Carn Creagach

[Gordon Ballantyne]

The original plan was to do the last 2 HUmps in the Braemar area. But - due to our inattention and too much chatting, we overshot our turnoff at Auchelie and toured on up the glen for a wee while before stopping - looking at one another in time honoured fashion - and chorusing " Ye numpties" ! What we call "relaxed" navigation !

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Inverie parkup - free - but for how long !

" KNOCK" by Inverie House at the bottom of Glen Ey ( we didn't )

Having parked up at Inverie, we mosey'd up Glen Ey past Inverie hoose towards our first hill - adding a bit on, as mentioned then sheepishly returned to the start of the Carn nan Seilich track. On the way back, we passed a group o worthies who'd followed us up the glen. They remarked on our early start - assuming we'd were coming back from our objective. I 'm ashamed to say that our bruised egos prevented us from correcting this assumption, so we gave our "hail fellows - well met " greeting and strode purposefully on ! ( sorry guys )

The retreat to Auchelie......one day you will be as old as us !

It was a good day for walking with a fresh breeze keeping us cool as we toiled up the track on to Carn nan Seilach, with H straining at the lead to chase the sheep grazing around the path.

A fine view down into Glen Ey from the Carn Creagach track

The long track up Carn nan Seileach

As we breasted the 731m top, a herd of abot 20 deer who were grazing on the E side of the ridge caught sight of us and moved over to the west side and down into the corrie.

The track over Carn nan Seileach to Carn Creagach - Carn Bhac ahead.

At the end of the track was the usual squelchy peat hags, which we plootered through then followed various animal paths up to the top of Carn Creagach when the soggy path from the end of the track seemed to traverse round towards the Carn Bhac bealach.
As my phone was still waiting a new display to arrive, GordonC was chief photographer.
At the top, we sat behind the cairn for our piece to shelter from the chill breeze, beside the bones of a hare - presumably devoured by an eagle.

GordonC & H at the top of Carn Creagach

My turn for summit modelling

From the top of Creagach I wistfully reminisced to GC about one day in olden times, when I'd walked with a party from Carn Bhac to the Cairnwell via Beinn Lutharn Mor, Carn an Righ, Glas Tulaichean, An Socach ( including the E top as someone had told me it was the Munro ) Carn a Gheoidh and the Cairnwell. We missed out Carn Aosda as we thought the cafe in the ski centre below would still open . ( wimps). Nowadays, it's a struggle to get up a couple o wee hills. Ah well - must be thankful that I can still get up something to enjoy the views.
We'd finished our tarry at the summit, so headed back down, noting that some dark clouds were beginning to gather.
Back down at Auchelie, I stopped to wait for GordonC - assuming that he'd stopped to take some pics , but just as I was about to mosey back up to see where he was, he appeared, grumbling about having dropped his camera case and having to return to his last photo-stop to recover it. So, it's not just me...... !

Back doon to Auchelie

Auchelie

We had a laugh at our continuing ineptitude and strolled off down the glen towards the Braemar cafes, having decided that we were too late for the second hill down Glen Cluny.
GordonC had noted a new cafe " Farquharsons Bar & Kitchen" just on the way into the village, so we headed for an exploratory visit. It was much bigger than it appeared from the outside, with a patio and childrens play area out the back and on the roof. The owner proudly showed us round his premises, emphasising that it was not only for tourist but for the locals. We had to admire his entrepreneurships as he was in competition with the newly refurbed Fyfie across the road. Photos were taken and posed for - our first in a cafe !

The twa billies in Farquharsons cafe

Photocall with the owner of Farquharsons Kitchen & Bar

Next we set off to recconnoitre the start to Sgor Mor, into one of these "sharp showers" that the TV weather presenters mention after the news.
Having temporarily blocked the entrance to Baddoch with our car while we tried to scope the ridge up Sgor Mor for a path, a couple of shiny Range rovers decided to drive into Baddoch. With a grovelling "sorry m'lud" we made way for them, but gleaned from the well dressed gate-opener that a path did exist. He was then left in the rain while his colleagues dropped off whatevet they were dropping off down the Baddoch track. ( most unsporting, we throught ).

With a deferential farewell, we retreated down Deeside to our respective Westhill bothies.