Carn Bhac circuit

[jdavidsimons]

Apologies for no route map or photos but just wanted to get this route down quickly. I had always been put off a little by the long day required to bag both Beinn Luthan Mhor and Carn Bhac together so like many before me I decided to do them separately, BLM from the Spittal of Glen Shee and finally Carn Bhac from Inverey. I was still expecting a long day's hike but surprisingly I found I managed to complete CB in just over six hours (no cycling required).
It was a rare dry day for this August (2016) and I set off from Inverey car park at 8.50am to be passed en route by a convoy of 4WDs off for a day's deer hunting on the (fortunately for me but not the deer) An Socach side of Glen Ey. The first land mark is the ruins of Achelie cottage and then on to Altanour Lodge which is about five miles from the car park and took me about 1 hour 40 minutes. From there, a decent track continues gently upwards and south/south west past several grouse butts and then swings west where the stony summit of CB can be seen. The vague track continues almost to the summit except for a layer of bouldery scree which needs to be tackled before the summit cairn.
I then descended east towards Carn Creagach (which can be climbed if so desired) but then contoured round the west side of it to head for a well-defined path just before the 731m summit top - it was a bright day and as this path has been freshly laid with white stones it was very easy to spot. After reaching the path it is a very easy amble across the ridge and back down to Achelie Cottage. This route can be done in reverse which gives a far better aspect of Carn Bhac which from the other side looks quite boring. I thoroughly recommend this route - it alleviates the boredom of having to walk back out from Altanour Lodge and is quicker and shorter.