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Are you moving house? One of my friends asked me, when I packed my car for a weeks camping trip up north… Growling back, I denied and explained that some wild camping will require more stuff than usual! After all, I needed food, water, cooking stuff plus everything else one needs…I am sure guys are different, but I could easily survive until autumn if needs be.
My plan was to head up straight to Durness – a long journey, but with amazing weather and even more amazing beaches up there, I did not mind the 300mile journey.
Heading up the A9, for the first time driving myself (I prefer the more scenic route through Glen Coe and avoided the A9 so far, ) I think it was the first time I was in the Cairngorms without clouds as well. A lovely area I have to say.
Up north from Inverness the Sat Nav suggested to take the road which would take me to Tongue and knowing that Ben Kilbreck was on the way, I mulled over the option to climb it on the way.
My thoughts came to an abrupt stop, when I stopped for petrol and realized that my debit card was missing. I still had my credit card to pay, but I could not think what happened to the debit card??? Paying for petrol I drove on, thinking about the places where the card could be and deciding I might have lost it after packing my car after shopping at the supermarket, I stopped to play it save and phoned my bank to block the card. I was told that I could go to any branch to withdraw money…but surely they did not realized that in the far north west, Lloyds does not have a branch …but I left that problem for another day.
When I reached the bottom of Ben Klibreck my bum was sore from driving for 6h and I decided to climb it, regardless of feeling tired.
Changing clothes, I left the car soon after arriving and made my way up the grassy slopes.
From what I have read there are 2 routes up, but the slightly longer one was gentler and suited me better. It was a late start at 16:00 hours, but as it was light well after 22:00 hours, I did not mind…apart from climbing the hill I had nothing else to do anyway.
- Ben Klibreck from the road
The climb will take you up gently and reaching the first hill I took pictures of the 2 cairns I moved on and sweating in 25C I was glad for the breeze. Soon the first walkers appeared on their return. After saying my hellos continuing up the mountain.
- One of the cairns on the way up
The second top was reached in no time as well and from there the path slopes along the side of the mountain…a great way to pick up some speed and enjoy the countryside.
Until that day I have never seen any Ptarmigans…..but that evening they where everywhere and I stopped often to take pictures. Reaching the last bit before it was time for the last climb it
Was a hard push to the summit, but I was happy when I realized it had only taken me 2h.
- A Ptarmigan
- View up north
- me
- Summit cairn
The views from the top were amazing…Ben Hope and Ben Loyal to the north and great wilderness all around me. I settled down in the warm sun and had a relaxed dinner in the warm sunshine. It was in fact 50min later when I had to drag myself away from the summit. But when do you ever get evenings like this …warm, sunny and views for miles and miles…a rare occasion that far up north.
Leaving the top I continued the same way back and bouncing along the path with full energy. Feeling that it was a great start to my holiday I was back at the car 1.45h later. 3.45h for the whole walk including some small breaks on the way up and down- not bad.
At my car I realized that the drive up to Durness was something I could not be bothered to do, so I decided to stay put and put my tent up right next to the parking area. There were literally no cars and the burn looked inviting for a foot bath…so the plan for the evening was set.
- Camping wild
Leaving the next morning on my way to Durness the countryside was splendid. But I nearly crashed the car when I saw 2 men inside one of the many lochs…one of which was completely naked, with a facecloth in his hand …washing like he was at home…and not next to a single track road with helpless females driving past
- Road to Tongue
- Bon Loyal
- Ben Hope
- Loch Eribol
- Fishing boat