Mayar(928m) & Driesh(947m)
Saturday 1st October 2016
18kms
7hrs 45mins
Friday evening saw 18 of us driving up Glen Clova to take up residence either in the Glen Clova Hotel or the adjacent bunkhouse for what turned out to be a weekend of brilliant weather and stunning walks. Saturday dawned bright and promising as we set off on the short drive to the head of the glen and the ranger station in Glen Doll for the start of a great day and 2 fine Munros, Mayar and Driesh.
The forest track took us steadily upwards through Glendoll Forest and along a section of the old drovers highway with the very appropriate name of Jock's Road before branching off and heading up into Coire Fee, and a quite wonderful landscape. Approaching the coire through the forest, it is not until the final few metres as you step beyond the forest and onto a high rock mound that you are presented with an awe inspiring view of this magnificent coire. Pictures do not do it justice, and this was autumn, what it must look like in the depth of a snow covered winter landscape must be quite wonderful.
And these views just got better as we climbed high into the coire on a well constructed path, firstly over the flat broad floor of the coire before climbing steeply towards the waterfall, and eventually, beyond the waterfall and onto the high plateau for the final kilometer of easy walking towards the broad summit of Mayar, at 928m, not a particularly high Munro, but one which offers wonderful views, especially given the good visibility we had today.
Directly east of Mayar lies Driesh, our second objective, and one quite easily achieved as a broad, high level track leads downhill from Mayar, passing the crossroad of Kilbo Path and the quirky named Shank of Drumbwhallo and Shank of Drumbfallow before a steady climb leads to the large cairn shelter and Trig Point marking the 947m summit of Driesh.
Our return route was to take us directly to the doors of the Glen Clova Hotel as we departed Driesh heading east towards Coire of Farchal before swinging south east to descend the Shank of Farchal before climbing to the broad open summit of Hill of Strone and a steady descent via Cairn Inks to the 554m bealach directly above the hotel. This was the sting in the tail of an otherwise fine route - as we descended down the very rough and broken ground towards the roadway and final short walk along the road, over the bridge and past the old church to the hotel.
A great day, great mountains and wonderful company - Thanks Everyone.
Comment: As we descended Cairn Inks, just above Clova, we noticed an unusual cairn on the hillside. It was some way off, but it was tapered from the bottom upwards, and looked as though it had handles, making an overall shape like an Urn. Jimmy zoomed in with his camera and took the picture opposite. Later, on Sunday, Mary asked the hotel staff about this unusual cairn, and was told that it was in memory of a man called Syd Scroggie, and that there was also a headstone in the local churchyard for him, which I believe Mary and Phil later visited. Initially, I was just going to add the photo as an oddity, but decided to do some internet searches, and I am glad I did.
Syd Scroggie was an author, poet, hill walker and mountaineer - but more than that a true inspiration in the light of adversity - I will say no more but strongly recommend you follow the links below and read what I think is a wonderfully inspiring story.
Harris Academy FPA - Award of the Degree of Doctor of Laws
