Conachcraig - in the shadow of Lochnagar
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 2:28 pm
The forecast for today seemed to be much better in the east, I decided I would head for the Cairngorms but with all the Munros done with the exception of the Braeriach 4 I looked for a Corbett and this one seemed like a decent choice as it's been years since I've been to Glen Muick.
With the Glenshee road still being shut I set the alarm for 5 rather than 5.30 (don't suppose it makes much odds - it's still too early) and arrived at the large car park at 7.45am to be greeted with the roars of the red deer, the nearest seemed to be in the woods beside the car park but the sounds were coming from all over the glen - what a fantastic sound and a great start to the day.
As I set off the moon was still bright over Lochnagar and the sun wasn't very high in the sky so only the tops had an orange tint to them with the glen quite cool with some mist patches. The weather however was looking good, clear skies and flat calm - perfect for the day ahead.
With the deer still in good voice I headed up the Lochnagar track. I think I did this hill about ten years ago and it was only as I left the treeline and headed in to the more open glen that I remembered there was a river crossing ahead. Although the water level was higher than I remembered it, it was still possible to cross without getting wet feet (an accomplishment for me this year).
After the river crossing the gradient steepens but it's still an easy walk up to the cairn where the Lochnagar path heads off to the left and right beside the cairn I took a right turn to start the climb. It was nice to be off the main track but I had my back to Lochnagar so had to keep looking round to look at the unfolding view as I gained height.
I hadn't checked to see what height I was at when I left the main track so I hadn't appreciated that a lot of the climb had already been done so when I reached the top of the first hill on this new path I was shocked to find that all that was left was a wander along the wide plateau. Some nice tors along the way and it didn't take long to reach the summit of Conachcraig.
The views west were brilliant in the clear early morning light but there wasn't a lot to see to the east with the still low sun. I wandered over all the tops before retracing my steps back to the main track. There was still a lot of red deer around at this point so I stopped for a few minutes before heading back down the main track. Just as I was leaving some geese went overhead and they tried to compete with the deer but there was to be only one winner today.
Safely negotiated the river crossing (less elegantly this time) and I was back in the trees before I saw my first human of the day. From the woods back to the car I probably saw about a dozen people so assume the Lochnagar summit would be a busy place.
Back at the car park, absolute silence, anyone starting their walk now would have no idea what this place was like just 3.5 hours earlier - well worth setting the alarm early.
Nice little hill this one but with Lochnagar so close I assume 90% of the people heading up the main track probably don't even know of it's existence (I didn't ten years ago when it was my turn to do the Munro).
With the Glenshee road still being shut I set the alarm for 5 rather than 5.30 (don't suppose it makes much odds - it's still too early) and arrived at the large car park at 7.45am to be greeted with the roars of the red deer, the nearest seemed to be in the woods beside the car park but the sounds were coming from all over the glen - what a fantastic sound and a great start to the day.
As I set off the moon was still bright over Lochnagar and the sun wasn't very high in the sky so only the tops had an orange tint to them with the glen quite cool with some mist patches. The weather however was looking good, clear skies and flat calm - perfect for the day ahead.
With the deer still in good voice I headed up the Lochnagar track. I think I did this hill about ten years ago and it was only as I left the treeline and headed in to the more open glen that I remembered there was a river crossing ahead. Although the water level was higher than I remembered it, it was still possible to cross without getting wet feet (an accomplishment for me this year).
After the river crossing the gradient steepens but it's still an easy walk up to the cairn where the Lochnagar path heads off to the left and right beside the cairn I took a right turn to start the climb. It was nice to be off the main track but I had my back to Lochnagar so had to keep looking round to look at the unfolding view as I gained height.
I hadn't checked to see what height I was at when I left the main track so I hadn't appreciated that a lot of the climb had already been done so when I reached the top of the first hill on this new path I was shocked to find that all that was left was a wander along the wide plateau. Some nice tors along the way and it didn't take long to reach the summit of Conachcraig.
The views west were brilliant in the clear early morning light but there wasn't a lot to see to the east with the still low sun. I wandered over all the tops before retracing my steps back to the main track. There was still a lot of red deer around at this point so I stopped for a few minutes before heading back down the main track. Just as I was leaving some geese went overhead and they tried to compete with the deer but there was to be only one winner today.
Safely negotiated the river crossing (less elegantly this time) and I was back in the trees before I saw my first human of the day. From the woods back to the car I probably saw about a dozen people so assume the Lochnagar summit would be a busy place.
Back at the car park, absolute silence, anyone starting their walk now would have no idea what this place was like just 3.5 hours earlier - well worth setting the alarm early.
Nice little hill this one but with Lochnagar so close I assume 90% of the people heading up the main track probably don't even know of it's existence (I didn't ten years ago when it was my turn to do the Munro).