Bothy Adventures and the Tarf Six

[weaselmaster]

I’d been looking for a suitable weekend to make it round the Tarf 6 with Sick Kid – I’d done the Munros on the circuit last April but she needed to pick up the hills and it makes no sense to try and do these hills as singles from an efficient use of kilometres perspective. We’d decided to reverse the route I’d taken and do an evening walk in to the bothy at Allt Sheicheachan, tackle 4 of the hills the next day ending up at the Tarf Hotel and do the last two on the final day as a walk out. Seemed reasonable, however, we’d never stayed in bothies before and were both a bit apprehensive about the crazed folk that can inhabit such places – so we packed the tent to be on the safe side.

Got to the car park at Bridge of Tilt for about 6.30 and reckoned on being at the bothy in 2 hours. The forecast for the weekend had steadily worsened, with our old friend the wind being predicted to be gusting up to 65mph – oh joy! However, so many weekends recently have been windswept that we’re just getting used to getting pulverised. The walk in was quite pleasant – the light held til we arrived at the bothy, but other than a buzzard soaring in the distance there was no sign of life. There were signs of industrialisation however, with a new pipeline being bulldozed into the hillside of Glen Bruar, behind the bothy – that was new from last time I’d been here. We found the place already inhabited by a couple of very posh St Andrew’s students (are there any other kind of St Andrew’s students?). They’d had a consignment of logs delivered that day for their stay and were very friendly and obliging. We chatted for a bit, enjoyed the warmth from their logs while we polished off our very healthy M&S salads then decided to head next door for the sleeping platform in the attic rather than have to suffer conversation. A we were leaving another walker arrived who did decide to stay in the warmer part of the hoose.

Starting the walk in
P1000839 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Looking back south
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Bothy in the twilight
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Comfy night's rest
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I was glad to have been in the bothy as the wind howled all night and there was a period of heavy rain around 4am which would have resulted in having to carry a wet, therefore heavier, tent around all day. We breakfasted and set off for Beinn Dearg at a modest start time of 9.30. It’s a steady climb up the zigzag path then onto boggy heather. Not much snow left, the landscape predominantly dark brown from the heather. Near the summit we could look north to where the Monadh Ruadh glistened white in the sunshine. At the top we met the other walker from last night enjoying a piece – he looked a healthy old man who said his Munro days were pretty much over but he liked long walks – he was planning to walk to the Tarf Hotel and back.

Bothy in the morning light, students still sleeping inside
P1000845 by 23weasels, on Flickr

View back from BD
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Approaching top BD
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View North
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Summit BD
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We both set off down the northern slopes of Dearg where there was more snow cover and parted company at the Tarf Water where we crossed and had lunch before starting up Beinn Bhreac. This is a fairly easy 300m ascent and apart from some bog at the bottom was accomplished without difficulty. We set off down the NE shoulder towards Cnap a’Choire Chreagaich and encountered a big herd of deer in the distance, who milled around for a bit before catching a whiff of us and disappearing fast.

Heading off to Beinn Bhreac
P1000854 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000855 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Beinn Bhreac
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Summit BB
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Deer mob
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On over peat hags then up the easy grassy slopes of Carn Ealar, the wind pressing us along from behind. At the cairn we saw across to the Feshie hills of Mullach Clach a’Bhlair and Beinn Bhrotain, as well as the drop down that we’d have to undertake to get the final hill of the day, An Sgarsoch. Ach well…The wind blasted across us as we headed southwards then descended, mostly by a lengthy bum slide, into the dip between the two hills. More peat hags to traverse then up the steady gradient to AS. The wind turned up another notch at the summit and it was quite difficult to remain upright. Over the rocky ground towards Sron na Macranaich and off in the distance we could see the Tarf Hotel aside the river. It took a fair time to get down this hillside and we deviated a bit further east than my route suggested, which meant that the river crossings of the tributaries of the Tarf Water were nearer the river and therefore more substantial - we decided that, due to a lack of stepping stones to simply wade across in boots & gaiters – this worked OK for the first crossing but by the third and deepest crossing just before the Hotel it was a case of sodden boots/socks and trousers to the knee. Sick Kid, who hates river crossings at the best of times was ready for my blood.

Towards Carn Ealar
P1000863 by 23weasels, on Flickr

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Summit CE
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An Sgarsoch from CE
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Snow and Blue Skies
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Quick way down CE
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Summit AS
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Wild & windswept look
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View down to the Tarf Water & Bothy
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Tarf Hotel
P1000877 by 23weasels, on Flickr

We got to the Hotel, to find it unoccupied and very recently refurbished, with newly laid floor, doors and a selection of new sleeping platforms. Looks great, and clearly should get another AA ‘star’ now. It was around 5.30 and I reckoned we’d get some company given that it was a Saturday night. We tidied up a bit and I manifestly failed to get a fire lit – although there was quite a lot of trash wood from the refurb, there wasn’t enough dry kindling to get a fire going, so with cold and wet toes we headed for the sleeping bags after a pleasant meal of noodles with extra chopped vegetables. As night fell a big yellow moon arose in the sky, bathing the bothy in light. I lay awake waiting for hordes of carry-out carrying party-goers coming over the hills to take over the place, but no-one arrived at all and we had a quiet, if cold, night.

P1000878 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Tidying up
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The parlour
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New sleeping platforms
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I was a bit achy after a day with full pack when I rose the next morning, but some porridge and a few stretches helped. Once we packed up we headed for Meall Tionail which had a steepish snow clad section, then through more peat hags to Conlach Bheag before the final climb up to Carn a’Chlamain. To our left were the hills of Beinn a’Ghlo, tops concealed by a line of cloud.

Leaving Tarf Hotel
P1000883 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Bit of steepish snow up Meall Tionail
P1000886 by 23weasels, on Flickr

View to Carn a'Chlamain
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CaC
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Summit view CaC
P1000892 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Summit CaC
P1000894 by 23weasels, on Flickr


It was very windy up at the summit and we didn’t linger long, heading west to get our final hill of the weekend, Beinn Mheadhonach. I hadn’t climbed this one when I did the circuit previously. For a few moments I tried to convince myself that we were heading for the benign gentle slopes of the hill I could see ahead, but that turned out to be Braigh Clais Daimh and not the hill we were after at all, which came into sight behind it as a steep sided and somewhat intimidating hill. With a big drop to cross to reach it, of course. We were both a bit sore from the big packs and the buffeting by the wind, but it had to be done. As we drew nearer, what had looked like horribly steep grassy slopes did begin to appear more manageable, but we still took a more gentle line of ascent than I’d originally plotted. In fact, it wasn’t that bad. In some places we were shielded for the wind, which meant that we got hot from the effects of sunshine and exertion, then the wind would blast us again. We made it up to the lengthy summit plateau, with patches of snow to cross, before we got to the pile of stones apparently randomly dumped on one part of level ground that looked neither higher nor lower than its surroundings. Not a very dramatic summit. Over to the right the cliffs of Beinn a Chait were ominous – dark rock with a line of snow. At this point the weather closed in, with a brief snow shower. It didn’t last long and we headed south down the long whaleback of the hill, over springy heather with a good path.

P1000897 by 23weasels, on Flickr

View towards Glen Tilt
P1000899 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Beinn Mheadhonach
P1000903 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Another river crossing...
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Summit BM
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Sick Kid just managing to stay upright
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Weather coming in
P1000912 by 23weasels, on Flickr

The sun came out again as we headed down to the bridge over the Allt Mhairc – a real old-fashioned proper stone bridge with a troll underneath and everything. Then along the lovely Glen Tilt with the shots from the rifle range reverberating around the hillside. We had to take the diverted route over Gilbert’s Bridge due to the shooters, but this gave a good look at the course of the River Tilt, with dramatic clefts cut through the rock. The rain came on as we wandered through the woodlands back to the car park. It had been a great weekend and a good introduction to bothy life – should have remembered to pack a little kindling and a firelighter or two as that would have improved the Tarf Hotel experience significantly. I’d definitely recommend tackling the Tarf 6 this way round though (unless you’re a Monty and can just do it in a day).

Descent route
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The changing landscapes through Glen Tilt...
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[Silverhill]

Exactly my thought, combining these in one trip from Old Blair! A very handy report for me for my upcoming munro bashing holiday. Glad to hear that crossing Tarf water wasn't too problematic if you don't mind getting wet....
Superb effort! Kind of you to allow Alison to catch up with your munro tally.

[weaselmaster]

Kind of you to allow Alison to catch up with your munro tally.

I don't think I've actually got a choice with that

[basscadet]

Oh that looked really braw I really enjoyed reading it.

I tried this route a couple of years ago, but it was full on winter. -18 in Allt Sheicheachan made for a chilly night, and knee deep snow made for a struggle and had to cut a bit out of the route to make it
I think it was the first WR I posted on here.. Sheer madness!

No axe in the tarf to make kindling? I wonder what happened to it.. Candles are also good firelighters I have found

[pvanlieshout]

Inspired by this report, me and the Mrs had a similar adventure over the last few days minus the wet weather. Didn't do both Corbetts but added Carn nan Gabhar at the end for good measure. Had a fantastic time. Just love the remoteness of these munros. Amazingly met someone on Carn a Chlamain on Saturday who mentioned you and said you were 'completing' yesterday. Hope you enjoyed it and had good weather. We had a great time and are indebted to you for writing such an inspiring report. We had 3 nights out mind you, camping and using the Tarf Hotel one night. We are novices and couldn't quite manage it as quickly as you! Remembering your report and your dilemma with the wet socks we took river shoes (which we didn't need of course because it was pretty dry) ,but we also took fire lighters and left them at the Tarf Hotel so a poor soul arriving in a similar state to you will hopefully have less of a chilly end to their day. Thanks again ,will be reading some of your other reports for further inspiration!

[weaselmaster]

:thumbup: Inspired by this report, me and the Mrs had a similar adventure over the last few days minus the wet weather. Didn't do both Corbetts but added Carn nan Gabhar at the end for good measure. Had a fantastic time. Just love the remoteness of these munros. Amazingly met someone on Carn a Chlamain on Saturday who mentioned you and said you were 'completing' yesterday. Hope you enjoyed it and had good weather. We had a great time and are indebted to you for writing such an inspiring report. We had 3 nights out mind you, camping and using the Tarf Hotel one night. We are novices and couldn't quite manage it as quickly as you! Remembering your report and your dilemma with the wet socks we took river shoes (which we didn't need of course because it was pretty dry) ,but we also took fire lighters and left them at the Tarf Hotel so a poor soul arriving in a similar state to you will hopefully have less of a chilly end to their day. Thanks again ,will be reading some of your other reports for further inspiration!

Thanks for the kind words.
Quite a coincidence, your meeting on the hill....who was that, I wonder?
As you can read from my report, the Compleation went well, despite the weather

[ceaser]

:thumbup: Inspired by this report, me and the Mrs had a similar adventure over the last few days minus the wet weather. Didn't do both Corbetts but added Carn nan Gabhar at the end for good measure. Had a fantastic time. Just love the remoteness of these munros. Amazingly met someone on Carn a Chlamain on Saturday who mentioned you and said you were 'completing' yesterday. Hope you enjoyed it and had good weather. We had a great time and are indebted to you for writing such an inspiring report. We had 3 nights out mind you, camping and using the Tarf Hotel one night. We are novices and couldn't quite manage it as quickly as you! Remembering your report and your dilemma with the wet socks we took river shoes (which we didn't need of course because it was pretty dry) ,but we also took fire lighters and left them at the Tarf Hotel so a poor soul arriving in a similar state to you will hopefully have less of a chilly end to their day. Thanks again ,will be reading some of your other reports for further inspiration!

Thanks for the kind words.
Quite a coincidence, your meeting on the hill....who was that, I wonder?
As you can read from my report, the Compleation went well, despite the weather

It was myself and Stevie that bumped into them Al , when they told us of there route , I mentioned you and Alison doing it , and your report came into the conversation ....your reports are informative and a great inspiration for others ....keep them up

[weaselmaster]

It was myself and Stevie that bumped into them Al , when they told us of there route , I mentioned you and Alison doing it , and your report came into the conversation ....your reports are informative and a great inspiration for others ....keep them up

Ha - thought it might have been - there weren't that many people knew what we were up to

[ceaser]

It was myself and Stevie that bumped into them Al , when they told us of there route , I mentioned you and Alison doing it , and your report came into the conversation ....your reports are informative and a great inspiration for others ....keep them up

Ha - thought it might have been - there weren't that many people knew what we were up to

mabey not officially .....but im sure that anyone who reads your reports , would have guessed where you would be