Meall nam Maigheach ( Lawers )

[Gordon Ballantyne]

After the previous day on Creach Bheinn, I thought I'd take it easy on this wee one on the way home.
Drove out of Glencoe, but couldn't resist taking just one more photo of the Aonach Eagach in brilliant sunshine.

The Aonach Eagach

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Turned left up the Brig o Balgie road only to be met by an escort van with flashing lights near the dam, who flagged me into a passing place for this big vehicle to pass. I duly obliged, then witnessed this massive 3-wheeled forestry monster towing a double trailer filled with logs, and occupying the full width of the road bearing down on me. The ground fairly rumbled as it went by with it's metre wide front tyre, that would've run over my wee mass-produced car without the driver noticing ! I cowerd in my seat as it swept by - roaring and hissing like an escapee from Jurassic park !

There were a few cars badly parked at the end of the loch, so I squeezed in where I could clear the road. I muttered a few curses at these early starters who must've thought that no-one else was going on the hill on this bright sunny day.

Cairn at the end of the Lawers dam

I started off up by the cairn and on to Meal namn Eun. Eventually my legs creaked into operation as I headed across the peat hags in the bealach towards M nam M, using the metal posts of an old fence as a possible route guide through the morass. ( I always marvel at how these posts have stood the test of time, set in their hand-bored hole, with it's lead packing still holding it rigidly firm )

Hardy ancient metal fence post

I could see a green patch on the facing slope which promised easier walking and from this a drainage ditch emanated whos side had been used by a few others to ease their passage upwards to the top of Meall nam Meagaich.

Meall nam Maigheach from Meall nan Eun

A light cooling breeze drifted across the top as I rested my weary limbs, recalling as I looked at the Lawers range bathed in sunshine, how many years ago, I'd traversed these very summits in a thick clag ( is there any clag that isn't thick ? ), which had been down to near the dam - then dropping out of it just above the Horn Shop near the Lawers village. But today I could see the whole shooting match in glorious sunshine,

The Lawers range from Meall nam Maigheach

On the way back across the bealach I spotted a wooden fencepost thet had been rubbed down by many animals over the years until it was really smooth. ( sorry about the pic quality - must've has some water on the lense from yesterday's escapade )

A fencepost rubbed smooth by many animals

The walk down was uneventful for a change, as I avoided falling over..

The Lawers dam - it's still there !

Low water in the Lawers reservoir

So off to Pitlochry for my fish'n chip supper as a reward. Just made before he closed for his afternoon siesta, to prepare for the tea-time tourist onslaught. Had to stop for a coffee in Braemar to ease my numb bum before arriving home in time for a proper tea !