White Coomb from Carrifran

[SecretSquirrel]

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A short April day out in the surprisingly wintery Southern Uplands. I parked up in a layby beside the Carrifran Burn bridge. There is space for 3 or 4 cars here. A little futher up the road, across a cattlegrid and a firebreak/fence/drystone wall combination heads off up Dun Know and Carrifran Gans. This fence is present all the way round to White Coomb, making navigation easy. It isn't shown all the way round on the OS map, but the fence does follow the boundry line shown, all the way.

As forecast, the weather was a mixed bag. Blue skies and some pretty strong rays from the sun interspersed with rain, sleet, snow and hail. There was plenty of coudy clag about, but when it was clearing it really framed the views and made them stand out more.

This route up to White Coomb would be great for circular routes round to either Saddle Yoke or Lochcraig Head, although you would need a bit of road walking for the return.

Dun Knowe and the route up to Carrifran Gans


Following the wall and fence up the hill at the edge of the forrestry


The view from Dun Knowe looking back down to the road


Views start to open to (Under) Saddle Yoke


Looking SW down Moffat Dale


Saddle Yoke dominating the views in its recently reapplied winter coat


Continuing up Carrifran Gans


Views to the East across the Ettrick Hills


The Saddle Yoke pair still looking good


Reaching 740m height and following the fenceline North


Carrifran Gans summit cairn


Continuing to follow the fenceline towards White Coomb


Some weather and clag moving across the winter views


The ever present navigator running up to White Coomb


White Coomb summit cairn


At times the weather would have made navigation challenging ... but for the fence


The clag coming and going only served to emphasise the stunning views


Winter wonderland ...


Looking back, the skies are now clear on White Coomb


I just couldn't get enough of this view


On the way back and looking down to Carrifran Burn


Final view out to Moffat Dale and the return to the road


White Coomb Photo Album

[litljortindan]

I'm usually on the lookout for fair weather but that sort of a day would persuade me otherwise. Very dramatic looking.

[SecretSquirrel]

I had read reports of people finding this route difficult but you seem to have found it straightforward. Well done.

Thanks. I can't imagine too many issues with the route, I would recommend it. The ascent of Dun Knowe is pretty steep and descending it in wet snow was pretty slippy but nothing too bad. I can imagine the ground around Carrifran Gans would be pretty boggy, but a good covering of snow hid that issue from me.

I'm usually on the lookout for fair weather but that sort of a day would persuade me otherwise. Very dramatic looking.

It was indeed dramatic. It really was breath taking when the clag was clearing and the snowy hills appeared.

[Cairngorm creeper]

Looks beautiful. I love the moments when the hills appear from the mist.

[rockhopper]

Good day for it - brings out some dramatic looking shots and surprising the amount of snow - all go to show the variety in the landscape - cheers