire Àrdair

Date walked: 31/03/2013

Time taken: 8 hours

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The prolonged high pressure and a lack of summer greens on the golf course provided another opportunity to head for the hills for another dose of winter walking. This time it was off for the Creag Meagaidh circuit starting from Moy. I dropped off the rucksack in the ditch opposite the houses at Moy and continued along to the Aberarder Car park. I cycled 5 miles back to Moy to uplift ruck sack and got going at 0820. Aiming for Creag na Cailliche and a wee climb up to the main South ridge. I would suggest aiming for the right hand side then up a wee chute to the top level.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 007 (800x410).jpg
Creag na Cailliche - Aim for RHS


A lovely stone dyke wall is provided as a fixed navigation aid and leads right up very easy slopes to the higher ground.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 026 (800x430).jpg
Stone dyke leading up ridge

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View to Spean Bridge munros

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Note variation in height of stone walls


A fence line then takes over and continues up near to the summit cairn. (1020) Great views.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 050 (800x401).jpg
View back down ridge - fence posts on LHS

CreagmeagaidhMar2013 081 (800x284).jpg
Summit looking SW

CreagmeagaidhMar2013 083 (800x269).jpg
Meall Coire Chaoille rais top


I continued east along the ridge toward the Coire Ardair skirting the steep northern corrie and alongside the big chimera shaped cairn.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 091 (800x314).jpg
Northern Corrie of CM

CreagmeagaidhMar2013 097 (800x296).jpg
Summit Cairns contrast


Just before the CA cliffs descend NW down to see through the window. A gradual climb up onto the ridge leads to the first of the two cairns on top of Stob Poite CoireArdair. (1120). this position provided superb views over to the impressive Coire Ardair.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 129 (800x458).jpg
Summit of Stob Poite Coire Ardair

CreagmeagaidhMar2013 156 (800x400).jpg
Coire Ardair with CM in background

CreagmeagaidhMar2013 158 (800x410).jpg
Across to Coire Ardair


An old fence line provides a useful navigation feature to follow along the ridge over the intermediate tops at 1051m and 991m. The ridge walk provides some great views into the Coire a Chriochairein and surrounding mountains.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 167 (800x235).jpg
NE along ridge - fenceline

CreagmeagaidhMar2013 169 (800x355).jpg
Intermediate top cairn

CreagmeagaidhMar2013 181 (800x400).jpg
NE along ridge - nice snow formations


One ice covered section leading down to the final ridge required the use of crampons to avoid a wee fall.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 201 (800x344).jpg
Back up Coire Ardair


The ridge continued easily up to the final summit cairn of Carn Liath at 1006m (1320) Time for some shelter and a wee bit of lunch.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 207 (800x337).jpg
Final wee ridge section up to Carn Liath

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View back down over ridge walk from CL ridge


CreagmeagaidhMar2013 243 (800x314).jpg
View back up to window from slopes of CL


I descended down the snow clad south ridge to lower grassy slopes and back to car at 1520. Easy to see how some people can miss the entrance to the little silverbirch wood as the small cairn looked to have been sabotaged.
I only noticed this as it was exactly where I discovered that my ice axe had decided to part company with the rucksack. Back at the car I decided to change my boots to summer ones and retrace my route back up Carn Liath. I passed 16 people without sign of the missing kit. Some 90 minutes later the runaway kit was found buried in the snow on the ridge. Nice one, note to self to avoid using a carabiner without a locking screw.

Safely reunited with the kit and back in car at 1820 it was time to collect the bike and make a belated date with the chipper at Spean Bridge. A nice view of Big Ben from a north layby sowed the seeds for a future visit.
CreagmeagaidhMar2013 001 (800x290).jpg
Ben Nevis from a layby


On reflection this route up from Moy was very gentle and provided easy access to the summit of Creag Meagaidh with minimal exposure. The use of a bike or two cars makes this a very good way to tackle the whole circuit with the added benefit of starting with the highest munro first and passing everyone else walking the tourist route.

Shame the about the reduced quality of the downloaded images on the blog as the original resolutions are superb. Surely it must be time for the golf season to kick off now.
Last edited by scottishkennyg on Wed May 28, 2014 6:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Creag Meagaidh Circuit and an extra liath

Postby dooterbang » Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:09 pm

I used to play golf until i discovered the hills...give up the golf man :wink:

Nice moontins these.

Cheers
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Re: Creag Meagaidh Circuit and an extra liath

Postby scottishkennyg » Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:44 pm

Cheers dooterbang, like that, but I used to do the hills until I discovered the golf... :crazy: Well done on the February walk and another sound one on the CMD..
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