free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Not sure why but, I'd formed a fairly dim opinion on these four and have overlooked them in the past, in favour of other walks. Maybe it had something to do with the negative press about the estate's tactics/antics but, it proved a very enjoyable hike in better than expected conditions
(albeit with the cloud-base down at or below the summits).
A fiery sunrise brewing as we set-off from home...
The "view" up the Invervar Burn towards the horseshoe...
On arrival and on the walk-in and out there's plenty of signage, most of it about why, where or how
not to walk in the area. We opted for an anti-clockwise approach to the route and, as fresh snow had fallen overnight and more forecast for the day ahead, carried crampons and ice-axe. Pleased to have seemingly nailed the clothing/layering and pack weight thing this winter, I was feeling light on my feet despite the steep gradient up to Creag Mhor. I'm not a fan of walking poles but, they'd seen me through a period of injury last year, and figured they'd help today with steep, wet, grassy slopes on the walk-in (and out), as well as the snowline being well over 600m. We were in no great hurry today and there was occasional relief from the steep sections...
We'd set off a little after 9am and reached Creag Mhor (Meall na Aighean) two hours later. There was decent snow coverage above 800m throughout, soft enough not to require crampons, and the cloud was down on CM(MnA)
(although the sun was trying to burn through)...
Final pull up to the first munro of the day...
After a quick food stop beneath the summit, we doubled-back on ourselves to drop down to the 855m spot height for the approach to our next target, Carn Mairg. We took a direct line up to 952m, between Meall Liath and Carn Mairg, before skirting around to the North to take the summit at approximately 12.30.
These pictures are pretty dark, should have tried the flash (it really wasn't as dismal as the pics suggest)...
Carn Mairg summit cairn (and the route-off in the distance)...
Looking back to Carn Mairg...
Coming off Carn Mairg, the cloud base lifted a bit and hadn't previously appreciated Schiehallion being at such close-quarters (albeit, her less attractive side)...
Top art...
The wind had picked-up a little and, with the weather forecast to worsen later on in the afternoon, decided to drop down a bit and find somewhere on route to third munro of the day for a lunch stop. We did so at roughly 1pm and enjoyed a relaxed break out of the wind, low enough to have a clear view of the route ahead and the next target, Meall Garbh. Suitably refuelled, we hared up on to Meall Garbh for 2pm'ish and didn't hang around, instead cracking on towards Carn Gorm where the weather began to close-in a little, with strong winds and heavy snowfall.
Meall Garbh summit metalwork, with Loch Rannoch behind...
A final steep-ish pull up to Carn Gorm after An Sgorr, saw us on the summit with its toppled trig at 3pm....
We wandered over the higher point on the ridge via the cairn there and then beat a hasty retreat to the South, enjoying a couple of 50-60m bum slides on the way
(had we done the route clockwise, there would have been many more opportunities for sliding).
It was an enjoyable walk out to the plantation and stopped for a final brew by the river and shielings, before braving the filthy track back
(which would be on the walk-in if doing the clockwise route) with all the hydro works going on at present and back out via the Lint Mill to the chariot.
Tea-break by the burn (bit brighter now)...
Northern flanks of the eastern-most of the Lawers'....
Lint Mill...
Moody skies, leaving just in time...
I really enjoyed this one and look forward to doing it again sometime, perhaps in Summer and in the opposite direction, just shows how wrong one can be!
