free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
This weekends excursion was planned for Glas Tulaichean and at least one of his palls - Carn an Righ. With the weather forecast this had the makings of a good day out and if the strength was there I was also hoping to go off piste a little and sneak in Beinn Iutharn Mhor as well
As preparation for my day I had spent Saturday on the paddle steamer Waverley cruising up the Clyde to Dunoon, which apparently required me to drink copious amounts of alcohol
Well, not wanting to appear rude.....I did as instructed and joined in
So, it was a bit of a sore head and leaden legged me that was woken up by his alarm at 4.30 on Sunday morning
The temptation was to turn over and forget about the walking, but the opportunity to get out in the fresh air was too much and so it was I was heading on my way at 5.30, via a supermarket, for Glen Shee for the day.
Parked just away from the entrance to Dalmunzie hotel and set off walking at about 8.45. Already the signs were, it was going to be a scorcher
Met a little pal on the way out for an early sunbathe.
- The first of many amphibians on the day
The walk to the hotel was a good warm up. It was lovely and peaceful. The perfect start to the day and I was soon at the hotel.
- Heading toward the hotel
It was a good walk up into Glen Lochsie, up to the ruined lodge and onto Breac-reidh. At the first ford I made my way up onto the the line of the dis-used railway. Rather than zig-zag up as suggested, I just went straight up the side of the hill. Not a great deal of effort, but enough to make me realise just how stifling it was. No air at all, which was pretty much how it stayed for the rest of the day. And me all dehidrated from drinking the day before
- Up Glen Lochsie from dis-used railway line
Met a chap ahead of me while walking along the dis-used railway and eventually, after a bit of leap frog along the path, we walked together to the summit of Glas Tulaichean and on to Carn an Righ. Turns out he was a user of WH too, but unfortunately we didn't exchange names. Did the usual hill walking thing of talking hills all the way
If you are that man, it was a pleasure to have your company on this route. Hope the wife wasn't too cross that you sneaked in Carn an Righ to your day.
Eventually arrived at the ruin of Glenlochsie lodge. Ok, it's a ruin, but what a fantastic setting
- Ruined lodge
The burn coming down at this point was something else too
- Allt clais bheag
After the joy of the dis-used railway line it was back to the landrover track
It was a bit of a shocker to start with. Fairly steep and just not much fun really
Nice views opening up behind
- Back down glen lochsie
But look at the route up
Even the beers the day before couldn't make this look appealing
- The road ahead
Height was soon gained though, before a more gentle stroll to almost the summit
- Another look back
- Toward the GT summit
Got a nice view open up of the Beinn a'Glo group too
- Beinn a'Glo
And then we were on the first summit of the day. Views from the summit were a bit limited I though, given it was a big, dome of a summit.
- GT summit with Beinn a'Glo behind
Coming down off the summit gave a good view of the next target of the day - Carn an Righ
- Toward Carn an Righ
We dropped down off the side of the hill and took a bit of a shortcut up to the obvious path which you can see cut into the land. Don't think the frogs we disturbed were too happy. Man, there were hunners
- Path
Reaching the saddle between Carn an Righ and Mam nan Carn and the good,if eroded, path up CaR continued. Could also see the possible path contouring round Mam nan Carn to Beinn Iutharn Mhor should I still have the energy.
- Possible route to Beinn Iutharn Mhor
Things weren't looking too good though. By now the effects of the alcohol the day before was kicking in
I was flagging quite bad and arriving at the summit was something of a relief
- Carn an Righ summit with Beinn a'Glo behind
Unlike GT the views from CaR were much more extensive. Had a good view of Beinn a Glo as well as toward the Lairig Ghru
- Beinn a'Glo from CaR
- Toward the Lairig Ghru from CaR
It was time for a bit of a rest on this summit, gather my strength and see if I had it in me to attempt Beinn Iutharn Mhor
To the summit of CaR had been about 4 hours from the start, so despite the slightly sore knees and feeling a bit groggy from the day before I knew I wanted to add a third hill for day. So off to Iutharn Mhor I went. A nice easy trip down CaR to the saddle with Mam na Carn. All was well so far. Then a short climb up the path on Cam nan Carn to contour left around the hill and on to the saddle with Iutharn Mhor. Immediately my knees suggested this trip as foolish, but it actually wasn't long till I was on the level path and contouring round easily.
- Path to Iutharn Mhor
Sadly, the path eventually petered out and it was a case of making my own way onto the saddle. This turned out to be a bit painful for my feet and I soon had sore soles to add to the sore knees
Once on the saddle with the munro the final push onto the summit is actually quite easy. As I arrived I met a couple of women who asked me perhaps the strangest question I have ever had on a hill before (and apologies if either lady is reading this). It went something like
"I know this is a stupid question, but what hill are we on?" Apparently we were on the wrong one
After they left to make there way back down Glen Ey I had the summit to myself and spent a good while just sitting there taking in the piece and quite. Miles from anywhere? Miles from everywhere
- Beinn Iutharn Mhor and Beinn a'Glo behind
- Toward the Lairig Ghru
- An Socach
An Socach.......! Now there's a thought ......!
The thought never entered my head
I was pleased enough hitting Beinn Iutharn Mhor on this trip. Although I'd been drinking plenty I was definitely dehydrated and had a long walk back to the car to look foward to
Coming down off the hill was easy, with the plan being to contour round between Cam nan Carn and Beinn Iutharn Bheag. All easy stuff, even though my legs were really feeling by now. Spooked some deer in the process.
- Deer
Catching sight on Loch nan Eun took my breath away. What a stunning little loch set up in its remote high position. Absolutely fantastic
- Loch nan Eun
I would have stayed here longer, but my trip back beckoned me
The initial path down Gleann Taitneach is a propoer hill path. A bit steep and eroded in paces, but what a hill path should be. Ordinarily I would have loved it, but it killed my knees
By now they were very cross with me and so it was slow progress initially to get me down on to more level ground. There were nice falls where the water made its way down the gleann.
- Water in Gleann Taitneach
Eventually I made it onto the landrover track, but it was still a way to go yet. In the end it became a case of head down and just get it done. When I heard the motor bike in the distance I was thinking it was almost done, and as I made my way over a slight rise I spied the bridge at Glenshee ....... it was miles away
Well it seemed it to me.
Just time for one last adventure.
Close to the end of the track I spied a field of cows - all congregating around the landrover track I was walking along. Now, I don't get spooked by cows. Big lumbering creatures that just stare at me. Bulls though. I don't like bulls
As I approach I was looking around and it all looked safe. So I headed along the track and through the herd of cows. So far so good. Then one got spooked, which set off a chan reaction. And there he was
He'd been sleeping next to his playmate.
Hugh Heffner.
And I had woken him up
Suddenly my knees weren't so bad
Suddenly my feet not so sore
Suddenly I was shifting
And very quickly I was over the gate at the other end of the track
And then I was back at the roadside.
- Final view back
By the time I was back at the car I knew I had been on a walk. It had been a good day all round. Plenty of sunshine. great views and some good company along the way. I was chuffed to have made the three hills on this walk too, so it was a happy man creaking into his car for the (long) journey home