Two Gaick Corbetts by Bike

[mountain thyme]

Checked the weather forecast on the Saturday and Perthshire looked the best region for the Sunday. Also no deer stalking on Sundays there so all go. Older sister asked on the Saturday to come along. Texted her a few times on Saturday but no reply. So headed off myself and had scoffed my sisters sandwiches before I reached Stirling.

Turn off from the A9

Took the turn off for Trinafour on the A9 and turned left and parked up on a grassy verge on the right hand side.

Parking spot

Crossing the A9

Started the walk at 920am. Headed back up onto the A9. Crossed the A9 and picked up a track heading left signposted for the Public Footpath to Gaick Pass to Speyside.

Speyside Way

The track continues into the woods with a slight incline. I stayed on the left track as the track splits.

looking back to the forest

Once through the forrest the track splits again. Here take the right split and continue along the track, passing through a gate and soon passing a huge cairn on the left hand side.

take the right split after the forrest

through the gate

Schehallion. Looking back

Cairn

The track descends slightly and I passed by a small derelict house on the left.

derelict cottage

I continued on the track and headed over the first bridge over the Edendon Water and continued along the track and cycled over a second bridge. The track continues and crosses over a concrete bridge.

1st bridge

2nd Bridge. Dooterbang youd need to turn back here :(

An Dun on the right

3rd Bridge

happy camper

The track continues to Sronphadruig Lodge. Here I left the bike down on the stones next to the river as I decided to cross the river and follow the track to the west side of An Dun rather than continue along the boggy path.

The Lodge

It took me a wee while to try and cross the river at the shallowest part. I decided to take my boots off and wade across.

An Dun

ice water challenge - take two

Boots back on at the other side and followed the track up to the bridge. Headed across this towards the west side of An Dun.

the bridge atthe bottom of An Dun

Looking back to Schehallion

I headed east and steeply up heathery ground and soon picked up a path heading north towards An Dun. I gained the plateau of An Dun in no time at all as it was quite steep. Looking back there were some nice views towards Schehallion and beyond
I continued to head north to the first cairn and then further north to the true summit of An Dun.

first cairn

Summit of An Dun

I took a quick summit picture and had a wee short stop to refuel. I took a bearing and headed northeast down extremely steep ground, which involved a mixture of heather, grass and found a screeey path on occasions. I headed down in the direction and aimed for the Loch an Dun.

View towards A'Chaoirnich

Loch an Dun

At the north of the Loch I crossed the Allt Lochan Duin and headed east straight up steep steep heathery ground. This was really tough going especially as it was pathless most of the way. I kept south of the stream and on occasions found some stalkers paths which made the ascent slightly easier.

I continued north and found the huge cairn on the summit of A’Chaoirnich. I stopped here to have my second sandwiches of the day. Took some summit pictures and then quickly remembered reading that this wasn’t the true summit.

So headed north along the plateau and found the true summit in 10-15 minutes. I stopped here for a picture and then headed south. Passed the huge cairn again and then south west along the plateau, picking up stalkers paths on occasions.

Once the lodge came back into view I headed west down steep ground towards the fence at the edge of the forest and followed this back up to the reach the track. Picked up the bike from the stones next to the river and nearly died when i seen a huge dead deer right next to it . Back on the bike and along the track, coming off at one point to talk to the camper who had just clicmbed the two corbetts and was walking out. Back to the car in 5hours 40 minutes.

[mountain thyme]

First cairn on A ' Chaoirnich

Summit

Following the fence back to the lodge

Next to my bike. Nearly had a heart attack

[rockhopper]

Nice one, MT - very useful, must keep this in mind for a bike trip Bit of a shock though when you got back to your bike - cheers

[Johnny Corbett]

You forgot to mention as well as scoffing your sisters sandwiches, you also scoffed that Deer before you cycled out.

[thebaldfalcon]

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, well done T maybe the dear died laughing at u on bIKE

[The Rodmiester]

Hi mountain thyme a couple of nice wee Corbetts these, Biking!!! A purist like you? Anyway what's wrong with the big stepping stones I used at the lodge, but I did miss the bridge you took, but managed over the water ok. Looks like you had a very similar day to me warm and sunny. Two more blue balloons, good on you. I'm heading Glen Coe and Glen Nevis next week, fingers crossed the weather is supposed to be good!

[mountain thyme]

Nice one, MT - very useful, must keep this in mind for a bike trip Bit of a shock though when you got back to your bike - cheers

Cheers RH. Shock was an under statement

You forgot to mention as well as scoffing your sisters sandwiches, you also scoffed that Deer before you cycled out.

Venison burgers all week

, well done T maybe the dear died laughing at u on bIKE

and in last place

Hi mountain thyme a couple of nice wee Corbetts these, Biking!!! A purist like you? Anyway what's wrong with the big stepping stones I used at the lodge, but I did miss the bridge you took, but managed over the water ok. Looks like you had a very similar day to me warm and sunny. Two more blue balloons, good on you. I'm heading Glen Coe and Glen Nevis next week, fingers crossed the weather is supposed to be good!

Cheers RM. A purist no me If theres a track, my bikes with me Did you continue north from the lodge ? If you follow the track across the river then you come to the final bridge which crosses back across the river. you dont need to cross the river. I did and it was deep in parts. Ive heard its to be nice weather next week. Good luck

[PeteR]

I enjoyed these two when I did them earlier this year. It's a good walk in and out for us purists

[Jimmy Craghopper]

Nice one Terresa did the smell off your hooters kill that poor beastie.

[weaselmaster]

Nice one, MT - have got this pair in my sights along with the 3 at the south of Glen Feshie and wondered about biking in from Dalspindal - pleased to see cycling shouldn't be a problem

[gammy leg walker]

Nice wee TR there MT,not sure this bike thing will catch on tbh.xx

[mountain thyme]

I enjoyed these two when I did them earlier this year. It's a good walk in and out for us purists

its a long walk in Give me the bike any day Pete

Nice one Terresa did the smell off your hooters kill that poor beastie.

Cheers

Nice one, MT - have got this pair in my sights along with the 3 at the south of Glen Feshie and wondered about biking in from Dalspindal - pleased to see cycling shouldn't be a problem

Cheers WM. Iys a flat cycle for most of the way

Nice wee TR there MT,not sure this bike thing will catch on <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">tbh.xx</span>

Cheers Gammy I heard Beinn Mhanach has a good cycle route into . However i walked that one unlike some folk