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Apologies for late posting, this TR describes a walk we did on Easter weekend.
Easter Sunday gifted us with splendid weather. After miserable Saturday and walking in cloud, I was more than happy to wake up to glorious sunshine. The plan was hatched to up my Munro count by tackling Glen Lyon horseshoe.
Kevin had done these before, in 1995 I think, a long time ago it was so he didn't mind re-doing the circuit, especially in winter-ish conditions. By winter-ish I mean snow higher on the ridge and the necessity to carry crampons & axes, but the temperature was rather summer-ish
I was all for the encounter with Lyon
It's a long drive from Inverness down to Invervar, but Black Arrow works fine (she better did! for what we paid for her
) and we arrived in Invervar just before 9 o'clock. It was a busy little car park, just after us two other cars parked and it was full! No surprise though, we expected to see other walker on this route, it's a popular circuit and weather was great.
We had a dilemma if we should take winter gear, decided to carry it all just in case. I know that this time of the year it's less than likely we are going to need axes or crampons, but caution prevailed once more.
Black Arrow is getting used to travelling around... and being dirty all the time
Only when we were leaving I realised I forgot to pack in sunscreen, which in my case is not just a matter of having red face after day's walk. I have severe UV allergy and too much exposure ends up in 2nd degree burns. Of course I decided to go on with the climb, hoping that April sun won't be as strong as I was afraid of. In the end, I didn't get any severe burns, but I was pretty swollen up on Monday!
I guess I paid the price for being forgetful
Our route was a classic circuit of Glen Lyon Munros:
We crossed the road and took the path just beside the river (some other folks just in front of us were actually chased off the main approach by an angry landowner, so we didn't take any risk) and I was glad we went this way, because we came across this interesting structure:
The village of Inver was once employed in the production of flax and this building, a disused 18th century lint mill, is a reminder of the old times.
We walked through the forest (an OK path) in good moods, but as soon as we emerged out of the woods, we were horrified by the new, bulldozed track going up the hill... It seems another mini hydro scheme is under construction here
I'm not against renewable energy as such, but why do we have to spoil all the most scenic glens in Scotland???
Luckily, there is a signposted detour for hillwalkers... Originally we planned to climb the Lyon four clockwise, but having seen the nasty scar, we decided to go anticlockwise and get it out of our view as soon as possible.
Looking down from just above the main track:
The upper glen has been scarred, too:
The climb up the western shoulder of Creag Mhor (aka Meall na Aighean) is steep but on a good, well worn path. I was so relieved to be higher up and lose the sight of the bulldozed track. Now it was all back to normal:
It was hotter than expected and we had to strip to t-shirts...
Ignore this track if you are going up Creag Mhor:
The climb, apart from getting boiled alive, was rather uneventful. We overtook a few people and a few others overtook us (travelling light without rucksacks - hmm, maybe I'm an old, boring trekker, but I wouldn't risk it this time of year). Views were spectacular already:
The summit of Creag Mhor comes into view:
Definitely a busy day!
My Munro count goes on - no. 159 and there were three more yet to come that day! Kevin was repeating Lyon circuit, so he just stood there and smiled at Panther catching up
We found a comfortable rock to sit on and had a long break - why hurry? The group without rucksacks went on, running towards the second Munro, but I preferred to stretch my paws, have a cuppa and enjoy the views...
Kevin bewildered...
Lawers ridge to the south:
Schiehallion:
View west, endless white hills:
The descent from Creag Mhor to the col leading to the second top was easy on soft snow. The slopes of Carn Mairg didn't look too difficult, either:
We charged on, taking the snowy slopes, it proved tiring as the angle was quite steep. The soft, slushy snow didn't make the ascent easier, but eventually we emerged on the summit area of the second Munro, gasping for breath and sweating all over. I grabbed a handful of snow and rubbed it in my face. Booooaaaaah! That's what I needed!
But the sweat and pain were quickly forgotten just by looking around...
Creag Mhor from Carn Mairg and Panther still not too red
We scrambled to the top of a small tor just to the left from the actual summit cairn - an interesting vantage point I think:
The Mamores and Ben Nevis:
Lawers Range to the south:
Me and Schiehallion:
The rest of the ridge made me jump for joy - so much more mountain porn yet to come!
The tor and Ben Lawers behind, seen from the summit cairn:
Kevin trigger happy
Panoramas are extensive - to the north-east, the massif of Cairngorms and the Drumochter hills:
Cairngorms zoomed:
We didn't take a long break on Carn Mairg, decided to traverse to the third Munro first. The ridge in weather as we had, is easy to follow and a line of fenceposts would be helpful in misty conditions:
Zoom to Nevis:
To the south-west, just white, white summits and nothing else...
Not another Munro just yet, but an intermediate top of Meall a'Bharr. This top has three different cairns along the ridge, not sure which one marks the highest point... I chose the nicest one
From Meall a'Bharr, it's an easy traverse to the next Munro, Meall Garbh. As we descended to the col between the two, we began to meet people doing the circuit clockwise. I counted six walkers, all of them very happy and very red
Meall Garbh from the col:
Another short climb, not too steep this time, more slushy snow but no crampons needed:
Views to kill for...
Not much wildlife on this walk, but we found one hedgehog...
Lawers group from Meall Garbh:
To the final Munro of the day, Carn Gorm:
Ahhh whatta day!
Western pano with Nevis in the centre:
Zoom to Glen Coe:
Couldn't resist a nap... That killed my face...
Another longer break and as we sat by the cairn, we observed another couple passing by. She carried only a camera, he had a large, full-packed rucksack and seemed to struggle to keep up with her
Kevin looked at me and asked - would you ever do that to me?
Don't worry - I answered - I'm pretty capable of carrying my own stuff!
Our rucksacks didn't look that big anyway...
OK, it's time to face Carn Gorm:
We skipped An Sgorr and followed a well-worn path (where it was visible under snow, that is) towards the slopes of Carn Gorm. Views were still superb:
The final climb:
I was beginning to feel the burning touch of the sun by then and when we reached the summit of my Munro no. 162, all I could think of was finding some shelter...
Turning red:
A few photos from the top of Carn Gorm:
At least we could now have a good look at the two Munros we climbed the day before and admire the ridge we walked in total whiteout:
Lawers Ridge:
The best day on the hills this year so far! I couldn't miss the opportunity to take even more pictures... Behind me, Carn Mairg and Creag Mhor:
Kevin trigger happy... yet again! Can't blame him...
The return down to Glen Lyon initially follows the easy upper slopes of Carn Gorm. Easy, because they were covered with soft snow, quick to run down on:
Red Panther:
Lower down, a path lead us towards the edge of the forest. It was wet (melting snow turned it into a fast flowing stream) but we managed to stay upright all the way down
Finally, the path follows the river which was very much in spate:
We crossed the wee metal bridge:
The rest of the descent followed the nasty, bulldozed track so no photos from this part but I still think I posted too many
8 hours it took but we didn't exactly rush it, considering the superb weather it was worth to stay up on the ridge for that additional hour or two...
Monday was too painful for me to even consider going out on the hills but no regrets whatsoever. I faced the Lyon and returned victorious even if a bit red and swollen
Meow!
