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The varied sizes and shapes of the Mhaims, Paps and Ciches give an insight into life before bras. This particular one is a little elongated. Nonetheless it is one of the shapelier hills around Braemar.
We used the bikes again to take the sting out of the track to Derry Lodge. Incidentally if you're cycling, the short cut path from the car park is a bit tough on anything other than an MTB with steps steep hills and deep mud. The main Glen Derry track is nice and smooth and we were soon locking up the bikes.
It's a bit of a quagmire west of the lodge - presumably to discourage cyclists from going any further. Beyond the bog, the path is excellent and Luibeg Burn was soon reached.
Then came the first pleasant surprise of the day. Wandering up the Luibeg path looking up at the slopes of Carn a Mhaim disappearing into the mist and wondering at what point to strike off through the tussocks, we came across an engineered path. There are some who would see this as a desecration of the wilderness but to my mind a discreet and well designed path beats a slithery muddy trench any day.
The path made short work of the ascent and we were soon at the misty summit.
Then the show started. First the sun appeared through the mist;
Then a bit of blue sky
Then the summit rocks were bathed in watery sunlight;
Then Carn Toul appeared
and we were above the inversion
Heading down, there was a view back up of the summit, wreathed in mist
The sunlight picked up small pools across the Glen.
Beinn Bhotrain trailed a banner of cloud
Autumn colours in Glen Derry were picked out by the evening sunlight.
Derry Cairngorm and Ben Macdui showed a palette of reds and golds.
The burn and the pines added blues and greens
The last of the sunlight gave this dramatic silhouette.
There are days when you don't want the walk to end. We picked up the bikes at the lodge and freewheeled down the Glen in a matter of minutes. An unforgettable day.