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After a short drive over from the Glen Muick car park it was good to see the sun was still shining.
I headed off from the Linn of Quoich car park with the intention of following Rod's route (follow the track to just beyond Allanmore, head up the hill for Creag a' Chleirich keeping the trees to the right, avoid the gully on the way to Carn na Drochaide by heading slightly south and after reaching the summit taking a more direct route down to the ROW following a burn).
The walk along the ROW towards Invercauld was completely flat and with the sun on my back is was getting quite warm.
- Following the ROW towards Allanmore
After passing through a gate and clearing the tree line on my left I noticed a very small path (more of a sheep trail) heading uphill directly towards Carn Dearg. Decision taken, head in a straight line uphill rather than continuing on to Allanmore.
- The start of the climb
As I climbed through the heather I passed through a small line of trees and continued heather bashing as any track was long gone (for me at least).
- Looking back to the glen floor
Having climbed Conachcraig in the morning I realised I had been spoiled with a track all the way to the top, this was far more exhausting with a steep climb through the heather.
- The summit in view
After crossing a burn I then needed to decide on which approach I would take to the top as it looked fairly steep. In the end I went slightly right of centre where I could see a few boulder fields that I thought would be easier than the heather.
- The final climb looms
- Weathers turning
- Boulder fields ahead
The boulder fields proved to be easier than the heather, the rocks were dry and for a change none of them gave me a surprise by giving was as soon as I stood on them. I arrived on the plateau beside a large cairn and could see the summit not too far away.
- Think this is Beinn a' Bhuird - I should remember it, it was only 2 months since I was on it
- Which would make this one Ben Avon
- Summit
The sky was darkening so I didn't hang about as I wanted to get over the boulder fields while they were still dry. On the way down off the hill I more or less followed Rod's route, keeping between the two burns shown on the 1:50000 map. On the plus side the heather /grass was short so easier to see where I was going but it was also a lot wetter than my ascent. I came out on to the ROW between some bee hives and the burn, around 300 yards to the west of Allanmore.
The walk back to the car park was a nice easy finish and the sun was back out again.
- Looking east along the ROW
- Looking up towards The Punch Bowl from the bridge next to the car park
The last picture was taken from the Linn of Dee - Braemar road about a mile from Braemar. You can see the line of trees on the lower slope which I kept to my left and more or less walked in a straight line till I was over towards the right hand side of the hill before then angling left and climbing up the last steep part.
Good hill for a short walk.
