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It was to be a hill weekend but where was the question. Ben Alder was itching to be done and planning begun, a bike ride….noooooo !!! I came up with a Plan B, none of the conventional alternatives whetted my appetite so a route was hatched to come in from Laggan via the track to Creag Pitridh. I recall doing the ones behind a good while back with Scoob and thinking how close Ben Alder looked. So that's that sorted
But hang on a minute, I had a word with meself, and replied too, well rude not too. I still had my manflu that had been hanging on, hadn’t been out for a bit and soppy work hours messing with sleep patterns,….hmm maybe save this for another day. Ok violins away now
Something less challenging was called for and SB seemed to fit the bill. I had done a recce twice to Corriemulzie Lodge, would the new TB1 make it down the track ?
Next question the forecast, a week of all this sun, surely I had to get a break for some wind and pish, yes said MWIS, a dampish start but improving, especially towards the coast hmm ok well you cant have it all.
5 am alarm but things started slow and it was 1000hrs before I left the car at the now signed Walkers Car Park, first gate now open (from April onwards I was told) so parked up at the Lodge.
Now on one of those recces this was the view , enough to convince me this was the best route. A stunning mountain from this side without question
This is the view on the day ! But improving remember.
And yes it’s a good leg stretch walking in.
But eventually eyes are drawn to the entrance bastions of Seana’s corrie.
And my ascent route up the right flank to the we nitch on the skyline
For anyone contemplating this route, there are a couple of burns to cross near the end of the walk in, no problem today but maybe in damper conditions hmm. Also the tracks divide in a couple of places but its clear enough which is needed, the last turn off heads up the aforementioned flank providing good progress before breaking out on the pathless ground. Worth marking the end of the track to find it on descent.
View on ascent to Loch a Choire Mhoir
And my route up just after the track (Land rover or probably smaller but no motorised transport had been up in a while).
Once atop Creag na Gobhar it’s a relative stroll to the summit passing close to the corrie rim. Had the clag been just 100 foot higher today but heh ho.
Summit above
Good 10 foot plus depth waiting to drop.
And of course the summit selfie for all those who hate selfie sticks and so I remember I was there
Now for that improving forecast. The waterproofs went on at the car, but never got wet coming in, weather couldn’t make its mind up. But after refreshments at the summit, within 5 minutes of departure the improving rain hit and continued to within half mile of the car. Pish and wind all the way back, plenty of that about !
You would be amazed how much water gets in through a half inch split in the trousers, yikes, gore tex patches must be found.
It was 3 and half hours from car to summit, 2 and a bit out, head first into the drizzle, but a good stretch, despite not firing on all 4 cylinders.
I guess a return will be in order to complete the loop but in reverse to ascend the scrambly, entertaining ridge on the other side of the corrie
