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In the deep middle of the lockdown Kevin had a few odd days off to use and we planned to do some painting and kitchen renovation. Yet when weather forecast showed blue sky and high temperature, we couldn't resist a half-day's outing, this time a bike & hike trip to Cul Mor and Cul Beag.
I can now hear people shouting WHAT??? A bike trip from Beauly to Assynt??? Not only it breaks the lockdown rules, but you must have used jet-propelled bikes to do it in 4.5 hours!
Thankfully, we have our own mini-versions of Cul Mor and Beag just a few miles away from home. Technically, we could drive to the bottom of Cul Beag - there is a small car park by the entrance to Auchderson Farm, but we decided that using bikes will be much more fun!
We cycled to Aultgowrie Bridge and then traversed both hills, returning to the spot where we left our bikes. The walking part was 9km, much of this on pathless moorland, but the two TUMPs really surprised us. They are great little hills and Cul Mor even provided a wee scramble
There was a car parked at the small car park by the bridge, but we never met its owner so whoever it was, wasn't climbing "our" hills that day. We left bikes on the grass by the track:
The access track to Auchderson Farm is framed by gorse bushes, now in full bloom and spreading nice, sweet fragrance everywhere:
Once out of the shrubbery, we quickly gained height and could admire views to the nearby Ben Wyvis:
He Who Always Knows It Best was pretty confident we could climb both hills and return home for some afternoon kitchen painting
The track passes by the old farm buildings and continues uphill for a short distance:
After about half a mile, we left the track (which heads into Glen Goibhre and would be useful to reach another TUMP, Carn Doire Mhurchaid) and began the short ascent to the lower top of Cul Beag, 353m:
Cnoc Udais and Cnoc Beinn na Lice:
We crossed a small boggy dip and found ourselves in the shadow of several pines, looking suspiciously Caledonian to me:
Beinn a'Bha'ach Ard on the western horizon:
The climb was far to short by our standards and soon we were on the summit of Cul Beag. The highest point is marked with a small cairn, constructed on top of a large boulder:
The summit area hosts several such large rocks and they make an interesting foreground to the surrounding landscape. The most memorable views are on the western side, with Loch Orrin sitting in the glen of the same name, framed by the two hill ranges on both sides:
Zoom to Orrin Dam:
Ben Wyvis:
The Ullapool Beinn Dearg and friends. Oh how much I miss the big hills. I wish I could just march up one of them
I shed a few tears thinking about the mighty mountains of the far north, but as soon as I saw the southern side of Cul Mor, all sorrows were forgotten. Well, it might not be a big mountain to climb, but it looks delightful for a hill-hungry Panther!
My pathetic attempt at Jaxtering
Cromarty Firth:
The direct descent north to the col between the two tops from Cul Beag is not possible due to crags, so we aimed west to traverse on higher ground towards Cul Mor. The very sight of the rocky wall made us salivate like Pavlov's dogs:
Kevin posing with the wall:
On close inspection, the wall is not as vertical as it looks from the distance, and it is possible to scramble up the rocks:
Don't tell him twice! He ignored the bypass path and went for it!
Higher up, the slopes are steep but manageable, a bit overgrown with scratchy heather, but at least it felt like proper hillwalking, if only for a short time!
At 393m, this is the higher of the twin TUMPs, the summit marked with a small cairn:
Me and Lucy on our second TUMP of the day
Cul Mor might be higher, but the views are slightly less attractive than those from Cul Beag, maybe because Loch Orrin is now partially hidden from view, and the Fairburn Windfarm is closer. Still, it was a nice spot to hang on for a while.
Ben Wyvis from Cul Mor:
Glen Orrin and the wind turbines:
Zoom to the Fannichs:
Cul Beag from Cul Mor:
Kevin noticed that a local castle, Fairburn Tower, is currently undergoing renovation. Fantastic news, as this 17th century towerhouse has a very rich history, including connection to the Braham Seer. More information can be found in my
old report about Orrin Falls and Fairburn Tower. I guess all works are currently suspended due to Covid, hopefully the castle will be restored in full. When it is finished, it will be available to rent as a holiday cottage. Holidays in a haunted tower? Count me in!
It is possible to descend from Cul Mor east to Cornhill Wood, but we had to get back to our bikes so retraced our steps to the bealach:
Cnoc Udais and Beauly Firth from the track near Auchderson:
Lovely weather stayed with us for the rest of the walk and cycle home.
By mid May we started to run out of options for Boriswalking/Boriscycling, but I have one more story to tell, a visit to two more TUMPs which can be reached from Beauly by car (the start of the walk is 7 miles from the village). The two tops can easily be reached using windfarm tracks. The day was showery but we still had good time. TR to come soon