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I couldn't have timed my arrival home for my Christmas holiday any better - the moment I got home on Saturday I started hearing predictions of mass snow disruption over the coming week. Perhaps not ideal for people who have to work for a living, but perfect for me to get out in the lush winter wonderland (as long as the snow isn't heavy enough to prevent me getting there!).
Anyway, it was with a view to making the most of the good forecast in the East today that we set off for Glen Clova, with our aim to tackle Ben Tirran via the two impressive corries on its southern wall.
We arrived at the car park just beyond the Clova Hotel and were walking by 9.30am. Icy roads had meant the journey there took longer than anticipated, but the stunning skies in the East more than made up for it. We set off up the track (initially the wrong one) aiming for Loch Brandy. As we gained height, the crags and lumps on the opposite side of the glen became more impressive, as did the view back down Glen Clova.
Back down the glen
Across the glen
We arrived up in the corrie after around an hour, with the sun now allowing us to proceed with minimal clothing (it's all relative, of course).
In the corrie
The headwall
Towards Driesh
Glen Clova
We headed up the Snub, a pretty short but fairly steep ascent, and from here we could see the long walk along the plateau to our target. The hills to the north and west were now revealed too - Lochnagar and the hills around Loch Muick, and Mount Keen.
Lochnagar et al
Across to Driesh and Mayar
The plateau
Eventually we reached the summit which treated us to a nice bit of shelter from the bitter wind (it was, by this point, what some would refer to as 'pure baltic'). The views, as they had been all day, were pretty cracking.
The summit
Dreish and Mayar
Out to sea
Cloud formations on the coast
Lochnagar in cloud
Having tentatively eaten an extremely cold banana, we cracked on to the subsidiary summit, before cutting down into the corrie housing Loch Wharral. There are the remnants of some kind of building by the southern edge of the loch - no idea what reason someone would have to build up here.
We saw a wide array of wildlife in the corrie - a herd of (probably chilly) deer, various mountain hares and grouse. Unfortunately my photography skills are limited to stuff that doesn't run away from me at breakneck speed, so you'll have to take my word for it that we saw them! Ice formations are more within my abilities, and there were plenty about to see.
We cut across the corrie, aiming to cut down the big track just west of Rough Craig. We only located this track much further down the hillside - it is massively overgrown, and pretty difficult to see unless your looking closely for it. There were still great views as we descended, however.
Looking SE
Cat Law? I'm not sure.
We eventually met the birch woodland, and we climbed a few fences to make our way through. There was no obvious path or track until we got much closer to the road, although the woodland was very sparse. A fair amount of rotten wood meant there was an abundance of fungi, some pretty cool formations.
We met the road at around gridpoint 344720, and it was a short walk along the road to Clova, where we popped into the hotel for a cup of tea. There are some really friendly bar staff in there - I'm sure it'd be a good spot for a meal and a pint.
Towards Clova
Altogether this was a fantastic walk - stunning skies and scenery in an area of the country I rarely have a reason to visit. It's well worth popping up for a short jaunt around the corries, absolutely cracking.
Our route, seen from further down the glen.
