Out on my *rse (Part 1) - 50/50 on Cruban Beag

[Graeme D]

A few weeks ago I was informed by my wife that three of her friends and their combined 6 year old offspring were coming to our house on the evening of Friday 15th September for an evening of pizza and wine and a sleepover. I don't think the planned wine consumption extended as far as the 6 year olds. Anyway, I was told I would be about as welcome there as Kim Jong-un at a White House garden party! I was to do one! Make myself scarce for 24 hours or so!

I tried not to look too crushed by news of my temporary eviction from a house of 4 women and four 6 year olds and made plans to head for the hills. The Aonachs were on my hit list for the Saturday but I had to stay clear on the Friday evening too, so I left straight from work and drove up the A9 to the car park near the Falls of Truim on the Crubenmore-Dalwhinnie road.

Cruban Beag from the parking area just off the A9 northbound

This evening would see me claim my 50th Sub2K on what was also my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. While I was celebrating by bagging Cruban Beag, they were celebrating by spending a week on the Amalfi coast and the Bay of Naples. What's that got that Cruban Beag hasn't????!!!!!

I stopped off to take a look at the falls on the way down the road leading to the cluster of cottages and holiday accommodation. It was a rather awkward and delicate business negotiating the wet rocks to get close to the water but I was rewarded by the sight of a salmon trying to leap the falls. The first time I just caught it out of the corner of my eye, the second time I got a good, proper sight of it but hadn't had a chance to fish (no pun intended!) my camera out yet. Camera out, I crouched and waited with my finger poised on the button, but the fish decided to keep a low profile and didn't leap again. Disappointed to have missed a brilliant photo opportunity, I headed for the hill.

Falls of Truim - fish refusing to cooperate!

I settled for a close up shot of the bridge instead!

The hill from the bridge

Most reports I had seen on this hill involved ascents from the west side but I had always liked the look of the craggy eastern face above the A9. I put my disappointment with the fish behind me and went through the gate between the old stone cottage and the evidently newly built bungalow to the left. The landrover track went behind the bungalow and climbed slightly into an empty field. I reckoned a line straight up towards the two cairns visible on the skyline would be the best line of attack, so I crossed the field to a gate on the far side and entered the trees.

South west towards Am Binnein

The forestry offered little resistance and I was soon onto the open hillside, climbing to the right of the steep cliff face towards the first cairn with its open views up and down the A9 corridor.

Obvious ascent line below the cliffs

Meall Cuaich across the A9

First (southernmost) cairn

Towards Creag Dhubh and Newtonmore

From there I headed the short distance towards the other cairn before retracing my steps and heading for the summit and my 50th Sub2K.

Creag Dhubh and the River Spey from the heathery pull towards the summit

South to the Loch Ericht and Dalwhinnie hills from the summit

Creag Dhubh from the summit

Number 50. I wonder if I'll ever make the century?

From the summit trig, I decided to take a more direct line back down towards the start, finding a tricky but perfectly manageable descent route down through the crags to join up with the Right of Way track heading south to Laggan. From here it was a left turn and a short walk back to the field and houses beyond.

Am Binnein from the descent

Inverness train heading north

Back at the track

The descent line

I was back at the car just as the rain came on. Walking boots off, driving shoes on and it was along the old road to Dalwhinnie and then along to Fort Bill for dinner before heading along Glen Nevis to Poldubh for an assault the following day on the Aonachs.

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[Mal Grey]

Ah, so that's what those hills look like when you're on them, well worth stopping off for. I've often looked at them as we drove past. Thanks for sharing.

[dogplodder]

Well done on your 50 Subs and at your age you've got every chance of making the century!

Had a strange feeling looking at your pic of the Inverness train heading north as a short while later it would have whizzed right past our house.