Travel and Coronavirus

[The Rodmiester]

Last day of the Club weekend at Killin and this was to be the best weather of the weekend, so a reasonable early start was called for with the shortening days already here. After a good scrape of the car windows I left the lodge at Killin and headed on over to Innerwick in Glen Lyon via the Lawers road, with some icy sections evident, but on the whole fine with no problems really, some difference for the same date last year when there was utter turmoil as cars were sliding all over the place with most being abandoned at lower levels. When I was gaining height I found there was another car in front of me, I was to follow this car to the starting point carpark where I was headed. After a wee chat with the couple of lads who were in the car that I had followed I left the car at the signposted carpark on the Megernie Estate at 0845hrs and headed on the track that entered the West side of the carpark. It was going to be a fine cold and dry day.

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The carpark and toilets (closed in the winter) at Innerwick part of the Megernie Estate

Looking back towards Glen Lyon from the track

After a short distance on your right you can see the approach up the Lairig Ghallabhaich which is a right of way to Kinloch Rannoch and also the approach I am to be using for Beinn Dearg the second Corbett there is actually two gates with straining posts to climb over or you can take the track a little further on on your right which is not actually shown on my OS map, either way there is a river crossing to attempt

Looking along the undulating track towards the first Corbett Cam Chreag in the distance

After two bridge crossings and numerous drops in the undulating track you finally come to a corrugated iron shed, I carried on slightly further following the ATV track and headed West over wet and boggy ground in places keeping the wee lochan to my right

Looking back at the small lochan in the foreground with Beinn Dearg and Carn Gorm 1029m in the background

View from the summit cairn loooking West towards Meall Buidhe 931m Carpark to summit inside two hours

On the way back down the track the Lawers range in the distance

Now crossed the river and looking back at the river crossing from the right of way track at the side of the plantation. Tracks make for easy going but once your off the tracks there are no paths it's just a matter of getting over the terrain as best you can

Looking ahead along the good track with the tree plantation on your right, further on more trees on your left

You follow the track as far as you can heading on up the hillside, when the track forks take the right fork as the left fork continues to Kinloch Rannoch. After coming out of the trees it gets very wet and boggy in places for a while until, and as already said no tracks or paths to follow. It's a rounded lump of a hill with not a lot of distictive features, so head off in the direction of the summit. There are two cairns on the summit with the Southerly one the hightest point, with a metal post sticking vertically out of the cairn, on a fine vclear day the views would be superb looking towards the Lawers range

Not wishing to retrace my steps through the mudfest I decided to head on over to the cairn on the North section of the Creag Ard ridge and travel down the ridge in a southerly direction. Once again there are some peat bog jjumping situations but the underfoot conditions are not nearly as wet as the walk in to the summit to Beinn Dearg.

Cairn on the North point of the Creag Ard ridge, looking down the ridge

View up Glen Lyon from the ridge

I came across this cairn on my way down, well down the hillside, not sure why and what it was built for, any ideas?

[Johnny Corbett]

Nice area this Rod, though not the easiest to get to during winter conditions. I did a nice circuit a few years back, taking in the Graham as well. It was a mad rush getting back for work though, only just made it with 5 minutes to spare

[Graeme D]

Looks like a nice wee day out Rod. Two good winter hills which must be why I did them both in the month of July!

[The Rodmiester]

Nice area this Rod, though not the easiest to get to during winter conditions. I did a nice circuit a few years back, taking in the Graham as well. It was a mad rush getting back for work though, only just made it with 5 minutes to spare

Hi JC, just made them before the snow came, I believe there was snow up Glen Lyon yesterday, I fancy going over the road at Lawers to get there in bad conditions. I read your report but I thought I woudn't have time, must be gettting faster in my old age

[The Rodmiester]

Looks like a nice wee day out Rod. Two good winter hills which must be why I did them both in the month of July!

Thought I had better start knocking off some Perthshire hills, and hope to continue throughout the winter. Glad the weather stayed good after missing the previous Sunday. By the way you looked really cold on the Saturday hill at the WH meet. Hope to see you again soon up a hill no doubt!

[Graeme D]

Looks like a nice wee day out Rod. Two good winter hills which must be why I did them both in the month of July!

Thought I had better start knocking off some Perthshire hills, and hope to continue throughout the winter. Glad the weather stayed good after missing the previous Sunday. By the way you looked really cold on the Saturday hill at the WH meet. Hope to see you again soon up a hill no doubt!

Cheers Rod. Aye, the Mamores route that day had it's moments but I've experienced a lot colder, and suspect I may yet experience much colder before this winter is out!