We wanted to climb Carn na h-Easgain on 2nd January to get the view of snow-covered hills from the top. Ian had been up before in clag so was hoping for a view, snow-covered or not. I think we might have had views that day but there was a problem. Rivers and burns were running very high and our first walk of the year was for all ages. If any of the kids didn't have waterproof boots the burn would be difficult to cross. So we changed to a round of nearby Loch Moy, which went down well with all 19 of us, plus 6 dogs.

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The next date that presented itself was 15th February when Ian hoped to get his so far elusive views. Alanis was driving up from Kilmarnock so the plan was to meet at the parking spot at 11.00 so she didn't need to set off too early. The previous times I'd been up the hill the parking had been beside the gate near houses. This time it was in a space found first left after turning off the A9 where it's signed for Lynebeg. It's on a rough track which I initially drove past as the parking area isn't visible until you've passed the turn. Once parked up I realised we weren't visible to Alanis when she arrived so said to the others to keep an eye out for her passing while I changed into my boots. A bit later I got a text from her saying she was at what looked like the parking area but there was a sign there saying no parking. So she had slipped past us despite 5 pairs of eyes supposedly watching for her.

Parking spot near A9, off rough track


To avoid any confusion we walked up to where she was waiting at the turning area in front of the houses (the previous parking area) and I got a lift back with her to the new parking spot before we walked up again to join the others.That's why I've entered 6.5km for the total distance walked, as I did the same bit twice.

We went through the gate and crossed the cattle grid to follow the track, keeping left to pass another house at Lynemore and then a waterworks compound.

Left fork here


This took us into an area of birch wood before the slight drop to the burn we had been concerned about crossing on 2nd January. It may have been fine then, we don't know. Today it was half frozen but not solid and cracked under my feet, which was fine for me with my so far leak-proof Salomon boots, even if they are getting on a bit!

Frozen burn ahead


Carved seat


Watching the others crossing


Everyone had their own style but all crossed without incident.



I remembered at the next gate Alanis wasn't in the first group photo so got another one here.

The rest of the group


From the second gate it was a straightforward walk up the landrover track with no icy patches, which I'd half expected. It was good to have Theo and Grace with us, both from Malaysia. I didn't ask but this may have been their first Scottish hill and if it was they were well equipped and had no problem at all.

When our track reached a T junction with another track we could see the trig point straight ahead with a trodden path leading to it.

Carn na h-Easgainn summit trig


Ian's hoped for views from the top were non existent as we were surrounded by opaqueness and buffeted by a cold wind from the north. We had brought lunch but in these conditions there was no great incentive to sit down and eat. I think if I hadn't known about the shooters' hut situated along the track there might have been a slight sense of anticlimax. It wasn't visible but I'd been in it the last couple of times I'd been up and was hopeful it would still be there and the door still unlocked. It was and felt like an oasis in the storm - not that we were in a storm, but these things are all relative and it was pretty cold outside.

Lunch in the hut


The table had a sticky patch on it, easily wiped down, and we cracked open the goodies and had a great conversation sharing stories which I suspect we wouldn't have done while battling the wind outside. So thanks to the shooters for leaving their hut open for the use of walkers needing shelter, and who made sure they left no litter behind them.



By the time we emerged from the hut, things were feeling more optimistic, with full stomachs and (was it my imagination?) a slight thinning in the opaqueness.

Loo with a view


We were certainly seeing more of the track heading north west than we could have done half an hour earlier.

The road north west


We returned to the trig point and turned left down the landrover track we came up. It was easier walking and we were beginning to see a bit more to the east, although the Cairngorms to the south remained shrouded in thick cloud which was disappointing to me that Alanis, Grace and Theo weren't getting the views they might have done.

The descent


A large bird soared above us which by it's size and movement looked very much like a golden eagle. I wasn't quick enough to get a decent shot (too glued to watching it until it was too far off) but Terry has a bird ID app which said it was a golden eagle, so that was fine with me.

Ian and Terry watching the eagle


Zoomed to Moy windfarm and a glimpse of Loch Moy


Despite the cloud and cold wind, it was a fine short walk to what in clear conditions is a good viewpoint. Ian will just have to come up another time to see the views north to Inverness, the Kessock bridge, the Moray Firth, Ben Wyvis and south west into the hills and lochs east of Loch Ness.