free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I planned a return to the Monadhliath's following the washout from 2 weeks earlier. I needed a short walk for the first day to make time for a leisurley drive to Sheramore Lodge where I was going to stay with a friend.
Setting of at 9am I think I must have lucked out with Bear Scotland doing their only work for the year. There were 6 sets of roadworks on the way, including a 10 minute wait at Huntley where no vehicles moved in either direction.
I finally arrived at 1130 am, and had lunch and a quick chat with Wendy who lives in one of the houses at the lodge whilst working as the chef. She had spoken to the head Stalker to let him know I would be up on the hill and where I planned to walk. It's a really busy time up at Sheramore at this time of year.
The route up from the back of the lodge is fairly direct. For anyone fancying this route there are ample layby parking spots just 100m down from the lodge on the Old Military road.
Crossing the River Spey using the old metal bridge and turning left up the track ignore the first track off to the right after about 100m and continue up to the new pylon construction road. The track continues after crossing this, but if you want to avoid a stream crossing a little bit further on cross the construction road bridge on the left and turn up right to follow back up along the stream until regaining the track.
- River Crossing of Spey.
I followd the track up into the newly fenced off forrestry and decided to go up the right hand side of Allt Dubh. The holes are dug here for the new planting of tress and I discovered on the return route it's better just to stick to the ATV track up thorugh the fenced forrestry bit off to the left of Allt Dubh and out of the gate at the top end.
Through the new gate and then the old my I crossed the wet grassland north and then Northwest to start the ascent up towards Beinn Sgiath. From here you get your first view of Geal Charn.
- First view of Geal Charn
The heather/grass hopping, and stream crossing ensuid until I joined up with an ATV track which seemed to wind it's way a lot and I wandered off a few times convinced it wasn't going to lead up to Geal Charn, only to join up and follow it later up.
Once past the summit of Beinn Sgaith the summit of Geal Charn is not far beyond. Unfortunately my I phone camera messed up at the summit as I had selected the forward camera whilst trying to take a pic and that camera has been broken since the phone got soaked a few weeks back.
Return was via the ATV track the whole way. It was a bit steep and slippery in places, but the views of Sherrammmore, and beyoond to Laggan were beautiful.
- The ATV track back down to Sherramore Lodge.
