free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
With the weather being a bit 'unpredictable' and winter just round the corner, I had a chat with Parminder to see if he fancied venturing out. He was pencilled in for a baby sitting stint but used his powers of persuasion and handed the reigns to his deputy. I suggested a trip up to the western edge of the Cairngorms and he was more than happy as it would be 2 new balloons. I mentioned the weather and we were aware that it was forecast to rain at about 4pm so the plan was to leave Fife at 6am in a bid to try and beat the rain.
I had programmed the directions into my Satnav and even though the car is only 18 months old it doesn't have the latest A9 dualled section. The old turnoff for Kincraig is now obsolete on the new section of road and had I known that I would have turned off at Kingussie. This resulted in a bit of a detour as the first turnoff was the south turnoff for Aviemore.
We arrived at the car park and there were already about 6 cars parked up. We had a brief chat with a guy who was planning to head to Monadh Mor and we ended up following him up towards Carn Ban Mor.
The last time I did this route we did it anti clockwise and the weather was certainly much better.
The car park at Achlean
[img]https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1980/44319681864_fffc1a9753_k.jpg[/img
The initial road before we venture uphill
Achlean being renovated
Good path uphill, nice gradual incline
The way ahead
Looking back and the views are opening up
Parminder leading for a change
The way ahead still obvious
Looking back
Looking back just as we reach the white stuff
Getting whiter and into cloud soon
Path still obvious
Small cairn marks the crossroads, straight on for Monadh Mor, right for Mullach, we are going left
Parminder lingering behind, conditions not ideal
Snow/ice close up
Summit appearing through the clag
Parminder doing one of his unique poses, don't think it will catch on
Was explaining to Parminder it is a very long way down and Loch Einich is down there
On the way back to the cairn at the crossroads, we had a bit of a navigational hiccup, we were following our steps in the snow - but somehow we lost them and ended up doing a circle round a standing stone and then started heading back the way we had come. The joys of walking on a flattish plateau with no visual references. It wasn't long before we were back on track and trudging towards Mullach.
Once we descended after passing the crossroad cairn, we finally got views and could see where we were going.
Small burn to cross
Bit of a boggy area
Great view looking westish
Another tiny burn to cross
We were now on the motorway of paths that would take us almost to the summit of Mullach
Cairn on Mullach Clach a'Bhlair
Not the most exciting cairn
Not often you get to see me
Our descent route down the motorway
Still going down, it had started raining now
Landslide?
Nearly on the flat terrain
River Feshie had caused quite a bit of recent damage
Glad we didn't have to cross the Feshie
Nice walk back through the trees and following the Feshie
Plenty of fungi
More damage evident
"Expert" river crossing
The way back to the car
Still following the Feshie
Will be a tight squeeze in a few years
Next river crossing, very shallow
Really enjoyable day, thanks as always to Parminder for his great company just a shame the weather didn't really play ball. Especially as the view from Sgor Gaoith is fantastic, just means Parminder will have to return.
