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Having not topped a munro since November last year, due to a combination of atrocious weather, chronic lack of fitness and probably also laziness, I was determined to get out this weekend. The weather forecast promised stunning weather all weekend, even the MWIS agreed.
I settled on the Carn Mairg group above Glen Lyon, having previously failed to even get started there in November due to the access routes being blocked. My other half, Anne/Happy Snapper joined me, and we duly set off for the wonderful Glen Lyon after only just resisting the urge to throw the alarm clock through the window at 5am.
We got to the wee car park down from the phone box early, so there were plenty of spaces. The Estate seem to have relented on access issues, having provided a waymarked alternative path which meets the main path shortly afterwards. Just turn left from the car park and it's a new gate about 50 yards along the road. The path heads briefly through the woods, with some blown-over-trees providing a short and semi-amusing obstacle course, before emerging into the open. It's simply a case of following the path along by the Invervar Burn.
It's not long before the views improve.
- Looking back down towards Invervar
The walk continues to the rickety metal bridge, where a couple of burns converge. It's a nice wee spot.
- Rickety Bridge
This was fast becoming a terrific day. No wind and barely a cloud in the sky. It was still a wee bit chilly but a cracking morning nonetheless. There were a hell of a lot of planes about overhead, no doubt ferrying people abroad to be sunburned to an even greater degree than we were about to be.
- Aircraft
The path continues on for a short while then a sign points you up a wee slope to the very edge of the forest. We stopped just after this at an old shieling and had some fruit. From here we could see what was to come, Carn Gorm and An Sgorr up ahead, and Creag Mhor was also visible.
- Carn Gorm
After a short break we set off up the ridge of Creag Ghlass, stopping frequently to admire the fabulous views of the Lawers range.
- Lawers range
- Back down to Glen Lyon
There were a few big patches of snow sitting, but almost all of it was nice soft stuff. If this weather carries on, it won't be around for long. Anyway, the walk up Carn Gorm is a minor slog, but the views were tremendous so we didn't really notice. Eventually the summit plateau and small cairn was reached. After a few photos we sat and had a bite to eat, taking in the terrific views all around.
- Summit of Carn Gorm
- Glen Coe
- Carn Gorm NW Ridge towards Loch Rannoch
After a short while, it was time to get going. We dropped down off the summit and followed the path, bypassing the top of An Sgorr and crossing a couple of snowfields before reaching the start of the short pull up to Meall Garbh. The fenceposts would be a hugely useful navigational aid in bad conditions.
- Fenceposts on the pull up to Meall Garbh
The summit cairn is hilariously awful. Anne wasn't overly impressed with the design.
- Meall Garbh summit
It's a pretty horrific mess, and slots neatly in second place behind The Cairnwell in the "Crap Summits I have Been on So Far" chart. On the plus side, it's got a nice view of Schiehallion. We took a short break here before heading for the longish walk to Cairn Mairg via a couple of minor tops. This was a bit of a slog, especially up to Meall 'Bharr. However, the long grassy ridge between this top and the munro is a nice wee walk.
- Grassy Ridge to Carn Mairg
Soon the craggy face of Carn Mairg came into view. I can see why people aren't too keen on heading straight off it to Creag Mhor.
- Carn Mairg
After a relatively quick pull up to the summit cairn from the grassy ridge, we were on the third munro of the day, which gave Anne her 10th munro. This gave her a bit of a boost as she was somewhat shattered by this point, on what was by far her longest outing on the hills.
- Double Figures!
After a well-earned scran-stop, we took the sensible detour off the hill towards schiehallion, down another couple of fun snowfields and headed down to the bealach on a fairly obvious path. We slowly trudged up the final munro, Creag Mhor. Anne was almost wiped out by now, but was determined to do all four and after a while we made the summit cairn, nicely situated on a rocky tor.
- A reluctant summit pose on Creag Mhor
Demolishing the remaining cheese-related goodies for lunch we reluctantly got to our feet and started the long, long descent. To attain the path, head roughly west and it's soon picked up. The path is pretty clear all the way down the SW ridge, and not so horrifically steep that it'll ruin the knees. It just seems dead long after a long hot day on the hills.
We eventually made the forest path for the short walk back to the car.
This was a hugely enjoyable day out, although it took a lot longer than expected due to numerous photo stops and just chilling out and enjoying the day.
The one downside of course was our failure to consider sun cream. We were both absolutely fried, and i'm now sitting, typing this with an extremely red face and neck, and unable to turn my head without serious pain