Beinn na Gainimh - It Was Okay

[Gordie12]

Time was limited today, I wanted to see the house in daylight following Thursday's storm to see what damage there was (a BT telephone pole sitting on top of our front wall - a lucky escape as it could easily have hit the house and one broken pane of glass to an outbuilding so could have been worse).

I was walking on the Sma' Glen to Loch Tay Right of Way last weekend when doing a couple of hills from Ardtalnaig and this week I was using the southern end of the same track and starting at Newton Bridge. Being a Friday the parking area by the bridge was empty so loads of space to park and head off towards Auchnafree.

Having read the reports last night I wanted to climb Meall Reamhar (not the Graham 4 miles north at Amulree) and head along the tops towards Beinn na Gainimh but I wasn't sure I would have enough time so instead I just made my way along the RofW.

The track is flat with little in the way of undulation until reaching the right turn before Conichan.

Heading towards Auchnafree

Looking back towards the start

The climb is about to start

Looking back to Meall Reamhar

I read all the reports on this hill before starting but the photo that struck me was from March 2010 (U059361) of a view of the track heading up towards Conichan Castle. This is what this area looks like now.

In the picture from 2010 the track heading towards Beinn na Gainimh is grassy in the middle and a fairly typical hill track and this is the new upgraded version.

This track doesn't muck about with zig-zags it just heads straight up the hill and gets the heart pumping as height is gained. At the high point of the track I decided to leave it and contour round the hillside and head directly towards Beinn na Gainimh (the track drops about 100 -150 metres down to the Henzie Burn). There is a burn to the west of Henzie Burn which I crossed and started to head towards a track I could see on the upper slopes of Beinn na Gainimh.

Burn and track in the distance

I disturbed quite a few white hares in this area, the only wildlife I saw all day (excluding sheep).

Once I linked up with the track I followed it for a couple of hundred yards before leaving it again to head off to the left and wander through the heather towards the top. This is probably a winter hill, it looks to be a bit damp at the top but today it was nice and frozen with a light dusting of snow on top making for good walking.

Summit

Summit with Ben Chonzie beyond

Due to the limited time I just retraced my steps off the top but instead of cutting the corner over the heather I just stuck with the track down to the Henzie Burn.

Handy shelter by the Henzie Burn

On the plus side I had the track all the way but after the Henzie Burn there is another straight line steep climb as I was back on the upgraded track again. The drop down towards the Right of Way was tricky as it was really steep and slippy but luckily the verge could be used quite often.

Once down on the Right of Way the wind had dropped and I started to warm up.

A nice walk, a decent hill but it would definitely have been a better day out if I had had time to walk along the tops rather than sticking to the tracks.

[gmr82]

You got there in the end! Did these after the Amulree Graham's. Cant say I enjoyed the walk back along the RofW after that! I do plan on heading back but in nice weather and just doing your route to be direct. And dont go along the tops if windy, its really really exposed! Glad the house wasnt damaged too badly

[Gordie12]

Hi Gav

Read your report the night before and thought you had some "navigational issues" until I checked the OS and saw the 2 Meall Reamhars 4 miles apart

Did you get any hills done in Aberdeenshire at the weekend???

Luckily the pole fell at the angle it did otherwise it would have taken out the corner of the house (just where the TV is ).