A walk less Ord-inary

[superstar_tradesman]

After a cracking morning on Geal-charn Mor, I wasn't finished for the day, so decided to nip up Ord Ban on the other side of the valley. Rather than try anything too complicated, I decided to follow the route described at the end of the WH Loch an Eilein walk description.

So I pulled in to the main loch car park, paid my £1.50 and was heading past the white barn and up over the stile just after 2. The ascent was straightforward, following a faint path as it zigzagged up through very pleasant woodland.

Loch an Eilein peeking through the trees

Eventually, it reaches the open heathery upper slopes, and after negotiating a slippy looking rock slab, the path leads more gently to Ord Ban's summit trig and accompanying giant boulder.

Geal-charn Mor from the top of Ord Ban

As with so many smaller hills, it's a wonderful viewpoint, looking NW back to my morning hill, NE down the Spey past Aviemore, the Cairngorms still pretty hazy and the setting sun to the W.

Looking N down the Spey to Aviemore

Loch an Eilein and Rothiemurchus from atop the summit boulder

After a few photos, I retraced my steps back to the car, but not before a diversion down to the loch shores to catch the last of the daylight. A really enjoyable combination of hills for a mild snow-free December day.

[dogplodder]

Nice wee hill this one and when combined with the round of the loch it gives you your money's worth for the parking ticket.

[superstar_tradesman]

Nice wee hill this one and when combined with the round of the loch it gives you your money's worth for the parking ticket.

Agreed—though on this occasion, it would have been dark by the time I'd got halfway round the loch