Wild Cat Country Graham straight fom the Bunkhouse!

[The Rodmiester]

Well here we were based in Wildcat Country near the ancestrial home of the Clan MacPhersons of Glentruim. Glentruim Castle a B listed building built around 1840 and various estate cottages passed on our way to our base at The Roundhouse Bunkhouse at Uvie farm. I see that the Clan MacPherson motto is 'Touch not the Cat but the Glove' and that a Wild Cat is incorporated within the family Crest. All I can say is what a base, very comfy with a hot shower and well maintained, with superb views from high up overlooking views of The Upper Spey Valley with the Cairngorm Mountains in the distance and with panoramic views towards Laggan, what a setting. This was our climbing clubs March Meet with eight members keen to get some hills done after what seemed to be an eternal period of wind and rain.

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The Roundhouse and Bunkhouse at Uvie Farm where we walked from to start the walk to Creag Dhubh

We left at 0830hrs and walked to the entrance gate to the farm and then turned right down theA86, walked for about 50meters and crossed the road at this entrance gate within the deer fence. (Directly opposite the farm gate there is another gate with an access panel this would be the way we came down off the hill at the end of the walk)

Once through the gate there are two paths take the forking right and there is a pleasant walk through the trees

Keep on the path that climbs steadily up through the trees onto the open hillside where you find you are walking beside a fence on your right. Keep going until you come to a gate this is the point if you only want to go and see the MacPherson Memorial turn left but if your to be heading for the Graham turn right, once again finding a fenceline on your right to keep you away from the dangerous crags and cliffs on the South side of the hill

The line of fence posts with Creag Dhubh in the distance

Looking back the way we came view towards Laggan

The underfoot conditions are quite heavy going as there does not appear to be much sign of any paths at this point and a small burn has to be crossed without much bother

The start of the long undulating ridge begins

Further along the ridge, snow not too deep at this stage

A style has to be crossed at another fenceline crossing our path to the summit

Straight ahead but the visibility is coming and going, but compared to the weather forecast this is wonderful, not a great deal of wind and so far not much of the white stuff promised has actually fallen

Looking back along the ridge

At last the small summit cairn comes into view, not far now!

A frosted looking cairn at the summit

A summit pose, of course

The rest of the party appearing, there is a dip between the two cairns which is filled with a substantial amount of snow

On our return instead of coming back over the ridge we traversed on the North side of the ridge but apart from that we walked out the way we walked in

That is until we came to the gate we passed through at the point where we decided to head on over to te MacPherson Monument

Close up of the Monument plaque

View from the Monument looking over the Spey Valley towards Newtonmore

Another view East

Monument and Cliffs of Creag Dhubh, where somewhere there is a cave called Cluny's Cave, behind a Rowan tree I believe

Waterfall at the cliffs. From the monument we descended West then South beside a fenceline, quite steep in places until we came to the roadside gate opposite the entrance to Uvie Farm. All in all a fabulous morning with plenty of interest en route.

[scoob999]

Looks like a great wee ridge that Rod heather with snow on is horrible to walk on, glad you all had a good day

[The Rodmiester]

Looks like a great wee ridge that Rod heather with snow on is horrible to walk on, glad you all had a good day

Thanks Scoob, Great ridge, and a great wee hill, and to get a day like that after expecting the worst made it even better

See you Friday

[scoob999]

Looks like a great wee ridge that Rod heather with snow on is horrible to walk on, glad you all had a good day [/quote

See you Friday

We'll be there
That looks like an interesting bunkhouse as well

[The Rodmiester]

Looks like a great wee ridge that Rod heather with snow on is horrible to walk on, glad you all had a good day [/quote

See you Friday

We'll be there
That looks like an interesting bunkhouse as well

Scoob will give you all the info at weekend, a terrific place if you have a group of eight, works out at £12.00 a night, can't be bad!

[Sarah86]

Looks like you enjoyed another good day out on the hills. Really like the shot of the MacPherson Monument with the snowy hills in the background.

[The Rodmiester]

Looks like you enjoyed another good day out on the hills. Really like the shot of the MacPherson Monument with the snowy hills in the background.

Thanks Sarah86, we really enjoyed that one, all in all a great walk, with lots of interest on the way. Some of these wee hills are great for views and have lots of character

[BlackPanther]

Aaah, so snow is back on lower hills!

This is a cracking little one, views are great too, if you're lucky to see them

I have a bad memory connected to Creag Dhubh - we took a direct route to the ridge, up the steep, tumbling slope. I slipped and injured my knee But still I'd like to revisit it someday... Your route seems better (less steep) for a winter climb.

[The Rodmiester]

Aaah, so snow is back on lower hills!

This is a cracking little one, views are great too, if you're lucky to see them

I have a bad memory connected to Creag Dhubh - we took a direct route to the ridge, up the steep, tumbling slope. I slipped and injured my knee But still I'd like to revisit it someday... Your route seems better (less steep) for a winter climb.

In some areas plenty of the white stuff! I read your report before heading off to the club meet. One wee problem was I was not aware of any nearby parking areas, but there might of been one further around the corner (East)