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Ben Avon; The Tors

Munros: Ben Avon

Date walked: 29/06/2021

Time taken: 11 hours

Late June held good dry weather and it seemed suitable for a biggish day which I had been holding since reading Alan Dawson’s new book, The 1033 High Hills of Britain. Having traversed Ben Avon a number of times collecting Munros and Munro Tops, I had cast an eye over the tors which lay off my route and wondered if these may deserve a visit. Ben Avon was the first of the big six I managed in one day in July 1965, but as is so often the case, a direct up and down was essential at the start of a long day. Although the tors had not been listed previously, they now appeared in Alan’s book, and presented a reason for “ticking” those overlooked features.

Inchrory soon.JPG
Inchrory not far now

The starting point was clearly from the North by bike from Tomintoul to Inchrory. I had cycled this many times for the Munro, the Graham and the Corbett tops around Loch Builg. The light tail wind and a bit of electric help made for an easy start to the perfect morning run, with fields of Rock Rose opening on the verges. After parking the bike under the bridge over the Builg Burn, the track and path up towards Clach Fiaclach was a welcome start to the day for my old legs and lungs. My springtime outings had often
taken over rough pathless ground and I was grateful this highway to the high ground.

Builg Burn.JPG
Bridge over the Builg Burn

For once I had taken the precaution of noting the grid references of the seven tops which were on my agenda in case it was a misty day. The last time I was on this part of the hill it had been wild, wet and misty and the rolling nature of the hills did not make for easy navigation. Even on a clear day, it can be confusing to figure out which tor is which, or which part of the tor is higher, so a check confirming reading gives the confidence to carry on.The book listing gives eight figure references, but I took the precaution of expanding those to ten figure refs from the Hill Bagging website.

Clach Ban approach.JPG
Clach Bhan approach

The first tor was Clach Ban which was a few minutes from the path. What a joy to gain an easy new tick after years of seeking out tough Marilyns, Grahams and Corbetts!
I had my first unfortunate/fortunate Ptarmigan encounter with chicks scurrying in one direction and the parents doing the “broken wing” escape in the other direction. I just hoped they would meet up soon after I rapidly exited “stage left.”

Clach Bhan.JPG
Clach Bhan towards East Meur

East from East Meur.JPG
Looking back to Clach Bhan

East Meur towards Clach Bhan.jpg
East Meur East top ridge

On to East Meur Gorm Craig North Top which I am sure I had visited previously as I have good photos of the Trailing Azelia which survives somehow amongst the bare granite on the ridge. The ground was so good, dry and not a peat hag in sight. I left the path to venture over Big Brae as I was aware that Munro had it on his original list. There were increasing sightings of Trailing Azalea and the occasional single Ptarmigan, but once again I disturbed a family when the chicks flew off one way whilst the mother moved in front of me as an invitation to follow. The path had evaporated by this stage, but the gentle angle and dry ground made for a very pleasurable ascent.

Northern slopes of Ben Avon.jpg
Northern slopes of Ben Avon

Trailing Azalea.JPG
Trailing Azalea

Ptarmigan not running.JPG
This Ptarmigan surely had no chicks to protect

GCBaB.JPG
Garbh Coire of Beinn a'Bhuird

A fair stretch to Ben Avon North Tor, and I was glad to have my GR to confirm I was on the correct boulder. From there I had to decide whether to take in the South Top which sits beyond the Munro summit. It was an easy decision as the ground was so good and the day perfectly clear. It made sense to go over Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe and I could see a figure standing on the top, the only person I saw on the hill. Sadly, he sat down before I could get my camera out. He was still on top when I arrived and he described his approach from the south. The Garbh Coire of Beinn a’Bhuird was in fine view, but the high hills to the North were a bit hazy to make out individual hills.

BaB.jpg
Beinn a'Bhuird South Top

The swoop down to Ben Avon South Tor was excellent and the view over to Beinn a’Bhuird was surprisingly clear. Like the other tops, it can be difficult to figure out the highest point, so scrambling up every top is best, with a look at the GPS for comfort. This spot reminded me of the day I was coming down over the Munro Top Carn Eas when I could see a mass of smoke above the Luibeg or Derry Lodge. I learned later that a major fire had destroyed a large part of the pine wood, started if I remember by a camp fire.

Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe.JPG
Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe from the South

I returned East towards Mullach Lochan nan Gabhar contouring under the Munro summit which was most impressive from that angle. There was a surprisingly good burn coming down from the plateau with crystal clear water, before the ever so gradual rise to the next top.

Clach Choutsaich.jpg
Clach Choutsaich from the North; Photo by Alan Dawson

Not far below was the next objective Clach Choutsaich and I approached it with trepidation as it looked quite daunting with big rounded holdless granite. I scrambled up and down the right hand crack, went round to the left hand crack, got so far then had a look at the central mossy option. I then went further up the right hand boot sized cracks but did not fancy coming down that way. After twenty minutes I decided to chicken out and headed for Stuc Gharbh Mhor, another easy top if I remember correctly. I then decided to go back over West Meur Gorm Craig which I had recorded three times previously, but at least once in mist with no GPS, so a confirming visit was a bonus. The Trailing Azalea in this traverse appeared in large patches with one small patch of Marsh Marigold in a very wet flush under one of the few remaining snow patches. I was accompanied here by a hen Ptarmigan who ran parallel to me about ten yards apart for a distance of 100 yards. Strangely, I saw no chicks.

Trailing zalea and LaDB.jpg
Trailing Azalea on Mullach Lochan nan Gabhar

As an aside, I was on Sail Liath of An Teallach a few weeks ago, when tackling a gully above Loch Toll an Lochain, I literally stepped over a hen Ptarmigan who was sitting on her eggs presumably. She did not even blink as I took a couple of photos at a distance.

Ptarmigan on eggs.jpg
Ptarmigan on Sail Liath, most likely on her eggs

The return down the path was a treat and I reached my bike to find a young family enjoying the burn and about to set up a camp. A light head wing back to Tomintoul was not a problem, but I succumbed to the luxury of the electric bike’s wee help. Why not?
The incentive of bagging some new summits had rewarded me with a superb day out in a magnificent landscape with the bonus of interesting scrambles on the tors.

Descending West Meur.JPG
Descending from West Meur Gorm Craig

The 1033 High Hills of Britain by Alan Dawson can be found at www.pedantic.org.uk and is available on Paypal or Ebay. The book is certainly more than just a hill listing, as it is well supplemented with Alan’s account of his many surveying expeditions, where he used his professionally capable equipment to measure summits and cols. Some significant results have been accepted by the Ordnance Survey, many of which vary dramatically from the heights on the maps.

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Comments: 3



No Grief on Chleibh

Attachment(s) Munros: Beinn a' Chlèibh
Date walked: 26/05/2015
Views: 1701


Knoydart notes

Attachment(s) Date walked: 17/04/2015
Comments: 9
Views: 3261

Bert Barnett


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