Walkhighlands

Boxing day and a chance to get out in the hills again. Sick Kid's stuck at work so it's me on my own and it's Corbett time. Didn't think I could manage to squeeze the 5 around Tyndrum into a short light day, so opted for Beinn Udlaidh & Bhreac-Liath instead. It was rainy and claggy driving up which didn't fill me with much enthusiasm initially, but the day turned out well from a weather perspective.


P1050547 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Parked just after the bridge at Invergaunan farm and headed past the cottage, clearly upsetting a disgruntled looking group of cows who mooed menacingly but didn't pursue me. Followed the edge of the river, planning to climb Udlaidh first of all, but came to try and cross the river and decided it was too deep and fast flowing to safely get across. Rethink called for - let's do Bhreac Liath first and finish on Udlaidh. I'd noticed a landrover track on the other side of the river which I guessed (correctly) came out at the gate where I'd left the car, which would mean no river crossing needed on the return leg.

Udlaidh

P1050548 by 23weasels, on Flickr

River - not crossing that!

P1050549 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Only problem with this change of plan was a steeper climb up the flank of Bhreac-Liath than if I'd headed up the shoulder of this hill. This revealed just how unfit I am at present, as I had to keep stopping for a breather after every 100 double paces Eventually I did manage up onto the shattered stone strewn plateau. Was icy up here and a bit of wind chill. Reached the small summit cairn then pressed on westward heading for the bealach I'd seen earlier joining the two hills.

Bealach

P1050550 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Steep going up Bhreac Liath

P1050551 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Udlaidh

P1050552 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Plateau

P1050555 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Summit Bhreac Liath

P1050556 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Happy to be out here

P1050557 by 23weasels, on Flickr

There's a drop of about 200m down to the bealach and the main hazard was streams covered by snow which led to unpleasant surprises to the unwary. As I had my new boots on today my feet fortunately remained dry despite the occasional plunge. Stopped for lunch on a big quartzite boulder then followed some hare tracks up towards Udlaidh.

Towards Glen Lochy

P1050559 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Lochan na bi

P1050561 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Heading on up the sun came out and I had a bit of a hunt to find the cairn - surprising as it's a large cairn surrounded by assorted debris. Met another walker and his dog.

Cairn Udlaidh

P1050562 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1050564 by 23weasels, on Flickr

North from the cairn

P1050565 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Cloud swathes

P1050566 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Beinn Dorain

P1050567 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Now it was a matter of heading NE until the tree line was reached. On the way you walk alongside a spine of quartzite rock.

Looking back over to Bhreac Liath

P1050568 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Quartzite spine

P1050572 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1050574 by 23weasels, on Flickr


P1050576 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Still some autumn colour left

P1050578 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Down through the trees, startling a pair of deer who leapt over the fence deeper into the forest, then joining up with the track at the bottom. As I suspected this brought me right out at the spot I'd parked the car. A very enjoyable day out.


P1050579 by 23weasels, on Flickr

News from Glen Orchy..... oops? I had forgotten that the tops can be approached from both sides? Even more of a dump on Udlaidh now with the mast on the ground.

I did that river crossing last year in considerably drier conditions and it was quite a handful then so not surprised you didn't fancy it.