The heat is on in Glen (Fr)Ey

[mamoset]

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For quite a while now I have fancied a bike n hike and after contemplating a number of options, I decided to do the 5 Munros from Glen Ey. Having left home at 0330 I arrived at Inverey parking area at 0730 on a lovely morning and set off on the bike at 0800. It didn't take me long to realise I was overdressed but luckily the ride in wasn't too difficult and after 45 mins I arrived at Altanour ruins.

Bike and ruins.

An Socach to Beinn Iutharn Mhor

I followed the path to the Alltan Odhar and then followed the burn until a faint path took me up the front and onto Munro 1, Carn Bhac.

Carn Bhac.

It was really warm and the ground was really dry, which would cause my feet problems later There was good, if a little hazy, views up to the Cairngorms.

Cairngorms.

Devil's Point, Cairn Toul & Braeriach.

I headed SW from the summit, heading for top of Allt nan Clach Geala. The Beinn a' Ghlo range was looking good today

Beinn a' Ghlo.

It's a fairly easy, straightforward walk across to the foot of BIM, before a steep pull up the scree to the top.

Beinn Iutharn Mhor & Carn an Righ.

Looking back to Carn Bhac.

While making my way up the front of BIM I happened to look up and was greeted by a rather tatty looking Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle.

It's funny how a little bit of good fortune like this puts an extra spring in your step and I was soon at the top of the scree and making my way to the summit.

Lochan Uaine.

Beinn Iutharn Mhor summit.

Back along the ridge.

It was here my feet started to feel the day, and blisters were forming under both big toes and on my right heel but when I looked, I had no plasters in my bag!!! Big mistake. With not much option, I set off for the 771m bealach to head up Carn an Righ. Taking scottishkennyg's advice, I stashed my pack and headed on up.

BIM & Mam nan Carn from Carn an Righ ascent.

More good fortune came my way here as I met the only other walker I was to see all day, and after a brief chat, I managed to drop into the convo that I had blisters and he offered me some he had So, with my big toes plastered up I continued on to the summit

Carn an Righ.

On my way back down, I heard the first rumblings of thunder and hoped I wouldn't get caught up in any rain that was going to come down. Anyway, it's a straightforward down and back up to climb Glas Tulaichean, I reached the path at around 970m which takes you to the summit.

Across to Glas Tulaichean.

Rain falling towards Beinn a' Ghlo.

Glas Tulaichean.

With the thunder becoming more frequent, I headed away from the summit, aiming for the distant final Munro of the day, An Socach.

Glas Choire Mhor.

Despite the blisters, I made decent time down to Loch nan Eun

Loch nan Eun.

It was quite a trudge across the moorland but eventually I came to the foot of An Socach and took the right hand path to the summit, avoiding the loose looking scree.

An Socach.

From here, I headed N but being unable to locate any kind of path, it was the rough way again . Finally got back to the ruins and after collecting the bits n bobs I had hidden to avoid carrying them I set off back to Inverey, getting to the car at 1745.

Glen Ey.

It had been a great day, only spoiled by the state of my feet!!!! Overall, it was 18km of cycling and 24km walking. In the conditions I had, it is the perfect opportunity to bike n hike, as navigation is really easy

[Borderhugh]

Thats a great effort!

I did Glas T. and Carn nan Righ on a glorious winters day with deep snow, the views were to awesome.

[jamesb63]

Smashing report and lovely photos ,the heat on the hills has been a tad fierce lately
I done 4 of these from the Glenshee side and really enjoyed them

[mamoset]

Thats a great effort!

I did Glas T. and Carn nan Righ on a glorious winters day with deep snow, the views were to awesome.

Thanks Borderhugh, the views are quite impressive

Smashing report and lovely photos ,the heat on the hills has been a tad fierce lately
I done 4 of these from the Glenshee side and really enjoyed them

Cheers james, you're right, the ground was fair parched, I'm sure it won't stay like that for long

[Graeme D]

Loch nan Euan and the ruins at Altanour - two very special places.

[simon-b]

That's a big day getting all 5, even with the cycle in. Nice photo of the eagle. That does seem to be a good area for wildlife.

[mamoset]

That's a big day getting all 5, even with the cycle in. Nice photo of the eagle. That does seem to be a good area for wildlife.

Cheers simon, you're right about the wildlife, was plenty of mountain hares, deer, and other birdlife, keeps things interesting

[BlackPanther]

That's a big route, eve with bikes. We did Carn Bhac and BIM the day before (Sunday), it was hot and humid. Walking all the way from Inverey, baking in the sun, we managed the two in just under 10 hours and yes, we suffered from blisters, too

At least you were not chased by a thunderstorm, like us on Tuesday!

[old danensian]

That was some effort - well done for keeping going despite the blisters

I heard the thunder over on Beinn a Bhuird that day and wondered who was going to be underneath it

OD

[mamoset]

That's a big route, eve with bikes. We did Carn Bhac and BIM the day before (Sunday), it was hot and humid. Walking all the way from Inverey, baking in the sun, we managed the two in just under 10 hours and yes, we suffered from blisters, too

At least you were not chased by a thunderstorm, like us on Tuesday!

Hi BP, glad I'm not the only one to suffer that walk in up Glen Ey is a hike in itself, gives you a long day of it I just got back to the car on Tuesday from doing Creag Leacach as the heavens opened, so was lucky there

That was some effort - well done for keeping going despite the blisters

I heard the thunder over on Beinn a Bhuird that day and wondered who was going to be underneath it

OD

Hey OD, fortunately on Monday, the thunder was all north of me

[dogplodder]

When I was up Glen Ey this time last year I saw an eagle overhead which some fencing workers said was probably a white tail as they're present in the glen. What a beautiful day you got - can imagine the heat!

[simon-b]

Cheers simon, you're right about the wildlife, was plenty of mountain hares, deer, and other birdlife, keeps things interesting

It does keep things interesting. I had a ptarmigan doing its 'injured' distraction display on the ground right in front of me near the summit of An Socach, trying to lure me away from its chick...

[mamoset]

Loch nan Euan and the ruins at Altanour - two very special places.

Hey Graeme, i know what you mean, Loch nan Eun feels so remote, the silence can be overwhelming

[mamoset]

When I was up Glen Ey this time last year I saw an eagle overhead which some fencing workers said was probably a white tail as they're present in the glen. What a beautiful day you got - can imagine the heat!

I'd read you report about the WTE dp, sorry to say but this was deffo a GE