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Ring of Tarf - blues skies, bloody midges and braw bothies

Ring of Tarf - blues skies, bloody midges and braw bothies


Postby tombombadilio » Sat Aug 27, 2016 10:10 am

Munros included on this walk: An Sgarsoch, Beinn Dearg (Blair Atholl), Càrn a' Chlamain, Càrn an Fhìdhleir (Càrn Ealar)

Date walked: 24/08/2016

Time taken: 16.3 hours

Distance: 52.6 km

Ascent: 2527m

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Hello Walkhighlanders!

Cracking forecast for one day at least, so decided to round off my east-of-the-A9 Munroes.

After checking the stalking forecast too, this is what happened:

WED
0715: Left Old Bridge of Tilt car park
Rucksack cripplingly heavy for one night. Really haven't mastered this ultra-light concept.

0930: Reached Allt Scheicheachan bothy
Stopped for quick break inside away from midges.

1120: Up Beinn Dearg
Finally, sweet respite from midges.

1520: Carn an Fhidhleir
Spoke to my first human of the day, a guy coming from Linn of Dee, similarly bitten to death.

1655: An Sgarsoch
Amazing views all round, but esp to the north.

1830: Reached Feith Uaine bothy
Had all to myself, but had to watch sunset from inside (did I mention the midges?).

THU
0830: Left bothy
Cooler, but midges still pursuing me.

0945: Up Carn a'Chlamain
Intermittent views, but cool and nice breeze.

1400: Reached car
Feet in bits, bit midges banished. 500 mile drive home to follow :D

SUMMARY
Thought this was going to be a relative doddle - the rolling puddings of the S Cairngorms in summer - what not to like?

But this was bloody hard work.

The long walks in and out were compounded by the heat, lack of wind and incessant midge presence (though I suppose I should thank them for motivating me to make such good time, as long as I kept walking, they were alright - though this was torture, not being able dally by a cool stream).

Also, between Beinn Dearg and Carn a'Chlamain, there was virtually no path. The heather wading and negotiation of peat hags (though dried out) was energy sapping. However, the burns (which I gather can be tricky in spate) were low so crossings were not a problem. Pros and cons to doing this in summer I guess.

But it was really nice to see these less glamorous Munroes in such stunning conditions with excellent visibility. Can see how this route would be tough if the weather was different though.

Bothies were also both in excellent nick. Cheers, MBA.

P.S.
To the man I chatted to cycling back from CaC: don't radiate out from Perth, get up to Torridon and the like! Do the gucci stuff first, you never know when you might get hit by a bus :D


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Looking back at start


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Breaking the tree line


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5 what? 5 bananas??


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Allt Scheicheachan bothy


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Inside Allt Scheicheachan bothy, in pretty good nick


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Looking south


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Beinn Dearg summit


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Looking north from BD summit, N Cairngorms on horizon


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Massive herd


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First crossing of Tarf Water


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Carn an Fhidhleir summit


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An Sgarsoch summit


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Decadent 2nd lunch on top of AnS


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Looking south from An Sgarsoch, think that's BD, looking very far away


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Feith Uaine bothy and CaC


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Second crossing of Tarf Water


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Feith Uaine bothy


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Looking back


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Deer


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Carn a'Chlamain


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Looking east from CaC


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Glen Tilt


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River Tilt
User avatar
tombombadilio
Walker
 
Posts: 175
Munros:258   Corbetts:19
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:4   Hewitts:8
Islands:17
Joined: Jul 21, 2015
Location: Perthshire

Re: Ring of Tarf - blues skies, bloody midges and braw bothi

Postby ajm84 » Sun Jun 28, 2020 8:03 am

Great report mate, we have just done this loop using your gpx as a rough guide and it was spot on.
We were lucky that we didn't see a Midge the whole way! But those peat hags certainly drain it out of you! We thought the last 8K on the road would be a nice steady walk out, but after the previous 46K it was proper hard work!
Fantastic Bothy in the middle of no where, will be hard to beat!
ajm84
 
Posts: 1
Munros:91   Corbetts:1
Fionas:1   
Hewitts:5
Wainwrights:2   Islands:6
Joined: May 26, 2017

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