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Lat/Long: 56.832430, -04.223266
OS
Grid ref: NN 64362 73404
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Last night was cold as a clear starry sky. By this morning the
clouds and drizzle has rolled in making for a gloomy start to my
walk. I was away by 06:40 and as I walked past the catering
trailer that arrived last night the man was doing some work on
the coupling unit as a walked by he didn’t see me. It was
starting to come light as I reached the railway level crossing
with nobody about, unlike yesterday when several railway
vehicles & personnel were moving about. |
I followed the track west and over the channel on the
approach to the weir. Todays weather is relatively calm, unlike
last month when I’d planned to do this walk and had to cancel
due toStorm Éowyn. The storm turned out not to be as bad as
forecast. |
Car as I set off. |
Along Loch Garry. |
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Today I was concerned about the water level of Loch Garry. The
last time I was here the level was probably at its maximum and
the track along the east shore was submerged over some of its
length and I had to scramble up the steep glen side to get by.
Thankfully when I reached the same stretch of track it was above
the water level and I had a clear walk along the full length of
the loch. I stopped ⅔ along to photograph the valve building on
the west shore. |
Valve House across Loch Garry. |
Eventually I reached the gate and sheep pens at the end
of the loch (the original and main intake) then continued up the
track. I followed it steeply up for a while until I reached a
faint quad bike track heading up the mountain to the north. I
followed this route the last time I was here but that was to
visit the collection of old shielings (settlements). This time I
continued up the track and towards the small loch. |
Snow on gaiters. |
Loch in the mist. |
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My planned route would have passed the loch to the west but I
saw what looked like a smaller track heading towards it. I
followed it but it soon petered out. There was a light dusting
of snow on the ground and it kept balling up on the instep
chords holding my gaiters down. It is a common problem with this
kind of snow and my only solution was to untie them. I’ll
possibly replace them with elastic ties in the future .I reached
the loch but could only just see across it in the reduced
visibility. I turned left to cross rough open ground and rejoin
my original planned route. |
Summit cairn in the mist. |
Airbus A400 transporter. |
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I was now in cloud but the going was steady and relatively easy
along an old quad bike track. The final steep ascent took me to
the flat area of the mountain summit where the cairn eventually
appeared through the mist. There was little wind but with
nothing to see I turned to rejoin the ridge track and continue
north to the final steep and very wet descent. Eventually I
dropped below the cloud and could see the A9 ad Dalnaspidal
below. However, I heard the A9 traffic long before I saw it.
Lower down a large military plane flew low from the south and I
managed a couple of grab photos as it disappeared to the north.
Through Dalnaspidal building here were some dogs about but the
main house seemed empty. I soon reached the railway crossing
then back to my car. |
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