Meall nan Caorach and Meall Reamhar

[wjshaw2]

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

A good wee walk with Dad. A reed bunting seen next to the car was the most exciting wildlife, apart from the barrel-rolling raven. About 6 ravens in all in the glen, a skylark or two, a wheatear, two grouse, and lots of meadow pippits. On the ground, lots of tracks from where wee beasties had carved out tunnels beneath the snow, several hares in various stages of white-brownness (and a few hare skeletons), and any number of frogs and frog spawn. The frog spawn mainly seemed doomed to death - either in puddles that will dry up or on the track where it will be run over. Poor wee tadpoleys.

Parking was the biggest issue with this walk. You can park in Amulree, I suspect, but Dad didn't want to add that much distance onto the walk so we parked as near as we could to the track to the cottage, Girron, about half a km south, where the car can get up onto the verge, if right up against the fence and where cars have a chance of spotting it on a straight.

It's a straightforward route, following the track up the Girron Burn as far it goes up the side of the hill and then cutting off it up to Creag Ghorm and on to Meall nan Caorach. We descended by the stream to the south of the top and hummed and hawed about whether to go up Meall Reamhar. In the end we walked back until we got to the gate in the (new) fence which runs between the summits and then headed up the steepest possible route to the top after all.

Walking up that route was okay, but the new fence has currently left lots of old fence and wire all over the place, so please be careful if you are coming down the straight way between these two Grahams.

From the top of Meall Reamhar is a gentle and lightly tussocky descent back to where the track meets the Girron Burn. There is a rickety bridge there, but I didn't trust it.

A good walk in good company with the best weather of the year so far.

NW to the Tay Munros over Amulree and a jaunty camera position

From top of Meall nan Caorach, NE over windfarm to southern Cairngorms

Kids' helium balloons have to end up somewhere, very often it's up in the hills. This is my second balloon remains of the year so far.

NE from top of Meall Reamhar with Meall nan Caorach hiding behind Dad