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I had great plans for today - Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain but then the forecast for the west looked fairly rubbish so scrap that. Next choice, the Strathfarrar Four but the MWIS percentages suggested I might not see very much so late on Thursday night I opted for Beinn Mheadhonach, at 901m a bit lower and maybe I could dodge the clag and get some views.
I had only driven about a mile when a kamikaze deer hiding in the undergrowth ran out in front of the car and head butted the front grille before doing a cartwheel, getting back on his feet and giving me a dirty look then walking in to the trees at the other side of the road. I was left with a 3 week old car with a smashed grille
So by the time I got to Bridge of Tilt I was Mr Grumpy but at least the weather was good with wall to wall sunshine and it looked like it was going to be a good day. Off and walking for 7.45am I headed over to the notice board where there was some stalking information - no problems today. I ignored the path through the woods and over the bridge choosing just to head up the main track up Glen Tilt.
A quick left over Gilbert's Bridge followed by a right turn through the diamond shaped entrance in the fence and I'm now on a track that is new to me.
- Early morning light in Glen Tilt
- View from Gilbert's Bridge
The track heads uphill through forestry before coming out on to more open ground running parallel with the river. It's now a grassy track with ferns on either side and quite lumpy.
- Just about to come out of the woods
- Looking back along the track
- Looking over the monster ferns and down Glen Tilt
After crossing the Ach-mhairc footbridge I followed the sign pointing me to the left towards a viewpoint. The ferns close in at this point but they are not that high and the viewpoint is well worth a good look for the views up the glen.
- View up Glen Tilt
Time to leave Glen Tilt behind and start climbing on a stalker's path towards Beinn Mheadhonach.
- BM on the right
It's a great little narrow track that heads for BM and away from Glen Tilt, easy to follow and I made good progress to New Bridge. There is one small part of the path that has disappeared but a small detour uphill and round is safer than trying to cross the eroded section.
- Dodgy bit
- Looking back
Once over New Bridge the climb starts, there is a short steep climb away from the bridge and then a steady pull up the long wide ridge on a feint grassy path. There are some damp patches to negotiate but this was the driest hill I've been on for a few weeks now.
The climb, apart from the very short bit after the bridge, is never that steep but it does go on for a long time.
- On the climb - looking back
- The climb ahead
By now the sun has gone, the clouds are rolling in and the wind is picking up (from nothing to a breeze). I noticed what looked like a large cairn over to my right so head over for a nosey.
After the cairn I picked up a track that seemed to be taking me to the east and contouring round the hill rather than climbing it so I decided to leave it and head straight uphill and over to the middle of the ridge where I picked up the main track again.
- Still climbing
And finally, the top is in view.
- 900m cairn in the distance
After reaching the 900m cairn I carried on to the 901m top marked on the map and on again until I was part of the way down the north ridge so I could have a decent look around to the north. Unfortunately the cloud was now down, the rain was on (very light) and the views were fairly rubbish.
No point in hanging around so grabbed a sandwich (dairylea cheese with champagne strawberry jam no less
) and headed for home.
- Looking over to Carn Liath
Unusually I managed to come down a wet grassy hill without ending up on my bum, worth noting as this hasn't happened for a while.
- New Bridge
- New Bridge
- Suns out again
- Looking back to BM
When I got back to the viewpoint by the ruins I had to stop and take in the view for a second time - really is a great viewpoint looking north up Glen Tilt.
- A portal to another world?
- View from Gilbert's Bridge again
Back on the main track after Gilbert's Bridge it's a quick walk back to the car.
It's always enjoyable being in Glen Tilt but with the sun out today it really was something special. Great hill this, really enjoyed it.
