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Two weeks ago my tally of Munros sat at 42 but when I checked to see how many times I had stood on the summit of a Munro the figure I came up with was 136 - in other words I have certain hills I just seem to keep going back to and I don't jump in the car and do new hills as often as I should.
The plan was to get my total up to 50 as quickly as possible so 2 trips to Glen Lyon on the last couple of weekends gave me another 6 newbies and I was on 48 heading into today.
Heading up the A9 the valley floor was misty but I do a lot of walking around Dunkeld and Loch Ordie so I know how common this is and that the chances were that a little bit higher up and the mist would have cleared and that turned out to be the case as I parked up near Loch Moraig at 8.30.
- Carn Liath from car park
- Loch Moraig
Another morning of blue sky, a warm sun and no hint of a breeze so another Factor 50 day in store. By the time I had walked along the track and was turning off for Carn Liath I was already sweating - the climb was going to be tough.
- Carn Liath getting closer
- Looking back towards Dunkeld
I found the walk up Carn Liath the hardest part of the day, a fairly steady steep climb and a completely flat calm morning so no breeze to cool me down. Shades back in the rucksack as they don't have windscreen wipers.
- Climb up Carn Liath
It was a great feeling to get the steep part of the climb finished with the last little stretch on a much easier gradient.
- Gradient gets easier
Summit reached, I think I can feel a breeze.............................wonderful

- Carn Liath Summit - low cloud still sitting in the valley floor
- Targets 2 & 3
I loved the ridge walk over to Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhaigain, an easy track to follow with wonderful views all around and hill 2 looking very imposing. Having suffered from "jelly legs" on Carn Liath I got my strength back on the ridge walk helped by the fact that there was a good breeze picking up which helped to keep me cool.
- Heading towards BCCB
- Lower slopes of BCCB
The gradient on the lower slopes of BCCB was initially quite steep but eased towards the top and it was a fairly straight forward walk over to the summit of the 2nd top of the day - IT'S FIFTY!!
- Summit of BCCB looking towards Carn nan Gabhar
I only stopped at the summit for 5 minutes before heading off for the 3rd top of the day.
- Heading towards Bealach an Fhiodha
I took a track that headed left of the little top between BCCB and Carn nan Gabhar and then banked round to the right and dropped down to the bealach before starting the final climb of the day.
- Starting the climb up to Carn nan Gabhar
Now that the temperature had dropped and the breeze was getting stronger I had my climbing legs back and the walk up to Carn nan Gabhar was fairly quick and easy. I took in the three different tops, firstly a large cairn followed by a trig point and then a further cairn which is the actual summit.
- Looking back towards hills 1 and 2
Decision time for the route back to the car, I had considered heading back and doing the lower top (Argiod Bheinn) but having looked at the drop off it looked really steep so decided just to head back to Bealach an Fhioda and head down the track from there.
- View from Bealach an Fhiodha
The track is a bit boggy in places and at times difficult to follow but it doesn't take long before the stalker's path on the other side of the burn comes in to view. It's worth stopping a couple of times to look round at the hills just climbed, a fantastic view.
Once over the burn the track is on spongy soft peat and easy on the feet but fairly up and down (and boggy in places) so quite tiring and it seems to take longer than expected to reach the hut by Carn Liath which has been in view for ages but never seemed to be getting any closer. At one point the track forked and I took the right hand option which kept closer to the hills on my right. No idea if this was the correct choice, I assumed both paths would link up with the main track so it probably didn't make any difference. I eventually lost the path but the main track was only about 200 yards away so it was just a case of trying to find the driest route.
- A quick break to look back at the view
Back on the track it's noticeable that the breeze has disappeared and the heat has increased so it's hot work for the last couple of miles back to the car.
- Wooden hut just before the climb starts on Carn Liath
- Last shot of Carn Liath as I head past
- View from car park
Another brilliant day, easier walking than the last couple of weeks as the breeze kept the temp down. Great visibility and three really enjoyable hills (although Carn Liath felt like a bit of a slog in the heat).
No idea why it's taken me so long to do these hills as every time I head north on the dual carriageway of the A9 north of Pitlochry I always look up to Carn Liath and tell Andrea I'm going to climb it - finally it's done.
And, I'm now on 51, a fairly pathetic total compared to many but a bit of a milestone for me.