by bartape » Thu Apr 29, 2021 4:23 pm
Hello All,
Thanks for the info, very useful.
Here's a recap of my trip - 23rd April 2021 - Bagged Beinn Bhrotain & Monadh Mor then continued into Glen Geusachan via Loch Nan Stuirteag and out back to Linn of Dee.
Biked in from Linn of Dee, good flat track, crossed the White bridge, turned first right and rode on up the path to NN995899 where I dumped the bike. It was best to dump the bike here. You have to bump over drainage culverts on the path not long after the White Bridge. Distance to NN995899 8 km, 35-45 mins approx dependent on fitness.
Up the dry grassy hill to Carn Cloich-mhuilinn, following a path that comes and goes, then directly onto Beinn Bhrotain via a flaming false summit. Only patchy snow on the summit, wind free and quiet as the grave. Just short of 6 km or so to the summit from NN995899. Easy climb.
Down the boulder strewn side to 975 m at the col, complete with big patches of snow, the way down into Coire Cath nam Fionn was choked with snow. Up onto the plateau and more traversing snow patches to reach Monadh Mor, just short of 3km from summit of Beinn Bhrotain. Again pleasant with sun, barely a breeze and great views to the snow filled slopes of Devil's Point, Stob Coire an t-Saighdeir, Cairn Toul and the Angels's Peak.
I was swithering heading on into Glen Geusachan or about turning and reversing my route and after humming 'n hawing decided to head on via Glen Geusachan on the basis I had come this far anyway and did not fancy boulder hopping. On to Loch Stuirteag which was half frozen and I met the only the second person that day, a Frenchman called Antoine. He had started from Aviemore, up via Loch Einich then was continuing on to Blair Atholl, camping the whole way. I descended north side of the Geusachan Burn thru spingy heather, boggy moss and slippy slopes onto what passed for a path which as they do, was there one minute then not. I soldiered on, and got onto the south side of the Geusachan Burn, which was easy enough to ford & leap, and I think picked up the path around NN954942 which becomes better as it leads out E along Glen Geusachan.
From summit of Monadh Mor into Glen Geusachan then on to the bike at NN995899 - 12 or so km, about 2 & half hours or so. Long walk out over a path which was wet and boggy one minute then fine the next.
Simple enough ride out back to Linn of Dee. The relief of knowing that you can ride out as opposed to walking is unbeatable ! Total trip 36.7 km - biking - 16 km walking - 21 km
Sunset tripper - you are right, Glen Geusachan is a bogfest and a long slog.
In retrospect, I should have about turned at Monadh Mor, stayed high, caught the sun and enjoyed the 360 views. If I was to go back (ha !) I would stay high on the way back.
To sum up - long day, got through a lot of water, great views of The Angel's Peak, Cairn Toul & Devil's Point, biking in strongly recommended and a great day out.