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With travel restrictions lifted, we had made it to Inverness: Basecamp Malky
However, as it was Monday Malky had to work so I thought I’d be considerate and get out from under his feet…. I drove the short distance down through Aviemore and parked up at the tip of Loch Morlich. A few minutes later I was off
The sun was shining and I didn’t think Loch Morlich had ever looked this good
I hopped off the track for a view across the loch, nearly getting wet feet for it
Meall a’ Buachaille looked an awfully long way away
The forest trails made for easy walking – I took the left fork and headed around Loch Morlich rather than towards the Lairig Ghru this time!
I was very glad I’d worn my trail shoes – walking around on all the tracks in clumpy boots would have been seriously uncomfortable
The tracks dropped down to the loch and gave me a great view of Meall a’ Buachaille – still looked bloody miles away
The woodland was stunningly beautiful and I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere – there weren’t many people around here
I was finding walking on the relative flat to be fine and had to keep slowing myself down, reminding myself that my fitness was destroyed
I came out on the Cairngorm mountain road which gave me a quick glimpse of the Fiacaill Ridge
I followed a small path through woodland and it brought me out at a car park – as I was consulting my map to check which of the many paths was mine (it’s always a bit embarrassing to get lost in a car park
) a couple of other walkers checked I was ok – I was, but they did inform me that the Allt Mor trail had been closed due to landslips. Fortunately this was the opposite direction to where I was going!
I crossed the Allt Mor at the footbridge before continuing on paths that led me around the back of Glenmore Lodge
At one point I came upon a ford but before I’d had to take shoes off I discovered a bridge a few metres upstream!
Meall a’ Buachaille looking a little closer!
A reminder that it had been quite wet over the last few days, tempting the slugs out!
Foxgloves with flies
Soon I hit the Ryvoan Pass path which was much busier – plenty of families out for a wander and lots of cyclists. And some big rabbit holes!
I love how the trees have taken over and forced humans to extend the path
The steep sides of the Ryvoan Pass
A brave couple taking a dip in the Green Lochan (“it’s really warm” he said…she seems to disagree
)
I’d forgotten how much ascent there was to the top of the pass, but it did give some great views looking back
Purple flowers on the heather
At last I’d made it to Ryvoan Bothy – a sign on the door reminded people that the bothy was closed. I stopped to remove some layers as it was hot work
The way ahead – I caught up with a lady out for a stroll – she was staying near Glenmore and had just come out for a wander.
The colours were beautiful and I was trying to distract myself from the steepness
Thankfully a slightly easier section
Looking back
The long and winding road out to Bynack More and eventually the Fords of Avon
Looking across the Ryvoan Pass to Cairn Gorm and the Northern Corries
As I climbed higher I could see down to the Green Lochan
Geal-Charn, Ben Rinnes and Corriehabbie in the distance
The sun hitting Ben Avon
As the path opened out into a bit of a motorway I met a couple of families coming down. The wind was quite brutal here which was making the steep ascent even more difficult
I was finding it really hard work – hard to tell if it’s just lack of fitness or if the stupid virus had done permanent damage; time will tell I guess
Summit finally in sight
Cairn Gorn and the Northern Corries
Having reached the top I dived into the massive cairn and found some shelter – it was absolutely freezing and windy enough that I was getting blown around
Bynack More and Ben Avon in the distance
Looking back down the ridge with Ben Rinnes and friends in the distance
The continuation of the ridge – my route ahead
Looking down to Loch Morlich – looks a long way away now!
I sat down to enjoy my sandwiches in my wee sheltered spot and just enjoy being out in the hills. I also thought I’d let Malky know that I was having a good day out while he was at work
After a while I was joined my a guy who had come down from Inverness – we chatted for a while and it turned out he lived a few hundred metres from Basecamp Malky – it’s a small world
Eventually I started to get cold and figured I should get moving – I had a long way to go, and Malky said that he and his Dad had taken 6 hours over this route (it would be a bit embarrassing to take longer
)
Sgorr Gaoith starting to appear
I started the steep descent down towards the bealach – the path was quite rubbly and I had to be careful of my knees
Not easy when I kept getting distracted by views
I ignored the path down to the reindeer centre – I wasn’t wussing out! The onward path was still decent underfoot for the most part here, but I hoped it didn’t deteriorate too much (I’d been promised a good path the whole way
)
Views off the back across Moray
Loch Garten
After a steep climb I reached Creagan Gorm – my next bump
The sun hitting Ben Avon in the distance
Loch Morlich and the Gorms still taking centre stage
The ridge ahead – boggy section ahead
Looking down to Badaguish
Big rock with Christmas tree growing out of it!
Looking back along the ridge – it was around about here that my hat blew off
Cool rock formations as I headed for the final bump (shame about the bog in between
)
Looking back along the whole ridge
Loch Morlich
Actually, as it turned out I wasn’t at the end of the ridge – there was a short section at the end before I dropped off
Braeriach and Sgorr Gaoith – even a sliver of Loch Einich peeking out
Looking back to Bynack More
Panorama from the end of the ridge
Carn Eilrig guarding Loch Einich
Braeriach and the entry to the Lairig Ghru
It was time to head down – I was pretty knackered, but fortunately it was all downhill from here!
The path deteriorated on the way down, I managed to get by with almost dry feet – only a few dodgy leaps required
Looking back up
Finally I was on forest tracks! I sort of ignored the map here as it didn’t really match the tracks anyway and followed my nose through miles and miles and miles of forest
Meall a’ Buachaille
Ever get the feeling you’re being watched?
The Gorms
Wee glimpse of the Fiacaill again
It was a relief to finally hit the Logging Way and then the road. A quick diversion to the shores of Loch Morlich to disturb the ducks was worth it for the early evening light on the Northern Corries (I’ll be up there soon I hope!) before getting back to the car a couple of minutes under the 6 hour mark. Phew
I had a good stretch out before the drive home – luckily a lot shorter and easier than driving back to Glasgow! Even better I was late enough that Malky had got dinner on
