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After a week of blue skies and sunshine it was disappointing that Saturday signalled a downward change and Saturday was the only day Evelyn and Moira were free to walk. I scoured the forecasts and the area that looked least dismal was down the A9 round Newtonmore way and a quick search came up with the unfortunately named Meall na h-Airse which none of us had climbed.
We followed the minor road down the glen (involving at one point an awkward reverse to allow a vehicle to pass after he ignored a passing place he should have pulled into) and parked by Garva Bridge. The last time I was here was in 2006 when we climbed Geal Charn on a scorching hot day in July and I got blisters.
General Wade built this bridge as part of his route over the Corryairack Pass
We crossed the bridge and took a right turn up a track heading north which soon crosses over a new track (built to construct the Beauly to Denny pylons) and continues on a grassy track which goes through a gate, staying on the west side of the burn. After about 600m we took a right fork down towards a footbridge, which we crossed then followed a boggy track along the east side of the burn. We didn't know it at the time but if we had followed a track to the right a bit earlier we could have crossed easily on stones at a ford and that track would have led us all the way to the summit.
Heading down to the footbridge
Footbridge
Looking back to Garva Bridge from footbridge
The continuation of the track from here was wet and muddy.
Meall na h-Airse just right of centre with a little cloud on top
After about 1.5k of wet track we left it to head up the grassy slopes NE towards the ridge. This was initially pathless, then we happened on a vehicle track which we followed for a bit but when the fence on the ridgeline came into view we made a beeline for it. If we had stuck to it this was the vehicle track that would have taken us all the way to the top, as we discovered later.
Climbing the grassy slopes
Dogs (still relatively mud free) investigating an Interesting smell
It's difficult to emphasise how disappointing it was to have this grey blanket of cloud after brilliant blue skies and sunshine all week. But that's Scottish weather for you and at least it wasn't raining.
Looking back to Garva Bridge
When we reached the fence we waited for the others to catch up
After a coffee stop we continued along the fence line before crossing it and shortly after that came across a gap in it which let the helpful vehicle track through and which we then followed up to point 844m. This was the track we used on the descent, which we found better going underfoot than the way we had come up.
On the track again
Up to point 844m
From the subsidiary top the wheel marked track didn't seem to go the most direct route but it made sense to stick with it as it avoided any difficulties through the peat hags. So often on this type of terrain the shortest route isn't the quickest one.
Over peat-hagged bealach to Meall na h-Airse
View west
Looking back to bealach and craggy nose on subsidiary top we came over
Not the most exciting summit with not even a cairn to sit down at
Moira comes from Edinburgh, Evelyn from Dundee and I spent 24 years in Dundee and 4 in Aberdeen so think it's not stretching things too far to describe us collectively as east coast quines.
Here we are on this dullish day at one of the Monadhliath's duller summits - but we're quite happy!
The mournful look from mud dog is down to me eating my sandwich instead of giving it to him
Perhaps someone else is a better bet....?
This track led all the way from the summit back to the road
Mud dog being called back over the ford to wash off the mud before he gets into the car
Once over the ford we weren't far from the car at Garva Bridge - looks like it's got company.
So all in all we had a fine day out, the dogs had a good wallow in peat bogs, we climbed a hill we'd not climbed before, got some grey sky views and didn't get rained on.