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Finally free weekend after many weekends in work, I was looking forward to go to the mountains again and spend longer time there.
Originally I wanted go on saturday, but some unexpected things happened and I prepared myself for atleast sunday's trip.
Because of early start in work on monday the sunday meant get back home earlier. Checking the weather forecast and possibilities the Cairngorms looked like a good choice for the sunday.
Not decided what exactly, I wanted start from Linn of Dee and do any Munros from Carn a'Mhaim, Derry Cairngorm, Beinn a'Chaoirainn, Beinn a'Bhuird and Ben Avon...I kept it opened and left the decision for later, when I will see how it looks there. As I looked in the WH, those Munros are mostly reached using a bike on the beginning as the road there is suitable for a bike and the initial ( and then finish ) distance is long enough. Unfortunatelly my bike was stolen last year
and I'm not planning to buy another one yet, so I was determined for a long walk.
I woke up at 02:30 and left home before 04:00 am.
Here is the photostory:
- On the road to Linn of Dee: stopped my car here to catch the sunrise - looking back to Braemar
- River Dee along the road to Linn of Dee
- Linn of Dee car park: £ 2.00 is the parking fee per a day and car. I arrived there around 06:30, paid the ticket, prepared all my stuff quickly as the Midges welcoming ceremony showed me very forcefully that any slow moving or stopping in this area will be properly rewarded ! Then I started my walk at 06:38 - quickly disappeared in the short forest used the path to Glen Lui.
- Walking in the forest...the sunshine promised a good day
- Outside the forest I crossed a bridge - after 2 km of walk from the car park, turned left and joined the main wider road along the Lui Water...This shot is made around 1 km from the starting point
- After 3 km from the start, I left the main road - turned right for the first ascent...here I definitely decided that I will walk to the distanced Ben Avon first and then add some more Munros on the way back around, anti-clockwise. All depends on the conditions ( terrain and mine ), weather and time... This view is towards South-West, back - down to the main road
- Silent walk via Clais Fhearnaig
- ...and the narrow view more ahead
- Along the "grassy" water...
- Out of the Glen, looking back...
- Towards South-East, opened view and Lochnagar in the background
- Here I joined another wider trail towards North
- I crossed the river ( some deeper-wet steps ) and turned right in the junction. Looking back towards South over Quoich Water
- I met a group of young walkers and overtook them in another crosing point, they looked enjoying the walk together and prepared for a long day. Nice to see how atleast some young people are enjoying the Outdoor. After some distance the path was interrupted by this stream. I wanted avoid the water and decided to continue along and hopefully find a better place to overcome
- After a rough walk I finally found a better crossing point, went through some boggy places and then joined this nice and much more comfortable path
- Clach a Cleirich
- Looking back...all the opened distance
- Higher level, near the point I turned right and started the ascent to Ben Avon. Weather changed, very misty, no visibility and colder air, but the visibility was clear again for a while...then changes every one minute...
- Ascending to Ben Avon and looking back to the junction, Beinn a'Bhuird opposite, covered by clouds
- Walked in fog, then I finally saw the first sign of the summit
- ...clear view shortly after. My first Munro on the route - reached after 19 km of walk !
- After the summit inspection I walked back and turned for this shot as the weather allowed the view from the distance now
- ...and one more
Photostory continues in the next post - in the comments below: