GlenEy5Oct2013 172 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
To arrive at the picturesque Alanour Lodge ruins at 850. A view through the window of the ruins to Beinn Lutharn Mhor.
GlenEy5Oct2013 009 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I chose a steep climb up to Carn Creagach with views over to BLM
GlenEy5Oct2013 010 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
And further on the Beinn a Ghlo looking grand with the clouds..
GlenEy5Oct2013 015 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
then along ridge passed a posing hare
GlenEy5Oct2013 013 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
then up to the flat stony summit of Carn Bhac at 1035.
A view over to the bigger cairn gorms and the devils point.
GlenEy5Oct2013 025 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
looking ahead to Carn nan Righ with Beinn a Ghlo in background.
GlenEy5Oct2013 026 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I continued SW navigating 3km of wet peat and hag to 812m,
GlenEy5Oct2013 031 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
then climbed steeply into the stony corrie with a nice little lochan
GlenEy5Oct2013 037 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
and contoured to catch ridge leading to summit of Beinn Lutharn Mhor at 1200.
View back over to Carn Bhac
GlenEy5Oct2013 040 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
View ahead SW to Glas Tulaichean
GlenEy5Oct2013 048 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I descended south for 1km then headed SW to col, view from ridge across to GT.
GlenEy5Oct2013 053 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Stashed rucksack at col then climbed up west ridge to summit of Carn an Righ at 1315.
View over to BaG
GlenEy5Oct2013 055 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Across to Lairig Ghru
GlenEy5Oct2013 059 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Back N over to previous two munros..
GlenEy5Oct2013 061 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Stony summit of CnR looking south
GlenEy5Oct2013 067 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I returned to col and headed SE to cross Allt a Ghlinng Mhor before traversing up sharp flank to reach broad grass ridge
GlenEy5Oct2013 077 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
which led to summit of Glas Tulaichean at 1430. Looking North..
GlenEy5Oct2013 082 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Toward last munro of the day in the distance
GlenEy5Oct2013 085 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Toward Loch nan Eun and An Socach
GlenEy5Oct2013 093 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I pushed on down NE ridge to Loch Nan Eun , I climbed the wee hillock to gain a better view of the loch.
GlenEy5Oct2013 104 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
GlenEy5Oct2013 108 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Outfall from loch, seemed like a great location to camp..
GlenEy5Oct2013 115 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I then followed the E side before crossing 2km of heather and peat, hard going but even harder if you were carrying a heavy pack like these four walkers on the horizon..
GlenEy5Oct2013 119 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
To reach south ridge of An Socach with a hard 20 minute of sheer ascent. View back down and looking south.
GlenEy5Oct2013 131 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
To the broad stone covered summit with two cairns on the West top at 1620.
GlenEy5Oct2013 138 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Fifth Munro of the day .... Grand views all around and some interesting colour collages.
GlenEy5Oct2013 147 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
looking south back over walk
GlenEy5Oct2013 150 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
GlenEy5Oct2013 152 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
I proceeded N over stony ground to the steep heather descent
GlenEy5Oct2013 157 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
to cross the river then follow the path back to the ruins at 1720.
GlenEy5Oct2013 008 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
Then it was an easy cycle back down the glen with some photo stops to capture the colourful skyline, autumnal flora and fauna
GlenEy5Oct2013 170 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
GlenEy5Oct2013 171 by scottishkennyg, on Flickr
GlenEy5Oct2013 172
to arrive back at the car at 1750.
The return drive in the car was anxious to say the least. First of all the garage in Braemar was shut as I passed at 1800. Then refuel light came on. And to avoid excess prose, I had an ultra-fretful coast back to Grantown for diesel. For those not familiar with the environment, suffice to say, remote and exposed, sparsely populated, no pavements or streetlights, extreme gradients up and down (20%) and to cap it all no mobile phone coverage. On this occasion I think someone was looking out for me as I was fortunate enough to nurse the VW Jetta 1.9 Tdi car to Grantown on Spey on what must have been close to fresh air as fuel and the forces of gravity.
MORAL, please fuel before entering this area.
The walk? It was long, physically demanding but very rewarding with fantastic scenery and wildlife.
The route, mainly pathless over some unpleasant boggy sections which would be featureless and awkward during poor visibility, but did enable a good circuit of 5 grand Munros in a long day, with the option to put in contingencies for foul weather.
done same as you cycled to the ruins when doing these 5.
