Glen Roy & the Monadhliath
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 11:20 pmAfter couple of weeks of walking on my own, Allison returned to the fold and an easy weekend up by Glen Roy was proposed, weather not being forecast for brilliance. I'd bought a new car for winter hill duties nd was keen to see how it would perform, but didn't want to take it too far from home just in case... so a wee trip up past Fort William and pitching in one of our favourite sites, Bunroy, was the order of the day. Made reasonably good time up the road and pitched by 6pm on the Friday night.
Saturday dawned with better looking weather than I'd imagined we'd get and we drove the short distance up to Glen Roy and found a place to park. Much easier with a 4x4, I admit. We had two Leana Mhors and Beinn Iarunn to climb today, although if we finished early I had a yen to nip up Stob Coire Dubh on Carn Liath as it was my final Top in the region. We'd see. There's a faint track that takes you up the West Leana Mhor then loses itself in the undergrowth - we just headed up the broad back of the hill, an easy task through short heather. About halfway up rifle fire echoes around - much more sinister than the grouse hunters and their shotguns. Allison's leading and I muse to myself - if she takes a headshot, being mistaken for a deer, could I carry her body back down myself? Given the weight she's put on in 2 weeks off the hills I decided I'd be much better off getting a stag pony to do the job. Anyway, as it happened the firing ceased after a few rounds and we made it to the top of Leana Mhor alive. Good views across to the Grey Corries from here, though mist was hampering vision. Then it was down to the bealach with Beinn Iarunn and easily up the other side, with good views down the huge scoop of Coire nan Eun down Glen Roy, the Parallel Roads being seen to good advantage. Then retraced our steps back down to the bealach in a biting wind, took some shelter for a spot of lunch then followed the track alongside Allt a Bhreac Achaidh back down to the car.
Beinn Iarunn from the start
P1030970 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Leana Mhor (W)
P1030971 by 23weasels, on Flickr
LM Summit
P1030975 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Looking N up Glen Roy
P1030977 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Cairn of Beinn Iarunn past Coire nan Eun
P1030979 by 23weasels, on Flickr
View S to the Grey Corries
P1030980 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Glen Roy
P1030981 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Iarunn simmit
P1030983 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Leana Mhor (E) with good view of the Parallel Roads
P1030986 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Fox Moth caterpillar
P1030987 by 23weasels, on Flickr
There was no elegant way of including the east Leana Mhor in the circuit, just decided to go straight up and down. First of all there was the River Roy to cross. We looked for a relatively shallow spot, as the river just beside the sheep pens looked distinctly deep in places, but walking south a few hundred metres got us a good spot to cross that was not deeper than knee height. We both had on Salomon mesh trail shoes which were great for the purpose -socks removed before plunging in then put back on once we'd emerged from the chilly foot-spa - much easier crossing with shoes on your feet than bare feet. We wandered up through the sheep pen, passing one of several decomposing sheep we saw today, and went straight up the flank of Leana Mhor, parallel to Coire Bohaskey. Smooth ascent on heather and short grass, good incline, easy stuff. Up to the small cairn then back down, having glimpsed the many Carn Deargs in this glen. As we'd been ascending we'd seen about half a dozen cars stop around mine and after milling around for some time, the occupants started up the West Leana Mhor - when we came back down the cars had all gone - very odd as they couldn't have got very far up the hill (unless they were lightning quick). We got back to the car at around 3.30 - I reckoned too late for Stob Coire Dubh, and couldn't really face ticking off the remaining Graham in the Glen, Creag Dhubh, so we headed for a pint in the Roy Bridge hotel and an early tea.
River Roy
P1030988 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1030989 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Grey Corries
P1030991 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Leana Mhor (W)
P1030992 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Summit, view to Carn Dearg(s)
P1030995 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Beinn Iarunn
P1030997 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Leana Mhor (W)
P1030998 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Rain overnight left the tent wet and midges in evidence as we rose on the Sunday morning. The forecast suggested "heavy rain" would be our fair today and I'd chosen two rather unremarkable hills over near Garva Bridge for the conditions. Meall na h-Aisre and Gairbeinn, joined by what looked a boggy plateau would do for today. Packed up and headed off about 9.30, getting to Garva Bridge for 10.10. Tops of the hills were clouded, but it was dry and quite mild. We set off following an LRT crossing the Allt Coire Iain Oig by a ricketty bridge nd heading up the gently sloping heathery back of Leathad Gaothach. Soggy underfoot in places, as we climbed we rose into the clouds and the views diminished to little. There's an 844m top before Meall na h-Aisre summit is reached, but there was little to see from this point on. The rain was light but enough to cause a bit of chill and we stopped for a warming cuppa in the shelter of some boulders just past the summit. Then it was on over the peat hags to Gairbeinn. For the next couple of hours we were treated to incessant stag roaring, which seemed to come from all directions. Eventually we came in sight of Gairbeinn and could see groups of stags on the skyline bellowing at each other. We skirted to the north of Min Coire and onto the back of Gairbeinn, walking for about 3km along its broad spine, getting pretty wet in the process.
Setting off from Garva Bridge
P1040002 by 23weasels, on Flickr
nearing summit Meall an h-Aisre
P1040004 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Top
P1040005 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Typical of the terrain between to two hills
P1040007 by 23weasels, on Flickr
On the back of Gairbeinn
P1040010 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1040011 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Summit Gairbeinn
P1040012 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Having made the summit we followed a path to the southwest before losing it in bog. We descended almost to Meall Garbh Beag before heading SE towards the power lines and the new road that isn't on the map, then back down to General Wade's military road which we followed for a long way back to the car. Good to have a fine surface to walk along on a miserable afternoon - although the sky began to clear as we got back to the start, with blue sky about the hills - typical!
New road
P1040015 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Splash of colour
P1040016 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1040017 by 23weasels, on Flickr
P1040018 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Saturday dawned with better looking weather than I'd imagined we'd get and we drove the short distance up to Glen Roy and found a place to park. Much easier with a 4x4, I admit. We had two Leana Mhors and Beinn Iarunn to climb today, although if we finished early I had a yen to nip up Stob Coire Dubh on Carn Liath as it was my final Top in the region. We'd see. There's a faint track that takes you up the West Leana Mhor then loses itself in the undergrowth - we just headed up the broad back of the hill, an easy task through short heather. About halfway up rifle fire echoes around - much more sinister than the grouse hunters and their shotguns. Allison's leading and I muse to myself - if she takes a headshot, being mistaken for a deer, could I carry her body back down myself? Given the weight she's put on in 2 weeks off the hills I decided I'd be much better off getting a stag pony to do the job. Anyway, as it happened the firing ceased after a few rounds and we made it to the top of Leana Mhor alive. Good views across to the Grey Corries from here, though mist was hampering vision. Then it was down to the bealach with Beinn Iarunn and easily up the other side, with good views down the huge scoop of Coire nan Eun down Glen Roy, the Parallel Roads being seen to good advantage. Then retraced our steps back down to the bealach in a biting wind, took some shelter for a spot of lunch then followed the track alongside Allt a Bhreac Achaidh back down to the car.
Beinn Iarunn from the start
P1030970 by 23weasels, on FlickrLeana Mhor (W)
P1030971 by 23weasels, on FlickrLM Summit
P1030975 by 23weasels, on FlickrLooking N up Glen Roy
P1030977 by 23weasels, on FlickrCairn of Beinn Iarunn past Coire nan Eun
P1030979 by 23weasels, on FlickrView S to the Grey Corries
P1030980 by 23weasels, on FlickrGlen Roy
P1030981 by 23weasels, on FlickrIarunn simmit
P1030983 by 23weasels, on FlickrLeana Mhor (E) with good view of the Parallel Roads
P1030986 by 23weasels, on FlickrFox Moth caterpillar
P1030987 by 23weasels, on FlickrThere was no elegant way of including the east Leana Mhor in the circuit, just decided to go straight up and down. First of all there was the River Roy to cross. We looked for a relatively shallow spot, as the river just beside the sheep pens looked distinctly deep in places, but walking south a few hundred metres got us a good spot to cross that was not deeper than knee height. We both had on Salomon mesh trail shoes which were great for the purpose -socks removed before plunging in then put back on once we'd emerged from the chilly foot-spa - much easier crossing with shoes on your feet than bare feet. We wandered up through the sheep pen, passing one of several decomposing sheep we saw today, and went straight up the flank of Leana Mhor, parallel to Coire Bohaskey. Smooth ascent on heather and short grass, good incline, easy stuff. Up to the small cairn then back down, having glimpsed the many Carn Deargs in this glen. As we'd been ascending we'd seen about half a dozen cars stop around mine and after milling around for some time, the occupants started up the West Leana Mhor - when we came back down the cars had all gone - very odd as they couldn't have got very far up the hill (unless they were lightning quick). We got back to the car at around 3.30 - I reckoned too late for Stob Coire Dubh, and couldn't really face ticking off the remaining Graham in the Glen, Creag Dhubh, so we headed for a pint in the Roy Bridge hotel and an early tea.
River Roy
P1030988 by 23weasels, on FlickrP1030989 by 23weasels, on FlickrGrey Corries
P1030991 by 23weasels, on FlickrLeana Mhor (W)
P1030992 by 23weasels, on FlickrSummit, view to Carn Dearg(s)
P1030995 by 23weasels, on FlickrBeinn Iarunn
P1030997 by 23weasels, on FlickrLeana Mhor (W)
P1030998 by 23weasels, on FlickrRain overnight left the tent wet and midges in evidence as we rose on the Sunday morning. The forecast suggested "heavy rain" would be our fair today and I'd chosen two rather unremarkable hills over near Garva Bridge for the conditions. Meall na h-Aisre and Gairbeinn, joined by what looked a boggy plateau would do for today. Packed up and headed off about 9.30, getting to Garva Bridge for 10.10. Tops of the hills were clouded, but it was dry and quite mild. We set off following an LRT crossing the Allt Coire Iain Oig by a ricketty bridge nd heading up the gently sloping heathery back of Leathad Gaothach. Soggy underfoot in places, as we climbed we rose into the clouds and the views diminished to little. There's an 844m top before Meall na h-Aisre summit is reached, but there was little to see from this point on. The rain was light but enough to cause a bit of chill and we stopped for a warming cuppa in the shelter of some boulders just past the summit. Then it was on over the peat hags to Gairbeinn. For the next couple of hours we were treated to incessant stag roaring, which seemed to come from all directions. Eventually we came in sight of Gairbeinn and could see groups of stags on the skyline bellowing at each other. We skirted to the north of Min Coire and onto the back of Gairbeinn, walking for about 3km along its broad spine, getting pretty wet in the process.
Setting off from Garva Bridge
P1040002 by 23weasels, on Flickrnearing summit Meall an h-Aisre
P1040004 by 23weasels, on FlickrTop
P1040005 by 23weasels, on FlickrTypical of the terrain between to two hills
P1040007 by 23weasels, on FlickrOn the back of Gairbeinn
P1040010 by 23weasels, on FlickrP1040011 by 23weasels, on FlickrSummit Gairbeinn
P1040012 by 23weasels, on FlickrHaving made the summit we followed a path to the southwest before losing it in bog. We descended almost to Meall Garbh Beag before heading SE towards the power lines and the new road that isn't on the map, then back down to General Wade's military road which we followed for a long way back to the car. Good to have a fine surface to walk along on a miserable afternoon - although the sky began to clear as we got back to the start, with blue sky about the hills - typical!
New road
P1040015 by 23weasels, on FlickrSplash of colour
P1040016 by 23weasels, on FlickrP1040017 by 23weasels, on FlickrP1040018 by 23weasels, on Flickr
