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Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard visible (pointy one on left) over Beauly Firth from Craig Phadrig in January
It was a last minute decision to climb this local Corbett prompted by a window between my son and family leaving in the morning and my daughter and family arriving in the afternoon. After three days of gorgeous spring weather Friday was to be similarly balmy before a swift return to winter. So I wanted to make the most of it while it lasted. Remarkably Rob and Mary were free and happy to do something that would allow me to be back in time for my daughter arriving at 4.30.
This was to be Mary's first hill since an accident cycling to work when black ice left her with a nasty injury to upper arm and shoulder, with two fractures and ongoing physio to restore full function. She wasn't sure how her injured arm would manage a pole and was understandably nervous about walking on hard-packed snow but was keen to give it a go. Considering this Corbett has a reputation for being more challenging than its Munro neighbours full marks to her for determination and bravery!
With this and our time factor in mind we reduced the length of the walk from the WH round to a straight up and down from the power station, driving in from the locked gate when it opened at 9.00. I wasn't sure about parking at Culligran but found a large parking area on the left side of the road at the point where a wide vehicle track turns off to the right and heads in for several kilometres following the course of the Nealy Burn.
Our route
This was also my first hill since my mother died, a day I thought I'd struggle with as I'd been out on the hills five weeks ago today, unaware she was so ill. She died exactly a week later, four weeks ago today. But I know she would have wanted me to keep 'climbing mountains' as she used to tell the carers I did... and having the distraction of Mary's come back from injury was a good thing to focus on to stop me being too emotional on the day.
Started up wide track
It was good to have Rob and Mary's son Matt along for the climb - this being, I think, his first Corbett but not first Munro.
Matt, Mary and Rob
We wondered why this track had to be so wide leaving such a visible scar on the landscape, but it did provide us with easy access until the point we decided to leave it to follow a wet path which came and went and came and then went completely. We headed over tussocky grass and heather in the direction of the col between Creag a' Gharbh-Choire and Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard.
As we climbed we spotted a few deer starting to cross the wide dip between the hills. I didn't want the dogs to get wind of them so we stood still and watched and a few tentative hinds turned into a steady stream of hinds which just kept on coming. Fortunately the dogs didn't see them, and because they were upwind of us they didn't smell them either. At their age they don't have the stamina for a long pointless chase but they would have felt obliged to try - so this was definitely a good thing!
Large herd of deer crossing centre of picture
Heading for col
At the col we turned left up the slope which was briefly steep but easy enough going over stones, moss and grass.
Nearing summit
There was a welcome windbreak at the summit where we huddled out of the wind for hot drinks and ham rolls while the dogs had their carrots and some sneaky pieces of shortbread because geriatric dogs need a bit more for energy - and they seemed happy enough with that arrangement!
Well done the old dogs!
Goofy Jack
I'd been looking forward to the views from the top knowing on a good day you can see the Torridons and Fannichs from here. But it was too hazy to see as far as that and we could barely make out the Beauly Firth, never mind see the Kessock Bridge which I think Black Panther had managed to photograph. Oh well you can't have everything and it was a beautiful (if windy) day, despite the lack of crystal clear visibility.
West from top to Strathfarrars and Mullardochs
North west from top over Strathconon
North east from top to Sgurr a Phollain
We stayed at the top about half an hour before setting off down the west ridge to vary the descent a bit and enjoy the views to the west.
Leaving the summit
Down west ridge
The last hill I was on we were in strong wind and somewhere near the top my map disappeared off never to be seen again. So this time I didn't tuck it into my rucksack waist strap but put it inside my camera case. But whenever I took my camera out the wind was so strong it turned the empty case inside out and buffeted it about and guess what my map disappeared again without me seeing it go. It was only a print out in a polythene cover but I felt guilty about contaminating the hillside (again!) with non biodegradable litter so turned round and retraced my steps up the hill to see if I could find it. But there was no sign of it and I imagine it was already well on its way to Loch Orrin. I will have to work out a more effective way of tethering my maps in windy conditions.
When I turned back down to catch up with the others I noticed a plume of smoke from the hill opposite. This was a slightly deja vu moment after the devastating fire Moira and I witnessed in Glen Lui last June but with all the snow still lying up there it didn't pose the same threat. I didn't know until later there were several wild fires over those few days following the warm spell and spread by strong winds.
Hill fire
Fire worse after photo stop
Whenever I asked Mary how she was doing she said she was doing fine and I didn't hear one complaint from her all day. She doesn't have full movement in her left shoulder but was managing to use her pole enough to be useful on the descent which shortly after the next photo became steep, uneven and through knee-high heather.
After the steep section the gradient eased and we picked our way through a boggy section before crossing the burn at which point we picked up a muddy track, too wet to walk on but we followed its general direction towards the Nealy Burn until we saw the wide vehicle track in the distance. Once on the track it was a quick march back to the car, in perfect time for me to be home to make the tea for my daughter arriving.
Once through the gate at Inchmore we stopped briefly to take a photo of the hill we'd just climbed. A great hill for a short day and exactly right for the time we had. Mary commented she hadn't done her physio exercises which she was supposed to do three times a day so was going home to do them! She seemed to be none the worse for her adventure, although her arm did complain a bit over the next few days.
Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard from Inchmore
