|
|
Lat/Long: 56.832314, -04.222891
OS Grid ref: NN 64384 73391
|
|
|
|
I’d spent the night in th small car park at Dalnaspidal and was
woken by the dawn chorus around 4am. I stayed snoozing for a
while then got up for coffee and breakfast so I could make an
early start around 05:30am. The weather was gloomy and overcast
with a chilly westerly wind as I headed across the railway level
crossing towards Loch Garry. Before the loch I turned right up
the adjacent glen and followed the track up to the bridge across
the river. I continued up to the ford where I’ve crossed
previously. |
|
|
View of the fells from Baystone Bank. |
|
I wasn't going that way today but continued up the left side of
the river to the end of the stoned track. It's the first time
I've been this far up the glen and I continued upwards initially
following a quad bike track that eventually petered out. It was
still relatively easy underfoot as I continued the climb up to a
flat high point on the ridge. There was no summit cairn so I put
a couple of stones on a boulder outcrop. I turned right to head
to Sgairneach Mhor which was hidden in cloud above. I had to
descend to a burn then start about 200 of climbing. It was easy
at first but I soon started to cross a boulder field with no
alternative route. The boulders cleared as I reached the grassy
plateau area and when I reached the main path found it was also
used by quad bikes, presumably from the estate management.The
summit trig post at 994.8m (3,263ft) was surrounded by a low
stone wall but I was now in cloud and didn’t have any views. The
wind felt cold and when I checked it was only just above
freezing at +1degC. |
Sgairneach Mhor 994.8m (3,263ft) |
Sgairneach Mhor 994.8m (3,263ft) |
|
I continued east to follow the main path down. Eventually I
could see the way ahead and the main decent route. The unwary
walker could easily go wrong here as the official path shown on
the map descends to the left but isn’t marked on the ground. |
Glen Garry. |
I wasn’t going that way and continued down a bit to the
right to the head of the hidden valley. This is the first time
I've descended the valley and I found it easy and very
enjoyable. I was reversing a route I’ve used to climb up the
alley a few times previously. |
Hidden Valley. |
I was glad to have the whole place to myself and wander slowly
around the stones. It dates from the late N
|
|
Down at the Coire Domhain I crossed the bridge and joined
the main track down the glen. I met a couple walking up the
track and stopped for a chat. They were English but heading
north to where they lived in Scotland. I continued down to the
ford which was easily crossed then on to the railway underpass.
I was then on the old abandoned A9 route and followed it back to
the car. |
Dalnaspidal, railway,
old A9 and nw A9. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
