by clivew » Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:40 pm
Date walked: 14/08/2011
Time taken: 7 hours
Distance: 29 km
Ascent: 1600m
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Managed to get up early on a Sunday morning to attempt this walk; reached the Dalmunzie Castle Hotel just before 09.00 and was walking 10 minutes later. I had originally only planned to do two Munro's and then got talking to a guy in the car park who was going to do Beinn lutharn Mhor via Gleann Taitneach so I started thinking about adding that one to my list. It was a great morning after all the rain we have had over the past couple of weeks; thankfully the sun was shining and it was warm. I'll explain why I was so thankful in a minute but it is also linked to the fact there are no pictures with this report...... all will come clear shortly. I decided to follow the land-rover track up Glen Lochsie rather than the line of the old mountain railway; this sounds a bit stupid really as the land-rover track to the summit of Glas Tulaichean crosses the river twice and the river was in flood, you can probably see where this is heading. Crossed over the river a fair bit north of the usual crossing place due to the depth of water and then followed the track up to the Glenlochsie Lodge where, you guessed it, you have to cross the river again. I found what looked like a safe place to cross, got three quarters of the way over hopping over rocks and decided I would rather swim across instead; either that or I slipped on a rock and fell into a deep pool alongside the bank, you can take your pick. I was out of that river like a shot soaked from head to foot; thankfully I had taken my fleece off and put it in the pack. My camera was out of its case and in my pocket so was the map, all of which were full of water. I walked up to the rocks just below the ruin took of my boots and everything else (bloody good job the place was deserted) and started ringing the water out of my socks, trousers, shirt, boot insoles etc, etc. Having rung out as much as I could I put the socks and insoles on a rock in the sun and proceeded to do my impression of one of those whirly gig clothes lines. Standing there stark naked swinging my clothes around my head as fast as I could. Thankfully you can see the track coming up the Glen for a fair distance and I couldn't see anyone approaching. This quick drying walking gear is great, after a few minutes of fast spin the trousers and shirt were dry enough to put on (well almost); I put one pair of the socks and the boots back on and everything else I attached to my pack and left there to dry. After a cup of coffee and a sandwich I felt good enough to hit the trail. The walk up to the summit of Glas Tulaichean is a steady pull which allowed me to keep walking at a good pace with the sun on my back, I was soon just below the summit, stopping again I put on the remaining bits of clothes that by now were fairly dry. I had been carrying the map in my hand and that wasn't too bad either. As you can see from the map below I followed the route over the summit and then on down to the boggy bits below Mam nan Carn and then followed the track along towards Carn an Righ. I made good time and was on the summit of Carn an Righ before 12.00; which wasn't bad considering all the stops I had. After Carn an Righ I dropped back down to the Bealach and followed the track which heads around the north side of Mam nan Carn, the track follows the contours for a fair while and then disappears below the ridge which separates Man nan Carn from Beinn lutharn Mhor. The route up to the summit was a bit rocky in places but easy enough to follow and I made it to the top by 1.15; I followed the same route down before climbing to the Carn on the top of Mam nan Carn. From here you can see Loch nan Eun down below and I headed towards the west side of the loch so I could pick up the track which follows the Allt Easgaidh back towards the Dalmunzie Castle Hotel. When I left the top of Beinn lutharn Mhor I promised myself a pint at the hotel if I reached it before 4.00 and guess what I reached it with 20 seconds to spare (honest) enjoyed a swift pint before heading back home to Edinburgh and a soak in a hot bath. The camera still isn't working, hopefully a few days in the sun might bring it back to life. Another great day out even with the unplanned dip; just put it down to experience and thank goodness for quick drying clothes.
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