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High above Gleann Einich on the Eastern flank of Creag Dubh the last top on the North of the Moine Mor is a huge boulder on an exposed point called Clach Mhic Cailein or in the inferior tongue "the Argyll stone".
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- Clach Mhic Cailein
In 1644 when Alasdair Mhic Colla Ciotach was learning the Marquis of Montrose how to fight his army of Gaels were moving across the country from Aberdeen shire to the Spey, they intending using the ferry-boats on the river to pass over to the West Highlands .They found Mhic Cailein Mor with Clann Dairmid barring the way so they skulked in forest of Abernethy for a few days, before slipping through the forest of Rothiemurchis ,over the hills down into Badenoch ,guided by local men.
Tradition tells us that Argyll saw their tails disappearing into the distance from this stone ,although he would watch them again six months later from his galley in the Linnhe Dubh as Alasdair destroyed the Campbell power for a generation at Inverlochy on the 2nd February 1645.
May the Great General Alasdair Mac Colla Ciotach never be forgotten
Co dhui bha robh mi riamh ann an Ghlinne ... The nearest I have ever got to Glen feshie was playing Shinty at Kincraig at Inshes so this is new country for me
There is a fine river and some old Guithsach and compared to the Gaidhealtachd an Iar very dry underfoot !
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- An abhainn
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- Coille Guithsach
We took an anti clock wise route to get to Mullach Clach na Bhlair then Sgorr Gaoithe the theory being get a warm up along the flat before the ascent .
It worked out just fine and we were soon on the road up to the first Munro I ve done this far NE
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- An rathad ura
Agus dh aithghearr tha thu suas ard .......a bit of a slog but in no time your up a good height with views all around An Moine Mor
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- Sealtainn air ais
There seems to be a lot of tracks in this area , I m no fussed about them either way to be honest and I don't think they detract all that much from the scenery, amazing what lengths folk will go to shoot a few birds and deer. There cant be much of a challenge getting driven up in a 4x4 for the plastic huntsmen
Not much to say about Mullach Clach na Bhlair but at least its tioram/dry and Sgorr Gaoithe looks a deal better
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- Sgorr Gaoithe
Bha an t side tioram ...the weather was dry and probably not the most exciting of topography it would be a different fish up her in a white out though as there is no a lot of distinguishing features !
On another day I might have been minded to tackle Braigh Riabhaich she does not look to far off
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- Braigh Riabhaich
Co dhui .. we were soon on the summit of Sgorr Gaoithe and a better sealtainn from here with a good drop down into the loch
The weather started to turn a wee bit here so we were no long at the carn
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- Carn
It did not stay wet for long and we found ourselves heading back down in quick time to Carn Ban Mor
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- Carn Ban Mor
It is a quick shift down the coire and we were back at the car for 4.30pm a total of seven hours for the two hills with about a half hour stop.
That is my first time on the Moine Mor it has something to offer but i might no rush back to these two for a repeat and i was glad to do the circuit in an anti clockwise direction for it was tiring enough .
Going back to the start of this report i would maintain Alasdair Mac Colla Ciotach was wise to be heading back to the West ........ he is a man after my own heart
Mac Colla Gasda
