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The forecast suggested there was a pretty good chance of clag at Munro level so I decided to drop down in height a bit to do a Corbett I've wanted to do for a few months now - Meallach Mhor.
It's a long time since I've been to Glen Tromie (last century
) and things have changed a bit, you can no longer park close to the bridge over the River Tromie so I headed up the road to Drumguish and parked by the side of the road.
- Parking in the woods
I was due some showers today and the first one was waiting for me as I got out of the car and kept me company for the first 20 minutes of the walk as I walked up to Drumguish, turned right at the crossroads and headed down to the track that runs through Glen Tromie.
Once on the Glen Tromie track it's a straight forward walk up the glen.
- Heading up the glen
- Looking back, sun now out and dark clouds heading off to bother someone else
It felt like it took ages to reach Glentromie Lodge then I realised that on the previous two occasions I had been up this way I had been on the bike up to Gaick Lodge
Once I reached the ugly building below the track switched to a tarmac road making for a fast walk up the glen as it went from being fairly enclosed to a more open moorland with fenced off areas of pine trees which seem to be growing well (I can't remember seeing them the last time I was here).
- Views opening up
Once I reached Bhran Cottage (after about 6.3 miles) Meallach Mhor came in to view.
- Bhran Cottage
- Meallach Mhor
I hadn't stopped prior to Bhran Cottage and as I knew this was roughly where I would leave the road I hadn't checked the map or read my notes so was surprised to see Meallach Mhor so close as I had been focusing on a hill further up the glen thinking that was my target.
After the cottage I stayed with the road for a couple of hundred metres then just headed off to the left in a straight line for the hill. Initially, close to the road it's a touch on the damp side walking through the grass/heather. After only a few yards I was surprised to see a fairly large lochan (not shown in my 1991 version OS map - it's served me well) which I passed on the right hand side. Still a bit damp at this stage but the flat ground will soon be behind me and the climb will start so hopefully drier ground ahead.
The initial climb is quite steep through long heather but it doesn't take long before I'm able to use a couple of areas where the heather has been burnt (probably last year). There are also one or two rocky outcrops which are easily avoided.
- Heathers looking good just now
- Looking down on the lochan
Quite quickly I reach shorter heather and the gradient eases so easier walking with views opening up to the south and down towards Loch ant-Seilich and beyond.
- Loch ant-Seilich
- First sight of the summit
After the main climb there is an easy walk over the plateau to the summit cairn with great views in all directions.
- Summit cairn with Loch ant-Seilich and a further lochan in the background
- Meall Chuaich (?) behind the cairn - looks good from the east
- Looking over towards Newtonmore
After a good look around I retraced my steps back down to the road although I ended up coming out 100 yards further up the glen (trying to find the driest route closer to the lochan).
- Reaching the road and looking back to the hill
- River Tromie
With the sun still shining it was time for the 6 odd mile walk back down the glen.
- This chap thought it would be a good idea to cross the road - hope he made it
With half an hour left the rain came back on but it was never that heavy. Made it back to the car in good time.
Good hill this one, not everybody's cup of tea with a fair amount of tarmac but it makes for a quick walk. Non purists would take a 2 wheeled contraption with them and it would knock a fair amount of time off as it would be easy cycling both ways as there are no steep hills to negotiate.
The bridge close to Ruthven Barracks is currently closed off so access is from Kincraig.