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Another day of relatively decent weather, but I was struggling with both fitness and some strange breathy-chest-post-covid weirdness so we decided to reduce the ascent and go for another flat-ish walk, with an optional Marilyn. What could possibly go wrong?!
As the road through Farr was closed for resurfacing we drove through Dores, up the big hill (only ever cycled up it before
) and eventually found somewhere to pull the car safely off the road on the B851.
It was an easy start down the road (fortunately for us both there was a gate we could hop behind for a pee
) as we headed for the track leading to Dumnaglass
Beinn Mheadhoin ahead As if I didn’t have enough problems, my ankle started niggling along here…I decided to ignore it for a bit and see if it went away (fortunately it did!). As we reached the house at Dumnaglass we stopped to admire their gateposts
We’d stopped to look at the Clava Cairns on our cycle back from Nairn a week ago; it had mentioned that there were lots of other burial cairns in the area – this looks to be one of them!
Water lillies on a pond
The track made for very easy walking initially and we made good progress alongside the burn. Soon we reached a bridge – if we were heading for Carn na Saobhaidhe we would cross the bridge and start heading steeply up. I wasn’t quite up to that yet, so we followed a grassy embankment along the side of the burn with the slightly unnerving feeling that we were being watched
Grassy embankment Towards Carn na Saobhaidhe At the end of the field we had to climb up and over a hump with a stile on the top, which then dropped us down alongside an electric fence (Malky discovered that by accident
) towards a wee bridge across the burn
There was a man kicking around on a quad bike – on previous occasions Malky has been quizzed about his intentions on this estate (possibly he looks like a poacher
) so we fully expected to be stopped but we were able to pass through without incident.
Once across the bridge we had to pick our way through a boggy field (possible to keep dry feet with care!) and happily made it to the track
We passed the entrance to what we could only assume was a large impressive mansion if the gatehouse visible through the trees was anything to go by
As we headed up Cona Glen we started to get some impressive views of the loch, and the cliffs the other side (more about that later….
)
As it was high time for food, we found some boulders to sit on to enjoy lunch and contemplate our next steps….
"Optional" Marilyn Creag a’ Cliabhain looked impressive from this side – there was a track up the other side which looked to be a much easier route but Malky seemed adamant that only a circular route up this hill would suffice
Conagleann and the impressive crags of Creag a' Cliabhain Looking back towards the loch We decided that the easiest route up would be to follow the deer fence – although it would be heathery and horrible there was the least rock here which would avoid anything loose and any need for scrambling. There was a helpful gate and a few rocks to help with the burn crossing at the bottom. It still looked awful
And awful it was – the first section was the worst as the heather and bracken was really high, and there were large boulders where the holes between them were disguised by moss. This was exactly the sort of ground I was hoping to avoid while my knee strengthened up again
Before we were even half way up there was more heather in my shoes than on the mountain
But on the plus side, we were going so slowly due to the awkwardness of it that my breathing wasn’t too bad
Not impressed…
What fresh hell is this Not that there weren’t any interest on the hill – the rocks and colours were pretty cool
As were the slabs on the hillside opposite!
Finally we were out of the worst of the steepness and the deer fence bent left – fortunately this was the direction we wanted to go so we followed it. The heather and bracken certainly didn’t let up until we were properly on the plateau. We could see ahead to some lumps and bumps (Malky got the map out to check and hardly dared tell me we couldn’t even see the summit yet
)
Although the ground was mostly dry, now on flatter ground boggy sections started to appear so we hopped onto the ridge in an attempt to stay dry. After a bump or two we could finally see ahead to the summit
Malky contemplating life
The tops of the crags were impressive and now near the edge we could see all the way down the glen
We even managed to pick up a small path which guided us through the worst of the heather and onto the summit – wahey! It had been a horrendous climb but there was no denying that the views were good
Loch Garth and Beinn a' Bhacaidh Ben Wyvis Inverness Summit of Beinn a' Cliabhain Malky showing off his spectacular lockdown hair We enjoyed a wee breather and I was able to empty the mountain out of my shoes, but it was a bit windy to stop for long. We could just see the top of the track we wanted to drop onto, and figured the top of the ridge would be the easiest way to get there. Again there were traces of path which helped!
Our route ahead As we got closer to the edge we could see straight down Loch Garth – Beinn a’ Bhacaidh definitely looks worth a visit!
Apparently these lochs are the upper lochs for the Inverfarigaig pumping station!
Loch Mhor Finally we were back on track – this one was significantly rougher initially but I was just happy to be off the heather
There was also a small cluster of impressive trees
Impressive trees I was starting to flag at this point, even going downhill I was struggling with breathing, and even Malky making passes at the sheep was failing to make me laugh
At least after the first short section the track made for really easy walking and I was able to plod along without having to think about my feet too much
Thistles We missed a turning (easily rectified with a shortcut through a field) and from here it was a long walk along the roads back to the car. I was really struggling and Malky did offer to go and get the car but I stubbornly managed to carry on
Finally car in sight! Finally back at the car I decided to let him drive home as it was all his fault anyway
Now not actually having to move anywhere I perked up a bit so we stopped into the shop for some essentials – with masks now being mandatory in shops we were able to take a “maskie”
Maybe time for a day off?