Ben Tirran

[macq23]

When booking diary dates with my friends for hillwalking, there’s always the same thoughts at the back of my mind… “Please let it be a nice day!!” “Please let me have a decent view at the top!!” “Just one day of nice weather…booked in advance!”

The MWIS report the night before was very promising, nice and clear in the morning, potential snow shower, minus 18 with the wind chill, 30mph wind. Yes there was a big grin on my face when reading this. Could it be true? I’d hoped so! Well…except the minus 18 temp!!

My friend Marc suggested that we do Ben Tirran at Glen Clova, an area we know very well, and a route that would ease us back into Hillwalking. My last walk was back in November, so it has been a few months, and fitness wise…I kinda fell to pieces over Christmas and New Year, gorging myself on 3 course dinners every day over a 2 week period. I was glad Christmas and New Year was out of the way ha!

So Saturday, morning I was waiting to be picked up at 8am, at the back of Dundee near the Black Watch Memorial. It was a beautiful start to the day, taking in the nice crisp blue sky. I’m thinking “We could be onto a winner here today!”

Black Watch Memorial

My chauffeur arrived and I wasn’t the only one buzzing, Marc was too. Banter flying thick and fast, we’re joking, we’re laughing, we’re in boisterous mood with the weather, turned off the A90 for Kirriemuir, admiring the hills in the distance, and BAM!! Young Bambi ran out in front of us, tried to escape but unfortunately we gave Bambi a bit of a whack. I am please to say though, Bambi is made of thick stuff as there was no sign of any injuries, Bambi was still running alongside the fence on the road, and looking for a spot to jump over. Thank goodness for that! P.S. the car also survived. The look on Bambi’s face is one I will never forget!

deer

After a nice quiet drive along the bottom road of B955 through Clova, we reached the Clova Hotel, not toom many cars about and got kitted up. We were somewhat surprised at the lack of snow on the hills at Glen Clova, but it meant we would now go up the Snub as opposed to the right side of Loch Brandy.
starthotel by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

The ascent up to Loch Brandy from the hotel is fairly straight forward. The views that appears as the higher up we went, were lovely. Hill of Strone and Cairn Inks was standing out, with it sprinkled of white stuff on top.
cairninks_hillofstrone_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

The very dominate Corrie of Clova is a stunning view on the left of the path. I couldn’t take m eyes of the Corrie, and I was also very grateful for the shelter it provided from the wind!!
corrieofclovabenreid_Panorama2_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

After a quick and easy start, we reached Loch Brandy, and it is looking stunning. A couple of quick photos and quickly upwards to The Snub.
lochbrandy_Panorama2_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr
me_lochbrandy by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

lochbrandy_steepleft by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

Whilst it a nice steep ascent to the Snub, it doesn’t take long at all. Some cracking views at The Snub Cairn, with Lochnagar and Mount Keen dominating the skyline.
The Snub
thesnub_lochnagar_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr
thesnub_mountkeen_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

Loch Brandy was on phenomenal form from the top. I was also intrigued by the breaking ice pattern that is emerging on the Loch.
lochbrandy3_Panorama1_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr
loch_brandy_ice_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

The Snub
loch_brandy_corrie_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

White Hare....Can you see it??!!
whitehare_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

In gorgeous visibility, it was easy enough to cross the Plateau, then following the fence line to The Goet(Trig point for Ben Tirran). I really enjoyed the views from this high vantage point.
ben_tirran_goet_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

There might not be much snow on Ben Tirran, but Dreish and Mayar certainly was still packing it with snow 
dreish_mayar2_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

I took this pano and tried to fit in all the munros that sits between Dreish and Lochnagar.
goet2_Panorama2_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

The wind had picked up at the Goet, and definitely got nippy(but definitely not that minus 18 as predicted!) so we quickly moved on, heading down towards Loch Wharral, waiting for the wind to be shelter so we can grab some lunch! Loch Wharral was also looking stunning, with more ice and snow cover than it’s sister Loch Bandy.
loch_wharral_sig by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

After Loch Wharral, we followed the new path down to Wheen. The path itself was very soft and extremely slippy to walk on with all the sand that has been used in the construction of it. It was a nightmare to walk on…more dangerous than the icey packed snow!! Once off the path, it was a nice walk along back the B955 to the Clova Hotel, and I thought Glen Clova was looking in imperious form!
glen_clova_SIG by ianmacqueen, on Flickr

All in all......a cracking day out!!

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[The Rodmiester]

Wonderful photographs, such clarity and detail.

[macq23]

Wonderful photographs, such clarity and detail.

Cheers Rodmiester