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Sub 2000's: Carn Faire nan Con
Date walked: 12/02/2012
Time taken: 1 hour 35 minutes
Distance: 5km
Ascent: 370m
Weather: Mild, sunny and calm
Finally my first walk in Scotland of 2012 (apart from walking to the shops that is...)
I had an extended weekend at home (Friday morning to Monday evening), but as I hadn't seen my wife for 3 weeks, a trip down to the Glencoe meet was definitely off the cards! Even a half day away seemed a bit unreasonable, so I turned my attention to some lower hills that I'd been meaning to climb for some time now. I practically circled this hill on my bike back in 2009 (
report), and had intended to cycle to it last year. As ever, I didn't get round to it, so it made a perfect couple of hours away from the house for Sunday morning.
I was briefly seduced by Sgurr Marcasaidh across the loch, but remembered my promise to be home for lunch. Anyway, Sgurr Marcasaidh is going to give me a great day out with Creag Loch nan Dearcag at some point, so worth saving.
I parked at the gate to the Luichart dam. The sign advises that it is possible to drive to the dam during weekdays, but it is only 5 minutes further on, so hardly worth the bother. Walking up the road, it felt like spring was in the air, with the mixture of woodland, rock and heather bursting with colour. Any thoughts I had about being on the higher hills vanished when I got to the dam - there was more than enough stunning scenery here!
The end of the Sgurr Marcasaidh ridge from the Luichart dam road:
Creag na Carachain from the dam road:
Loch Luichart and Carn Faire nan Con:
I followed a break through the trees which led me above the eastern shore of Loch Luichart. The going was easy underfoot apart from a short area of moss-covered boulders. Through a hole in the fence further on, and I climbed up to a higher break which contained some pylons. Rather than follow the pylons, I climbed across the break and up into the birchwood above. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the trees were widely spaced and the ground dry and firm. The going got a little tougher as I left the trees behind, with heather underfoot, but it was still fine. Before long, I was at Loch an Dubh-chairn, with only 100m of ascent left. As I climbed, spectacular views opened up down Loch Luichart. I had some idea what to expect, but was still surprised at how rough and remote it seemed. It felt like a small chunk of west coast sea loch had been plonked beneath me.
Through the fire break to the summit:
Loch Luichart and the Corriemollie hills:
Sgurr Marcasaidh across the loch:
Back to the dam:
Sgurr Marcasaidh occupies the entire western side of Loch Luichart. Drool:
Across the spur of Sgurr Marcasaidh to the Grahams and Corbetts of Strathconon:
The last section was a mixture of heather and walking across flat slabs of rock, and there were good views to the Fannaichs and Beinn Dearg hills. While a lot of hills were obscured (the summit was only 370m high after all), I didn't want to be anywhere else at that moment, so I stopped for a good 10 minutes. The weather was way better than anticipated. Much as I have been enjoying my re-discovery of the Welsh hills, it was great to be home again (I have to admit I'm starting to get a bit confused as to where home actually is these days).
Strath Garve to Am Faochgach on the extreme left. You picked the wrong day Monty!
Loch Garve and back over to the Black Isle:
Zoom to the eastern Fannaichs:
Loch Garve and the Wyvises, little and large (large behind with the majority of the snow):
I wandered around the summit area to get the best views in each direction, then took a slightly more easterly route down to Loch an Dubh-chairn, before following much of my outward route back to the car. I was home by 1pm, and glad I hadn't tried anything bigger, otherwise I would have missed this
Loch an Dubh-chairn on the descent:
Last look down Loch Luichart:
Easy walking through the woods:
Parking and gate advice:
