Over The Hill

Friday evening saw twenty-two of us arriving at Newtonmore to take up residence in a variety of accommodation, the majority of us took over The Glen Hotel, filling every room, while others occupied a fair portion of the Hostel across the road, and a few places in nearby B&Bs; HWDR had arrived for their annual "Away Weekend". A fine meal later in the evening, I can recommend the Venison Casserole, and a few beers preceded discussions and decisions on Saturdays walks programme, with a range of walks, from lochside to mountain tops being on offer.

Two Munros sit almost on Newtonmore's doorstep, A'Chailleach and Carn Sgulain, and it was to the nearby start point in Glen Banchor that we headed early Saturday, with a weather forecast of light drizzle and a cool wind, reasonable given the rougher weather we have been used to of late. A fine forest track heading along the east bank of the Allt a'Chaorainn makes the first 2kms of this walk relatively easy, and then everything deteriorates in stages for the rest of the day - but does not detract from two fine Munros, it just means it is rough going underfoot.

Dropping down off the track we found the old, precarious looking, footbridge across the Allt a'Chaorainn; so precarious looking that we decided to cross it one at a time, and I am never quite sure as to the protocol in such circumstances, should one push oneself to the front to be first across hoping the weak bridge has one more crossing left in it, or should one let others go first to test it's strength; there is however the added problem that the bridge may be progressively weakened as others cross it and tumble as the last person makes the crossing. Decisions, decisions. Anyway, we all made it safely across, and only then, once on the other side did we see a notice warning walkers not to use the bridge due to it's dangerous condition! Ah the excitement of new routes.

Now on the pathless and undulating west bank of the river we ploughed our way through the deep heather angling uphill and towards the, as yet unseen, stalker's hut located on the southeast slopes of A'Chailleach. Small and bare, apart from a bench and table, the hut at least offers a fine shelter for a quick stop before continuing up the hillside, the rough heather being gradually replaced underfoot by very wet and soggy grass, moss and the occasional peat hag. From the stalker's hut we made a direct approach towards the summit, ignoring the slightly longer route via the 846m bealach and west ridge. As we climbed, the weather deteriorated, the drizzle giving way to heavier rain, the wind increasing and visibility dropping considerably, hence the rather wet and droochit look in the summit photos opposite.

The transit from A'Chailleach to Carn Sgulain is invariably described as wet underfoot, and so it was as we descended to across the gully at the head of the Allt Cuil na Caillich from where the hillside is best described as a peat hag interspersed with a few areas of grassy troughs The only redeeming factor being that at least the peat was fairly firm and reasonably easy to cross; just as well as the peat hags rise all the way to the 900m height, and it is only then, in the last few metres to the summit that you are on firm, rocky ground.

Two Munros behind us, it was now time to make the long trek back to Glen Banchor. Our chosen route was to continue northeast for a short distance before swinging in a wide curve to cross over the minor top of Am Bodach and make a descending contour of the hillside down to meet the Allt a'Chaorainn and eventually link up with our out-bound route at the "precarious" footbridge and onwards to Glen Banchor. Easier written than accomplished, as we still had a large area of peat hags around Am Bodach to negotiate, and the pathless, and once again, deep heather hillside above the Allt a'Chaorainn was awkward, and hindered any attempt at a quick departure from these two mountains.

However, despite the conditions underfoot, this was a brilliant day, in great company - Thanks everyone.

And what of the others:

Well, Lindsay and Janet bagged two new Munros - Carn na Cairn and A' Bhuidheanach Bheag.

Lesley, Vanya and Alan got on their bikes for the long ride up Glen Tromie to climb the Corbett, Meallach Mhor.

And the others, to large a group to mention individually, headed off for the sandy beaches of Loch Morlich and the Corbett of Meall a'Bhuachaille.

And to round off the day, our evening was spent around the dining tables of the Glen Hotel where a fine meal was had by all. A grand total of hills for the day, I think it's fair to say everyone was quite pleased with their achievements for the day..