Five on a Ghaordie Adventure

[mrssanta]

Meall Ghaordie.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

This was the second day of our Bank Holiday weekend adventure in Glen Lyon and we decided to go for Meall Ghaordie from the north. So it was a navigational exercise through the trackless wastes but fortunately with good visibility so we could see exactly where we were going.
We faffed around at camp for a while, having bacon eggs and sausages for breakfast and making a stew to put in the haybox for tea (well actually cardboard box stuffed with crushed up newspaper) so we didn't get away till about noon.
Having looked at the TR from Nathan79 we decided it looked a bit hairy going up the waterfall so we opted for the longer but less steep route up to the head of the corrie and onto the ridge to the east of Cam-Creagh. The weather was mostly cloudy and fairly cold but with occasional bursts of beautiful warm sunshine and a few short showers of rain.
There's an excellent parking spot and bridge over the River Lyon at the weir just east of the Stronuich Dam where a track leads up to another dam. This wee dam was stealing all the water from the Allt Loaghain.

wee dam stealing the burn

Rudolph having a drink from the Happy Cup

There was a bit of fence there which those with longer legs (like me) could step over quite easily and then we went straight up over rough ground without any trace of a path.

looking up to Stronuich reservoir

lump of moss

Here's me and Shish. Quite by accident we have bought the same coat, the same rucksack and the same gaiters. Our children say we are the same person, but we deny it!!

Looking up to our right once into the corrie we could see the route Nathan had taken and there were still patches of snow up here and also in the steeper, East facing parts of the corrie, so we kept to the more sunlit, less steep slopes and it was lovely. We met large numbers of tiny frogs and saw some tadpoles in a wee puddle.

most of the frogs were a lot tinier than this one. maybe this is the mummy frog

this one looks mean and his colour is quite different.

when you stand on the tussocks the water boatmen jump out

We stopped for our first lunch just before the final pull up onto the ridge. At that point the summit looked a bit bleak, but the sun came out just as we reached the top, where the views all round were smashing. There's a great shelter at the top of this hill, with the trig point in the middle, so we stopped for second lunch but not for very long, as it was windy and cold.

First lunch

The sun came out at lunch time. Glad we didnt go up through those cliffs

bit of snow to be intrepid in

Looking East to Tarmachan

coming over the ridge you get a view of Loch Lyon and the Bridge of Orchy hills

Rudolph and Coldwetandhungry on the summit

Shish on the summit

attempt at arty shot from the summit

On the way down we had fun sliding down a snow slope pretending we were skiing. not so easy for Shish as she did not have any poles!

snow patch and a bit of weather coming over

ooh this is fun

We came down more or less the same way we came up, although went a little further along the ridge for the least steepness.

trying to be arty again

Look out for ankle-breaking holes where water runs just underground - lots like this everywhere.

nearly down, just this wee steep bit to go

Happy Cups back at camp.

Back at camp, we pulled the stew out of the haybox and it was really yummy - beats dehydrated food any day.

[dooterbang]

Great report, and brilliant cups

[Huff_n_Puff]

Lovely. Nice to see the Glen Lyon route up this one

The cups seemed glad to have you all back

[robertphillips]

well done mrs s good to see u back up north.

[Collaciotach]

Nice cups

I also enjoyed Ghaordie and Glen Lyon one of my favourites

[scottishkennyg]

Great day MrsS and still a fair wee bit of snow up there too..

[mrssanta]

Thanks all. I have a collection of cup pics. 99p in Yorkshire Trading. Sadly no longer available, otherwise I would be a reseller and make a fortune!
We have a pink one as well.
Next trip is planned for July to the Fannaichs - can't wait!

[rockhopper]

Does look a good way to approach this hill - looks like you all had a good time up here - cheers