free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Greetings, fellow walkers!
This is just a brief one which I thought might be useful for informing peeps about the current state of crossings over the Baddoch Burn.
Based on GillC's 2013 post of 'An Socach, Munro No. 57, and a wee neighbour'. Thanks.
This is what transpired...
- Baddoch farmhouse.
- Baddoch Burn bridge at NO129823. As noted in WH route description, washed away in 2016 new year floods. Reconstruction seems to be underway. Walked here first to recce it, wanted to avoid the footbridge or wading across if possible, but this ain't happening.
- Potential crossing point of Baddoch Burn. Made it tantalisingly to the second island through shallow water, but beyond there, water just a smidge too deep for boots and gaiters to withstand. It'll have to be the rickety footbridge.
- Footbridge at NO131828. Hands and knees, it'll have to be. Can see where (possibly) GillC dislodged a plank. The steel girder to the left of the footbridge seems to be not supporting anything, just for decorative effect. There is a perceptible sag in the otherwise timber structure of it, with the upper planks rotten in places. No idea about state of the supporting timber underneath. Cross at own risk.
- Footbridge markings left by my desperate crawl to try and spread the weight, done while holding onto steel girder with one hand, should the timber fail.
- Breath again… blue sky over Glen Clunie.
- Socach Mor cairn. Bitter, bitter wind. Deep snow. Ice axe and crampons for steep walk up to start of ridge walk to An Socach summit.
- An Socach summit. Strong, bitter wind. Did I mention it was bitter?
- Break in clag - SE view from An Socach ridge. Cue celebratory singing.
- Return to glen floor. Warm sunshine. Feel safe and human again. Moments like this make you appreciate why we used to worship the sun.
- Remnants of Baddoch Burn bridge caught in tree fencing. Amazing how high the burn must've been flowing and how far it carried the debris.
- Footbridge return. Less death-trap looking, but still hands and knees.
- Weird horses. They were quite starey and one started following me. Like Horses of the Corn. But maybe they were just lonely.
That's all. Hope this was of some use for planning your route.