An Sgarsoch
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:17 pmMost sane and sensible people use bicycles for this long route so it was no real surprise to find Pigeon and myself setting off at 6 in the morning from Linn of Dee on foot . One small outbreak of common sense meant that we were wearing trainers for the track section with boots tucked away for the hills and bogs later on .
It had been fairly wild overnight but by dawn the wind had dropped a bit although there were still plenty of heavy showers as we made our way along to White Bridge and then to the ruin at the meeting point of Bynack and Geldie Burn .
We had read warnings of a couple of awkward river crossings but thankfully the Allt Dhaidh Mor and the Geldie Burn were low and a bit of a hop skip and jump saw us across both of them .
The trainers were definitely a good idea ,making the 12km to Geldie lodge fairly easy going and pain free .
We had a bite to eat and changed into boots for the next stage which was basically upwards into the rain , cloud and wind .
A fine stalkers path led across the moor before we cut off to head for An Sgarsoch, hacking through long heather and bog before we gained some height and the going got a bit easier underfoot .
This was a bit of a slog but eventually we arrived at the summit , stopped for about two minutes then sped off westwards to try to get a bit of shelter . Things then got a whole lot cheerier when the cloud started to break and we could see the route ahead and even some blue sky above .
By the time we had crossed the bealach and started up Carn an Fhidhleir the sun was out and a pleasant stroll brought us to the summit with fine views all around .
The wind was still biting so a wee outcrop was found for shelter and a grand picnic of doughnuts ,vegetable samosas and pain au chocolat was consumed before we headed down to pick up the end of the stalkers path .
Back at Geldie Lodge boots were swapped for trainers again and we set off on the long road home , stopping to give some left over goodies to a very friendly pony .
About halfway back we were caught by a heavy shower so waterproofs on and heads down , thankfully by the time we reached White Bridge the sun was out again and it was a pleasant walk to Linn of Dee , meeting the first couple of folk we had seen all day .
A great long walk this , even on a blustery day like we had . I think we were both amazed at how good our feet felt after wearing trainers for most of this , definitely the way to go if you can’t ride a bicycle!
- Early start
It had been fairly wild overnight but by dawn the wind had dropped a bit although there were still plenty of heavy showers as we made our way along to White Bridge and then to the ruin at the meeting point of Bynack and Geldie Burn .
- Dawn at Bynack Burn
We had read warnings of a couple of awkward river crossings but thankfully the Allt Dhaidh Mor and the Geldie Burn were low and a bit of a hop skip and jump saw us across both of them .
- Allt Dhaidh Mor
- Crossing Geldie Burn
The trainers were definitely a good idea ,making the 12km to Geldie lodge fairly easy going and pain free .
- Geldie Lodge
- Onwards across the moor
A fine stalkers path led across the moor before we cut off to head for An Sgarsoch, hacking through long heather and bog before we gained some height and the going got a bit easier underfoot .
- Not happy , rain and wind .
- Happy , rain wind and cairn !
This was a bit of a slog but eventually we arrived at the summit , stopped for about two minutes then sped off westwards to try to get a bit of shelter . Things then got a whole lot cheerier when the cloud started to break and we could see the route ahead and even some blue sky above .
- Across to Carn an Fhidhleir
By the time we had crossed the bealach and started up Carn an Fhidhleir the sun was out and a pleasant stroll brought us to the summit with fine views all around .
- Pigeon on his final Cairngorm
- Enjoying the sunshine :)
- Hmm , that's actually quite a long way back !
The wind was still biting so a wee outcrop was found for shelter and a grand picnic of doughnuts ,vegetable samosas and pain au chocolat was consumed before we headed down to pick up the end of the stalkers path .
- On the path back to the lodge
Back at Geldie Lodge boots were swapped for trainers again and we set off on the long road home , stopping to give some left over goodies to a very friendly pony .
- Doughnut time .
About halfway back we were caught by a heavy shower so waterproofs on and heads down , thankfully by the time we reached White Bridge the sun was out again and it was a pleasant walk to Linn of Dee , meeting the first couple of folk we had seen all day .
- Linn of Dee getting closer
- Looking back , the two Munros in the distance
A great long walk this , even on a blustery day like we had . I think we were both amazed at how good our feet felt after wearing trainers for most of this , definitely the way to go if you can’t ride a bicycle!
- 42k later ;)
