walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

An Socach - current state of Baddoch Burn crossings

An Socach - current state of Baddoch Burn crossings


Postby tombombadilio » Fri Feb 12, 2016 5:52 pm

Munros included on this walk: An Socach (Braemar)

Date walked: 10/02/2016

Time taken: 6.16 hours

Distance: 17.5 km

Ascent: 778m

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
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...


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Baddoch farmhouse.jpg
Baddoch farmhouse.


Baddoch Burn bridge.jpg
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.


Baddoch Burn potential crossing.jpg
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.jpg
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.jpg
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.


Glen Baddoch.jpg
Breath again… blue sky over Glen Clunie.


Socach Mor cairn.jpg
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.jpg
An Socach summit. Strong, bitter wind. Did I mention it was bitter?


SE view from An Socach ridge.jpg
Break in clag - SE view from An Socach ridge. Cue celebratory singing.


Return to glen floor.jpg
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.jpg
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 on return.jpg
Footbridge return. Less death-trap looking, but still hands and knees.


Weird horses.jpg
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.
User avatar
tombombadilio
Walker
 
Posts: 175
Munros:258   Corbetts:19
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:4   Hewitts:8
Islands:17
Joined: Jul 21, 2015
Location: Perthshire

Re: An Socach - current state of Baddoch Burn crossings

Postby DaveH82 » Sun Feb 14, 2016 3:02 am

This is a walk I was hoping to do this winter, but wasn't sure I'd be able to after the New year flood damage to the bridge. Thanks for reporting on the current state of the crossings, very useful information for me.
User avatar
DaveH82
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 155
Munros:182   Corbetts:15
Fionas:3   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:25   Hewitts:1
Islands:3
Joined: Jul 18, 2015
Location: Monifieth

Re: An Socach - current state of Baddoch Burn crossings

Postby tombombadilio » Tue Feb 16, 2016 8:32 pm

DaveH82 wrote:This is a walk I was hoping to do this winter, but wasn't sure I'd be able to after the New year flood damage to the bridge. Thanks for reporting on the current state of the crossings, very useful information for me.


Glad to help. Hopefully the repairs will be finished soon and you won't be faced with the dilemma of a rotting footbridge or wading across!
User avatar
tombombadilio
Walker
 
Posts: 175
Munros:258   Corbetts:19
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:4   Hewitts:8
Islands:17
Joined: Jul 21, 2015
Location: Perthshire

Re: An Socach - current state of Baddoch Burn crossings

Postby Keefers » Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:06 am

Update:

Walked up yesterday. Bridge now complete. Followed path to end in perfect winter conditions before returning back via Socach Mor. Great winter option.
User avatar
Keefers
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 15
Munros:282   Corbetts:4
Fionas:2   Donalds:1
Joined: Feb 20, 2015

Re: An Socach - current state of Baddoch Burn crossings

Postby dogjake » Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:37 pm

Keefers wrote:Update:

Walked up yesterday. Bridge now complete. Followed path to end in perfect winter conditions before returning back via Socach Mor. Great winter option.


Thanks for the update guys, perfect timing as I intend doing this one on Friday and didn't fancy the rickety bridge. I'm happy now that the bridge has been repaired and I can look forward to a good day, although the weather looks decidedly iffy.
dogjake
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 56
Munros:282   Corbetts:10
Fionas:4   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:11
Wainwrights:12   
Joined: Apr 28, 2011
Location: West Lothian

2 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: flipside and 32 guests
cron