Carn an Fhidhleir & An Sgarsoch

[inca]

First bike and hike! Picked up hired MTB from Braemar Sports and set off from Linn of Dee car park at 0800 hrs. Followed WH route -the same as McNeish- on a bright sunny day. Mixed feelings about the bike. Saddle sore within 10 mins - seat was like 2 blunt craft knife blades T-shaped together and initial cycle was made into strong head wind. Pedal cranks also kept catching on raised sections of path. Having tried and failed to pad it with fleece, settled into rythym of 15 mins standing out of seat, 5 mins walking alongside bike. Bike was however useful at 3 water crossings; if only as as a balance prop. Nonetheless made it to Geldie Lodge ruin within 90 mins. Didn't pass a soul. Liked Geldie very much. Made for good black and white pics. WH said shelter at rear was 'unappealing' but I'd quite happily sleep there for a night.

Left bike there and continued on foot on stalkers path to slopes of CaF. Slogged up to north ridge and easy walk to summit. Great views, particularly towards Braeriach and Derry Cairngorm. Hung about on summit for 20 mins or so and then headed off towards AS. The area has an air of desolation.

Followed contouring path round minor hill as directed and looked for it to drop to south. Didn't happen - describing land between the two as a bealach seems a bit optimistic to me. Cut back and down steep slopes and then sharp re-ascent to summit of AS. Meet fellow WH member PeteR at summit cairn. Had a brief chat; again magnificient views to main Cairngorms. Dropped down northern slopes to reach stalkers path leading back to Geldie Lodge. Brief chat with PeteR again and then outward route by bike. Big bonus here - back to Linn of Dee within 40 mins. Would have been a long, long, day otherwise. Dropped bike back to hire shop at back of 5 -staff still there on a Sunday- and headed back to Edinburgh.

Good day out overall and some decent pics on Mac.