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Travelled up to the Linn of Dee Car park where I parked up overnight
to let me start the first of the 2 planned long walks it was a very nice evening
and I was pleasantly surprised that the midges were making themselves scarce
took a walk down along the river with my wife and the dogs it was so peaceful and beautiful
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- Linn of Dee
Day 1 Bheinn Bhreac ,Beinn a'Chaorainn ,Beinn Mheadhoin ,Derry Cairngorm
Time taken -8hrs 40mins
The first days walk was to go anti clockwise doing a round of Beinn Bhreac ,Beinn a'Chaorainn
Beinn Mheadhoin and Derry Cairngorm , I was up at 5.15 got ready fed the dogs and set off
up the path through Glen Lui ,there was some low cloud on the tops but the forecast was for it to clear
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- Start off up Glen Lui my pacemaker in front
With no bike it was a nice easy walk in and the weather was calm and dry
so I was soon at derry lodge where I opted to cross the bridge and head along for about 3/4 of a mile
and then cross back over the Derry Burn and up through the Pines to meet in with the path to Beinn Bhreac
the burn was low so there was no problems incurred nor getting wet in doing so
there is something magical about the Caledonian pines I just love them they all seem to have a character
of there own
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- Pines in Glen Derry
Once over the burn it was a fair old trudge through knee deep heather but I was soon on the path to Bheinn Bhreac
the dogs were setting a good pace for me
which I was pleased about as only 5 weeks before
I had torn a muscle while doing a show in Ireland and had only done one walk 4 days previous
to test things to see how I felt ,the path though very boggy in places was easy going and 2 1/2 hours after
setting out from Linn of Dee we reached the summit Cairn of Beinn Bhreac and the sky were clearing nicely
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- Summit of Beinn Bhreac
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- Beinn a'Bhuird clearing from the cloud
After taking a few pics I set off for Beinn a'Chaorainn it looks a fair old walk from Beinn Bhreac
over a vast area of peat bogs which thankfully were reasonably dry I was wearing approach shoes
so I was wet already but once on the tops they make the going easier imo
Crossing the bogs a couple passed to the east of me , they must have camped overnight as they
were coming from Beinn a'Chaorainn
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- Looking back to Beinn Bhreac over the peat bogs
Once over the bogs and onto more solid footing I made a quick ascent and was soon on the summit
of number 2 of the day Beinn a'Chaorainn I stopped here for a bite to eat and a drink
and take in the views
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- Beinn a Chaorainn summit
After 10 mins it was time to set of on the descent back into Glen Derry where a lot of height is lost
and then start on the steep ascent up to Beinn Mheadhoin ,this was also through deep pathless heather
and I took a couple of stops to catch my breath
the cloud started to come in again also .once onto the ridge I was soon onto the path and from there
the going is nice with no great ascent up to the Tors of Beinn Mheadhoin
Looking at them I thought there was no way the dogs would get up there but once walking round the back
it was no problem for them to get to the summit
This was number 141 for me only 141 to go
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- The summit comes into view
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- The lads on the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin
On leaving the summit to head to Derry Cairngorm I met a couple who were surprised to see the dogs
on the top of the Tor ,Looking back I seen only one appear on the top
The path over to Derry Cairngorm is excellent and The views were Fantastic toward Ben Mcdui and all around
nice to see all the tops ive still to do here
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- View toward Carn a' Mhaim
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- Loch Etchachan
Once on the path towards Carn a Mhaim It was good going to the path turning for Derry Cairngorm
and the final top of the day I passed some walkers here who had came from Carn a'Mhaim
We soon reached the summit and had good views back down Glen Lui and the LONG walk back to Linn of Dee
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- Derry Cairngorm Summit
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- The long walk back to Linn of Dee
Once back down to Derry lodge the place looked like a Bike factory ive never see so many
and I did think Lucky beggers
but personally I love walking with the dogs
The walk seemed to take forever but 8 hours 40mins after setting out we arrived back to Linn of Dee
and what a joy it was to get back to our new motorhome and a great cooked meal made by the wife
now just a matter off driving round to Keiloch for the next day
Day 2 Ben Avon and Beinn a'Bhuird
time taken 9 hour
What a difference a day makes I was up and ready at 4.35am and after 10mins of setting out
it started a steady heavy drizzle of rain and this was to set the seen for 80% of the day
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- Heading up Gleann an t-Slugain
Nearing the top of Gleann an t-Slugain I noticed a few wild campers still having a nice sleep
not all as mad as myself with the early start
Once out the top of the Gleann I then decided to do the route again anti clockwise so took
the excellent path heading up towards Ben Avon here now the rain got heavier and the clag
was well down on all the hills around
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- Rain and clag what a joy (not)
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- Looking back down Quoich Water
I just got the head down and put on a good steady pace hoping on hope it would clear as it was supposed to
Passing up alongside the Glas Allt Mor it was miserable one moment the clag was down the next it would clear
only to return with heavier rain ,
I left my bag at the Bealach and headed up on the ascent of Ben Avon on the plateau near the Tors
I came across a bold little Snow Bunting who put a big smile on my face he was quick but I managed to get a pic
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- Snow Bunting
It was a matter of taking a compass bearing and trudging on through the clag
I then met 2 lads who had camped out on the summit under the same views as myself that it was to clear
but made the decision to head down very wise indeed
The Tors soon came into view when I was about 70yrds away from them I just headed straight up
took a pic and about turned to head for Beinn a'Bhuird
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- Dogs on Ben Avon Tor
I stopped off again at the bealach to grab a bite to eat where I met another walker we had a chat again
he mentioned it was supposed to clear
I then set of for Beinn a'Bhuird and once on the plateau it really was a test of navigation and having
faith in the compass it seemed to take forever in the clag and it was with relief that the summit came into view
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- Summit Beinn a'Bhuird
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- Golden Plover near the summit
I then headed for the south summit and on nearing it I met 2 walkers who had camped just to the north of the south top they said the weather had set in about 9pm the previous evening
It was then a case of taking a bearing and heading into the clag again and it is rather pathless in parts
till we reached the path alongside Carn Fiaclach where it give better footing and easier going
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- Looking from Carn Fiaclach into Glen Quoich
The path at the bottom became very wet and boggy and it was with a lot of relief to reach the path heading
back down into Gleann an t-Slugain , now again like the day before all that was left was the Very long walk
back to the carpark at Keiloch by now my old legs were starting to feel the pain of walking just over 73kn and
over 3800ft of ascent in 2 days back at the van I had a nice shower (what a joy) and lay down not having to head
off for home I had a nice cold beer followed by an excellent meal
The wife had also had a nice walk with our new addition Oscar the Beagle it will be a long time before this
bundle of energy come with me
The rain then came on torrential with thunder by it no way stopped me from falling into a deep slumber
I really enjoyed these 2 very differing days and big walks in the Cairngorms and has whetted the appetite
for more in this area
