Carn Bhac and An Socach

[JimboJim]

Been a while since me and Big Jesper did this one so details may be sketchy. Then again, I don't think there were too many details Last October, we had previously done the threesome of Glas Tulaichean, Carn an Righ & Beinn Iutharn Mhor, from Dalmunzie, which seemed a good fit for us. This left Carn Bhac and An Socach to nail, out of this somewhat awkward group of five, ok, quintet, which we planned to do by a wee cycle in, from Inverey

Just over 3 hours takes us to Braemar and the extra 10, or so minutes, along the road toward the Linn of Dee. We soon had the bikes unloaded and set off along the good track, into Glen Ey, where the climb up the zig-zag's fair had us huffing and puffing for a wee while and the breeze seemed to generally be against, as always the case. We passed a sign for the Colonel's Bed, but elected not to see if he was asleep, or elsewhere It was certainly a nice trip, as we covered the 6 miles, to Altanour, in about one hour. Not record speed maybe, but it was tougher going than we thought.

Ruin of Altanour Lodge.

Carn Bhac, up the Alltan Odhar.

We tried to take the bikes in a bit further, but the track, wasn't really suitable, so they were soon ditched among the heather. We had seen An Socach from further down the glen and soon could see our way up the Alltan Odhar, with Carn Bhac, behind, though it doesn't exactly cut the nicest of shapes from here. Anyway, progress wasn't too difficult, aside from the occasional boggy bit, I managed to dive into It took about an hour from leaving our bikes to the summit, where we were soon joined by a fit young lady we'd met down at the lodge, who had walked all the way in and was heading on for Beinn Iutharn Mhor. There were some decent views of neighbouring hills, though visibility wasn't exactly great.

Over to Beinn Iutharn Mhor, from Carn Bhac.

Braeriach and Cairn Toul.

Macdui and Carn a'Mhaim

Beinn Mheadhoin, Cairn Gorm, Derry Cairngorm

Me on Carn Bhac. Spot who's been in a bog :)

Lairig Ghru and Cairngorm hills. Among them, Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Macdui.

Beinn a'Ghlo hills.

After a wee natter and some photo's, we were soon retracing our steps, aiming roughly for the steep, very steep nose of An Socach. From the angle we approached, there wasn't any sign of a track, so it was a case of DIY, pretty well straight up. It was a bit of a struggle, but fortunately only about 250 metres, or so of ascent, but even that had Big Jesper in knots, as he was suffering a bit of a virus, so he said Once the hard work was over, it was a fairly gentle stroll south to the summit cairn at 944m. It took about an hour and a half, from Carn Bhac, to An Socach.

An Socach from Carn Bhac.

The steep north ridge of An Socach. Lot steeper than it might look here, as Big Jesper can attest.

Jaf making along the "ridge" of An Socach.

Glas Tuileachan.

View along the Ey Burn.

After usual couple of pics, we made back for the same point to descend, but from here there was an obvious worn track, more to the east, which we followed down and back to the bikes. Whether we would have been any better working our way round there, to follow it up is arguable and I'm not for going back to settle that debate

Hare today .....

Glen Ey, from An Socach.

Big Jesper relaxing on summit, No.2

Zoom to Beinn Mheadhoin.

Wee birdie. Anyone identify it? A dotterel, perhaps?

We were soon back in the saddle and burning rubber, helter-skelter back to Inverey, in a healthier, 25 minutes, if memory serves well. Obviously wind direction had changed

Back at the bikes and Big Jasper gets ready for the blast back :) I think that's Beinn Iutharn Mhor, behind to the right?

Maybe not the most spectacular hills, but an enjoyable trip all the same

[Driftwood]

Useful to have bikes for that track up Glen Ey. I walked most of this group from Inverey and, though you can walk uphill sooner to Carn Bhac, there's still a lot of track to walk in and, especially, back out all the way from (in my case) Altanour and beyond.

The bird is a Golden Plover, which I recognise from one that kept still for me on the side of Glas Tulaichean, on that very same walk. Glen Ey seemed absolutely packed with birds during my evening walk-out and I needed to be careful not to step in the middle of some grouse chicks in the gloaming.

[katyhills]

I did Socach on it's own, taking in another top on the way up after reading someone's walk report here, and making it a circular route. Really enjoyed it.
They aren't the most spectacular hills though. You'll be glad you had good weather at least!
Think you're right about it being a dotterel. I got a pic too when I was there, as well as some ptarmigan

Just saw your post Driftwood - plover does look a bit more likely. I saw one on Tulaichean as well when I was there.

[Driftwood]

I did Socach on it's own, taking in another top on the way up after reading someone's walk report here, and making it a circular route. Really enjoyed it.
They aren't the most spectacular hills though. You'll be glad you had good weather at least!
Think you're right about it being a dotterel. I got a pic too when I was there, as well as some ptarmigan

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Just saw your post Driftwood - plover does look a bit more likely. I saw one on Tulaichean as well when I was there.

Nice to see the dotterel photo, thanks.

I've looked up a photo from the time and here it is for comparison. The plover has a darker underside and distinct neatly-mottled pattern on their back and wings.

Plover on Glas Tulaichean

[JimboJim]

Thanks for your kind comments. Yep, glad we got decent weather after pulling out of a hike up Ben Nevis planned for the same day, as it was looking poor there, though less than 60 miles away. Agreed about the route -Think once, think twice, think bike! As for the birdie, it's amazing the debate a dodgy photo, or two can stimulate. I'm not a twitcher, but inclined to agree with the Plover theory

Cheers

[Yorjick]

The bird you saw was a golden plover.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/g/goldenplover/

Katyhills' picture is of a dotterel - I believe a male or more likely a juvenile bird, as unusually in the bird world, the female's colouration is more striking.


https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/d/dotterel/

[JimboJim]

The bird you saw was a golden plover.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/g/goldenplover/

Katyhills' picture is of a dotterel - I believe a male or more likely a juvenile bird, as unusually in the bird world, the female's colouration is more striking.


https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/d/dotterel/

Cheers, Yorjick. As said, I'm not very knowledgeable about wildlife, but I think it is useful to try and keep myself right. I envy those who know their birds, animals, insects and flowers, which I'm sure most of us see on the hills, yet merely acknowledge them as something of interest to look at, but know little, if anything else about them.

Jimmy

[katyhills]

The bird you saw was a golden plover.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/g/goldenplover/

Katyhills' picture is of a dotterel - I believe a male or more likely a juvenile bird, as unusually in the bird world, the female's colouration is more striking.


https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/d/dotterel/

Thanks for that info.
Quite similar birds though, aren't they? Especially when you don't see them clearly.
Like you JJim, I enjoy all the wildlife on the hills, but sometimes you only get a glimpse of something and it's off again. If you get a photo at all, it's a bonus!
I've been quite lucky now and again, with some decent pix of snow buntings, meadow pipits and even a young merlin one day last year, and was thrilled to see a stonechat recently. I put a pic on the wildlife thread here.
It's lovely to sit now and again to watch birds if you have the time - I do a fair bit of that at home too