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.

Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter


Postby johnnyhall » Sun Jun 05, 2011 1:25 pm

Route description: Beinn a' Ghlò

Munros included on this walk: Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain, Càrn Liath (Beinn a' Ghlò), Càrn nan Gabhar

Date walked: 05/06/2011

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 22.5 km

Ascent: 1200m

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

I didn't manage to get out in the hills over the winter. After my Fisherfield trip, I wanted to get out again and do something cool but marathon training took over and I never found the time to do anything.

The weather was poor for most of May but a small window appeared for Thursday and Friday. I was working but I decided that I would experiment and see if it was possible to climb some hills without taking any time off.

So, I packed up my overnight gear and booked a parking space at work.

At 5:30, I left the office and drove to Blair Atholl. It's only about 80 mile but it took me a couple of hours, with a fair proportion of that getting out of Edinburgh and across the Forth Bridge. At 7:30, I was setting off in bright sunshine with barely a cloud in the sky.

Image

I decided to walk the back way in to the hill and to climb up to Bealach an Fhiodha below Carn nan Gabhar. If I had time, I'd climb the far Munro and then try to find a spot to pitch my tarp as high as I could get. The first few miles are on a farm track and are easy walking. The sun was making me sweat but it was pleasant and certainly better than sitting in front of the television. I paid particular attention to the map to make sure I didn't miss the path junctions. Still, I managed to lose the path through the heather heading up below Beinn Bheag. I found it again eventually and then wondered how I had lost it - it's a bit of a muddy gash in the hillside, in the rain it must be a quaqmire.

I hit the bealach after 2 hours of walking. There was still plenty of daylight left, so I ditched my pack and headed up Carn nan Gabhar, disturbing a herd of deer as I went.

Image

The climb onto the ridge was easy but the first top is a mess of boulders and I was struggling a bit with a sore big toe to clamber over them without pain. I jogged along to the trig point and took a few photos, before turning around and jogging back to my pack.

Image

It was still not long after 10pm, so I set off up Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain. The climb was pleasant in the fading light but I knew I needed to find an overnight spot fairly quickly - I was starting to get hungry. I don't normally eat my dinner at 11 at night. I found a spot just below the summit on some mossy flat ground away and set up my tarp. It wasn't particularly simple to setup - it was a bit windy and the ground beneath the moss was stony and hard and getting my pegs to bite was a pain. Eventually I got it up and I reinforced the pegs with rocks. I got my stove going and settled in to enjoy the view.

Image

My stove took an age to boil the water for my dinner (Lamb Jalfrezi from Fuizion - excellent). I need a better windbreak, I think (and the gas canister was running a bit low so it didn't have much pressure). So, it was well after 11 before I ate my meal and then settled in to sleep.

I woke up before 4am and although the sun hadn't risen yet, it was very light. I lay for a while and then decided to make a move. A quick bit of breakfast and packing up only took me about 15 minutes, so I was heading up the Munro at 4:20am. My toe was really bothering me now and walking downhill was painful, not helped by the rocky terrain on the descent to the bealach below Carn Liath. The sun started to show at about 4:30.

Image

The summit of Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain.

Image

The walking on Beinn a' Ghlo was all very straightforward with barely any steep climbing or difficult descents. If my toe hadn't been sore, I'd have been able to run down the second hill.

Heading up Carn Liath with Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain in the background.

Image

I was on the top of Carn Liath not long after 5am. I had to get back to work though, so I didn't linger and started to jog off down the steep track.

Image

I was back at my car by about 6:15am and then had the pleasure of a 2 hour drive back to Edinburgh and a 4 mile tailback over the bridge. I must admit, by the time I got home on Friday night, I was flagging somewhat.

I learned a wee bit with this trip. First, take spare socks, even for an overnighter. My socks got wet on the climb up the first hill and my feet suffered for it. Secondly, I should leave work early and get in later next time, so I can get more sleep on the hill and not have to rush. Still, all in all, it was a successful evening.

More photos are here.
Last edited by johnnyhall on Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
johnnyhall
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 11
Munros:94   Corbetts:7
Hewitts:45
Wainwrights:23   
Joined: Oct 22, 2010
Location: Cardrona

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby rockhopper » Sun Jun 05, 2011 2:21 pm

You have some great light conditions for your photos there johnny - love the sunrise / sunset shots :thumbup:

Definitely an interesting way to walk these hills between work and get an overnighter in :D
User avatar
rockhopper
 
Posts: 7446
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:136   Donalds:89+20
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:2
Wainwrights:3   Islands:20
Joined: May 31, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby ChrisW » Sun Jun 05, 2011 2:33 pm

Great report Jonny - what a wonderful sunset and sunrise to have to yourself up top :D
User avatar
ChrisW
Rambler
 
Posts: 4941
Munros:18   Corbetts:5
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:6   
Joined: Jan 25, 2011
Location: Cochrane- Alberta - Canada

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby gammy leg walker » Sun Jun 05, 2011 4:13 pm

Certainly a new twist to this walk,very nice indeed jonny
User avatar
gammy leg walker
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 3464
Munros:282   Corbetts:7
Fionas:4   Donalds:3+0
Sub 2000:2   
Islands:7
Joined: Jan 30, 2010
Location: Central Region
Walk wish-list

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby skuk007 » Sun Jun 05, 2011 5:41 pm

Good report and some great photos johnny.

That's real dedication to the bagging cause, fitting them in between clocking off and on again.
Hope your toe gets better soon.
User avatar
skuk007
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1419
Munros:44   
Hewitts:8
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Aug 24, 2009
Location: Bristol

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby johnnyhall » Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:24 pm

Thanks fellas. Yep, maybe a bit too dedicated - I was paying for the lack of sleep the next day.
User avatar
johnnyhall
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 11
Munros:94   Corbetts:7
Hewitts:45
Wainwrights:23   
Joined: Oct 22, 2010
Location: Cardrona

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby Paul Webster » Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:43 am

Beautiful pics 8) Really does show that the best light and photos are to be got by high level camps.
User avatar
Paul Webster
Site Admin
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 5826
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:71   Donalds:45+17
Sub 2000:121   Hewitts:133
Wainwrights:135   Islands:92
Joined: Jan 6, 2007
Location: Highland
Walk wish-list

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby Essan » Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:24 am

Now that's what I call making the most of the daylight hours! Excellent :)
User avatar
Essan
 
Posts: 598
Munros:98   Corbetts:52
Fionas:7   Donalds:2+0
Sub 2000:4   Hewitts:88
Wainwrights:24   Islands:5
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Location: Evesham, Worcs

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby malky_c » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:47 am

Lovely 8)

I like a good afer work hill if I can squeeze one in, but it looks like a bit of bivvying can widen your choices a lot. Must try at some point. Seems well worth it for being on the summits at sunrise.
User avatar
malky_c
 
Posts: 6342
Munros:282   Corbetts:222
Fionas:219   Donalds:80+37
Sub 2000:315   Hewitts:281
Wainwrights:140   Islands:39
Joined: Nov 22, 2009
Location: Glasgow/Inverness

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby Jockstar » Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:58 pm

Great report of the walk we did last Saturday, and I wonder if the reverse is the way to do this as we took ages to walk out. We also had bad weather so didn't make the last Munro. Some great pics with fabulous light..and wild camping on the top - magic ! :D
User avatar
Jockstar
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 432
Munros:53   Corbetts:6
Fionas:1   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:5   
Joined: Aug 6, 2010
Location: Kinnesswood

Re: Beinn a' Ghlo Overnighter

Postby Graeme D » Tue Jun 07, 2011 3:24 pm

Now that's what I call stylish! Must try that idea sometime! :lol:
User avatar
Graeme D
 
Posts: 3996
Munros:251   Corbetts:123
Fionas:75   Donalds:22
Sub 2000:59   Hewitts:36
Wainwrights:28   Islands:6
Joined: Oct 17, 2008
Location: Perth

1 person thinks 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: Edward Moye, Nathan McColm, NellyBee and 88 guests