Half Way there !

Well thats the easy half done....

Well done.

I did Carn Dearg Brunachan from Nancy Smith's place. Had to get a
repeat ascent of Beinn Teallach first, no problem. Had some lovely
views of the back of Meagaidh and kept out of the bogs.

http://www.sub3000.plus.com/Section9/Roy.html#anchor47370

The Brunachan ford was easy, nearly stepped on a salmon. Even got a
lift back down the glen. (Pre car days)

Iaruinn is steep - I will confirm that. So are Mhoincaig and W Leana
Mhor. Very good for quicky ascents though.

Get good views of the roads?

Have you done the other Carn Dearg tops yet? Big bogs await you there

Richard Webb

"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well thats the easy half done....

Yep, big challenges ahead in knoydart, Ben Lair etc and Ben Aden and
no doubt numerous others.

Quoted message said:

Well done.

I did Carn Dearg Brunachan from Nancy Smith's place. Had to get a
repeat ascent of Beinn Teallach first, no problem. Had some lovely
views of the back of Meagaidh and kept out of the bogs.

http://www.sub3000.plus.com/Section9/Roy.html#anchor47370

The Brunachan ford was easy, nearly stepped on a salmon. Even got a
lift back down the glen. (Pre car days)

Iaruinn is steep - I will confirm that. So are Mhoincaig and W

Leana

Quoted message said:

Mhor. Very good for quicky ascents though.

I like the steep ones for the speed of ascent but I must say I prefer
a bit of a walk first to loosen up the legs. Getting out of the car
then going straight up 500 or 600 mtrs is a real challenge for me.

Quoted message said:

Get good views of the roads?

Yes agian, Got some good pics looking right down the corrie to the
car.

Quoted message said:

Have you done the other Carn Dearg tops yet? Big bogs await you

there
Yes, Got them both in January this year with about 3 ft of powder snow
lying on the peat hags leading to the first Carn Dearg summit and then
the drop and re-ascent to the second. The walk out down a snow filled
river bed was brilliant fun though.

Cheers
Graham

The message <[email hidden]>
from "Graham Ingram" <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

And that is me on 110 now so just half way

]
Well done Graham. I'm several behind you and leaving for a European
trip later today so will not be doing many (if any) more this year.

--
Cheers,
Compo

"Rob Milne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Graham Ingram) said:

And that is me on 110 now so just half way, with
walking partner Frank on 119 so exactly 100 to go !

to hijack the thread ...
Did Beinn a'Bhruid and Ben Avon yesterday, that is 101 Munros second

time

Quoted message said:

around, so reached a Ton of Munros after reached a double Ton of

Corbetts

Quoted message said:

last weekend 8-)
(Great day, lots of sun, clouds seem to have been blocked by the

main

Quoted message said:

Cairngorms.)
Rob

Just on about 70 Munros second time, kind of scared to count exactly
in case it spurs me on to a second round ! I am heading off to the
Cairngorms soon for a 3rd ascent of Braeriach. I have 3 work
colleagues joining me. These guys ( and a girl ) are doing the
Kilimanjaro fundraiser with us in January and have as yet to set foot
on a mountain. Braeriach via the Chalamain Gap looks about the same
length and ascent as day 2 on Kili ( although they will have to
descend Braeriach on the same day of course.) It will be interesting
to see how novices, with all new boots and gear, take to the
Cairngorms on what could be a long cold winters day. If anyone has
any thoughts on an alternative to Braeriach feel free with your
suggestions. I am looking for about 11k walk in and 950 to 1000 mtrs
ascent over fairly steady sloping ground rather than ridges and
scrambling.
Cheers
Graham

On Thu, 4 Nov 2004 19:52:47 -0000, "Graham Ingram"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Just on about 70 Munros second time, kind of scared to count exactly
in case it spurs me on to a second round ! I am heading off to the
Cairngorms soon for a 3rd ascent of Braeriach. I have 3 work
colleagues joining me. These guys ( and a girl ) are doing the
Kilimanjaro fundraiser with us in January and have as yet to set foot
on a mountain. Braeriach via the Chalamain Gap looks about the same
length and ascent as day 2 on Kili ( although they will have to
descend Braeriach on the same day of course.) It will be interesting
to see how novices, with all new boots and gear, take to the
Cairngorms on what could be a long cold winters day. If anyone has
any thoughts on an alternative to Braeriach feel free with your
suggestions. I am looking for about 11k walk in and 950 to 1000 mtrs
ascent over fairly steady sloping ground rather than ridges and
scrambling.

It sounds great - I hope it goes well!

I'm just wondering whether you've walked along the Lairig Ghru? I'm
thinking of doing it next year, but I've not quite been able to get a
good idea, yet, (from books and Google), of what it's actually like.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

* The air of uk.rec.walking was filled with the delicate perfume
* of violets, as Peewiglet <[email hidden]> descended on a shaft
* of golden sunlight, and announced:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

any thoughts on an alternative to Braeriach feel free with your
suggestions. I am looking for about 11k walk in and 950 to 1000 mtrs
ascent over fairly steady sloping ground rather than ridges and
scrambling.

How about Glen More -> Ryvoan Pass -> Bynack Stable -> Bynack More. I've
done it a couple of times and it should suit your requirements. One of the
best views in the Cairngorms is from Bynack More and you can come off the
top to take in the Barns of Bynack, which are spectacular. I've done the
Chalamain Gap -> Briariach and would chose Bynack More anytime (I don't like
the Chalamain Gap - it reminds me of scrambling over cars in a breakers
yard!).

Quoted message said:

It sounds great - I hope it goes well!

I'm just wondering whether you've walked along the Lairig Ghru? I'm
thinking of doing it next year, but I've not quite been able to get a
good idea, yet, (from books and Google), of what it's actually like.

I've also done the Lairig Ghru a few times. It's a 'must' - walking between
the 2nd, 3rd and 4th highest hills in the land! I usually start from the
campsite at Coylum Bridge and camp at Derry Lodge. From there you can travel
East and go up Corrie Etchachan to Loch Etchachan, where there's wonderful
camping a few hundred feet below the summit of Mac Dhui. You can then drop
down to Loch Avon (perhaps taking in Mhedhoin (spelling? - pronounced
'Vane'😉, up Corrie Raibert and off Cairngorm. This summer I went from Derry
Lodge to Braemar, then up Glen Slugain (horrible name - lovely glen) and
camped in the arcadian 'Fairy Glen'. The 'Fairy Glen' is another must and
you quite expect to see lions gamboling with lambs on the sward - an
exquisitely beautiful place! From the top of the glen I went East past Bein
a' Buird to Loch Builg, Glen Builg to Inchory. Then down Glen Avon to
Faindouran Bothy, Fords of Avon, Bynack More, Bynack Stable, Ryvoan, Glen
More - and back to Coylum Bridge. I plan to do a similar route next year,
but allow time to take in the high corries of Bein a' Buird.

Peewiglet - If you're thinking of the Lairig Ghru, I'll post a TR of the
route soon.

Regards: Jim Ford

On 4 Nov 2004 23:46:20 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

I've also done the Lairig Ghru a few times. It's a 'must' - walking between
the 2nd, 3rd and 4th highest hills in the land! I usually start from the
campsite at Coylum Bridge and camp at Derry Lodge. From there you can travel
East and go up Corrie Etchachan to Loch Etchachan, where there's wonderful
camping a few hundred feet below the summit of Mac Dhui. You can then drop
down to Loch Avon (perhaps taking in Mhedhoin (spelling? - pronounced
'Vane'😉, up Corrie Raibert and off Cairngorm. This summer I went from Derry
Lodge to Braemar, then up Glen Slugain (horrible name - lovely glen) and
camped in the arcadian 'Fairy Glen'. The 'Fairy Glen' is another must and
you quite expect to see lions gamboling with lambs on the sward - an
exquisitely beautiful place! From the top of the glen I went East past Bein
a' Buird to Loch Builg, Glen Builg to Inchory. Then down Glen Avon to
Faindouran Bothy, Fords of Avon, Bynack More, Bynack Stable, Ryvoan, Glen
More - and back to Coylum Bridge. I plan to do a similar route next year,
but allow time to take in the high corries of Bein a' Buird.

Wondeful! Thank you 🙂 I have to see the Fairy Glen!

Quoted message said:

Peewiglet - If you're thinking of the Lairig Ghru, I'll post a TR of the
route soon.

Oh, yes please!!!

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 21:57:23 +0000, Peewiglet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I'm just wondering whether you've walked along the Lairig Ghru? I'm
thinking of doing it next year, but I've not quite been able to get a
good idea, yet, (from books and Google), of what it's actually like.

I did it last August (2003). I can't remember if I posted a TR, but I
don't think so ... so here goes! (Huge chunks of detail will be
missed out but I hope you get the gist).

I started at Aviemore and stayed at the Youth Hostel. This was August
and the weather was glorious. I was planning a shorts and T-shirt
week but I had my fleece and waterproofs just in case.

If I remember right, you go through the Rothiemurchus forest to get to
the Lairig Ghru. This was a pleasant enough walk. A good place to
get into your stride and to get used to the weight on your back. I
kept tripping over tree roots .... but that's just me. The weather
was still lovely and I'd not been bitten ...... yet.

Once I got to the Lairig Ghru proper, things changed. There weren't
many people about but I noticed that the occasional walker I saw
coming the other way was in full foul weather gear and soaking wet. I
was still in shorts and t-shirt. Then it started to rain. Then it
got really really windy and rained very very heavily! There was one
section where I had to cross a boulder field and I found it very
tricky. The wind was so strong that I couldn't keep my balance when I
lifted each foot. At one point I slipped or got blown over and fell
quite heavily and landed with my arm down the gap between some
boulders. I felt quite shaken but there was no permanent damage,
thankfully.

I camped that night in sight of the bothy. My memory fails me, but
everyone knows which one I mean .... come on someone! I was on the
other side of the pass and doubt that I was visible from the bothy
(because I was camped in some tall tufty grass) but I could watch the
few visitors coming and going.

That was the windiest night I've ever used the Akto. It kept bending
and touching my face in the night, so I slept with my rucksack packed
and my clothes on! No problems though; it really confirmed my trust
in the Akto.

Next day I completed the walk to Braemar. Well, I fib ..... someone
gave me a lift from about half way between Linn of Dee and Braemar.
That road is *so* boring!

I camped, that night, at a Camping and Caravan Club (I think) site.
Flipping expensive but they had hot showers and coin-op spin dryer for
me to wash and dry my clothes. Dinner was from the chip shop. Large
bag of chips and a can of Irn Bru. Best dinner ever .... I was
ravenous!

Next day, I went to the Tourist Information Centre with the idea that
I would somehow get public transport back to Aviemore. No chance.
There are two types of buses: Ones that go to Aberdeen, and Postbuses.

I decided to get the Postbus to Linn of Dee and then walk the Lairig
Ghru in the other direction. I had been warned that the postbuses
aren't always ontime and don't always stop. I'm sure I saw the bus
(well, it was a Royal Mail van which drove past at about the expected
time) but the blighter did a good job of completely ignoring me .....
so I started walking. Luckily, after less than half a mile a
campervan pulled up and the occupants offered me a lift. They were
the temporary wardens for one of the SYHA hostels. They were keen
walkers and could obviously tell I needed a bit of support.

They dropped me off at Linn of Dee and I started walking again. I was
well into my stride by now and really enjoying the walking. Yes, I'd
been tired and wet but I felt that I had achieved something and was
having a good time.

I camped on the Lairig Ghru again that night. The wind had gone .....
and the blasted midgies were all out on force. I counted 95 bites on
my left leg. This was despite Ron Hills and Deet. NEVER will I go to
Scotland again between May and September.

I'm sure I could remember more detail if prompted but I hope that
gives you a taste.

Perhaps the most memorable part of the trip was a conversation I had
with a couple of Scottish lads on the platform of Aviemore station.
They had travelled from Glasgow (I think) to Braemar and then walked
the Lairig Ghru, in one direction, in one day with day-packs. One of
the lads had his entire leg, from groin to foot, in plaster. I
assumed that he'd had an accident on the LG but no ...... he'd fallen
over taking his trousers off in the Youth Hostel! (By the way, they
both thought I was barmy doing the LG both ways.)

Judith

* The air of uk.rec.walking was filled with the delicate perfume
* of violets, as Judith <[email hidden]> descended on
* a shaft of golden sunlight, and announced:

Quoted message said:

got really really windy and rained very very heavily! There was one
section where I had to cross a boulder field and I found it very
tricky. The wind was so strong that I couldn't keep my balance when I
lifted each foot. At one point I slipped or got blown over and fell
quite heavily and landed with my arm down the gap between some
boulders. I felt quite shaken but there was no permanent damage,
thankfully.

There are _three_ boulder fields at the North end - near the Pools of Dee.
They're about 50 yards wide and consist of higgledy piggledy rocks about the
size of tea chests. It's one of the situations where a treking pole is
almost essential, especially when carrying a heavy pack. With high winds,
as you hop from one boulder to another, a gust can catch your pack and twist
you so you miss your footing. As the boulder fields are near the summit
(2000+ feet AIRC) the winds can be quite strong.

Quoted message said:

I camped that night in sight of the bothy. My memory fails me, but
everyone knows which one I mean .... come on someone! I was on the

The Corrour. Best avoided as the environs are quite sordid - you only need
to see the bright green surrounding grass to realise that the vicinity is
quite heavily polluted with human waste!

Quoted message said:

Next day I completed the walk to Braemar. Well, I fib ..... someone
gave me a lift from about half way between Linn of Dee and Braemar.
That road is *so* boring!

I fell in with a father and son at Derry Lodge, who'd come through the
Lairig Ghru. They'd left their car at Glen More and the father said he
didn't want to go back through the pass as he'd found it much tougher than
he'd expected, so they were going to Braemar to get public transport. We
travelled together to the Lin o' Dee and they thumbed a lift whilst I
walked. It _is_ boring, but the views of the Dee are good and there are some
pretty cottages on the route, and the Victoria Bridge. When I got to Braemar
I met them again and they'd been to the tourist info to enquire about public
transport to Aviemore. They were told that they'd have to get a bus to
Aberdeen, changing at Ballater, another bus from Aberdeen to Inverness, then
bus or train from Inverness to Aviemore! I fell about laughing - them having
to do a Grand Tour of Scotland to get back! The last I saw of them they had
decided to try hitching back. I wish I'd exchanged email addresses so I
could find out how they'd got on. They were good company. My route took me
to Invercauld and back into the hills.

Quoted message said:

I camped, that night, at a Camping and Caravan Club (I think) site.
Flipping expensive but they had hot showers and coin-op spin dryer for

Judith:
I'm thinking of using a site at Braemar as a base. Was the site you used the
only one, and how much was it?

Quoted message said:

I camped on the Lairig Ghru again that night. The wind had gone .....
and the blasted midgies were all out on force. I counted 95 bites on
my left leg. This was despite Ron Hills and Deet. NEVER will I go to
Scotland again between May and September.

Oh yes you will, now you've got the taste for it!

Probably the worse bit in coming back is the treck through the pine forrest
of Rothiemurchus. It just seems to go on forever and is pretty featureless.
When I get to Picadilly I prefer to cut Westwards to pick up the Glen Einich
track, which is much more scenic.

Just writing about the Cairngorms makes me itch to be back!

Regards: Jim Ford

On 5 Nov 2004 23:28:31 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Judith:
I'm thinking of using a site at Braemar as a base. Was the site you used the
only one, and how much was it?

I can't remember how much it was but I was put off, on arrival, by the
tariff board. They charge a reasonable amount for backpackers, say £5
a night, but then they charge a non-members surcharge and a
high-season surcharge. I think it was about £8 or £9 for one night.
I know that's not extortionate but compared with the sort of places I
normally camp (wild=free or perhaps £3 pppn) it was dear! Also, there
wasn't a very big area set aside for solo campers and the ground was
very hard.

Yes, I think it was the only campsite there. I can't remember though.
Useless, aren't I!

Judith

Quoted message said:

high-season surcharge. I think it was about £8 or £9 for one night.
I know that's not extortionate but compared with the sort of places I
normally camp (wild=free or perhaps £3 pppn) it was dear! Also, there
wasn't a very big area set aside for solo campers and the ground was
very hard.

It is extortionate for a campsite.. They know they have a monopoly.

Richard Webb

"RJ Webb" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

high-season surcharge. I think it was about £8 or £9 for one night.
I know that's not extortionate but compared with the sort of places I
normally camp (wild=free or perhaps £3 pppn) it was dear! Also, there
wasn't a very big area set aside for solo campers and the ground was
very hard.

Quoted message said:

It is extortionate for a campsite.. They know they have a monopoly.

It's a Caravan Club site rather than Camping and Caravan Club as was said
previously (well the only campsite I know in Braemar is a Caravan Club one,
like the one at Morvich). The facilities in the way of showers etc on all
the Caravan club sites we've stayed at are more than twice as good than the
filthy portakabins you get for half the price at a lot of other campsites if
you consider that's what you're paying for rather than a patch of ground for
a tent which can be found free anywhere.

AndyP said:

It's a Caravan Club site rather than Camping and Caravan Club as was said
previously (well the only campsite I know in Braemar is a Caravan Club one,
like the one at Morvich). The facilities in the way of showers etc on all
the Caravan club sites we've stayed at are more than twice as good than the
filthy portakabins you get for half the price at a lot of other campsites if
you consider that's what you're paying for rather than a patch of ground for
a tent which can be found free anywhere.

You're probably right about it being a CC site. I can't remember, but
I don't think they are any others nearby so it's probably the one you
were thinking of.

The facilities were very good but I find the whole "organised site"
experience a bit nauseating. You will camp here. You will wash your
plates here, but only between these hours. You will do this; you will
not do that. You will not stay here if you are in a single sex group
of more than 2 people. You will enjoy your stay. By Order.

Saying that though, I was so tired and hungry I had my tea, had a
lovely shower, washed my clothes then fell asleep. The site served
its purpose.

When I got back to Aviemore I stayed at another formal site. This one
is set in a forest and you actually pitch your tent between the trees
(after moving the Coke cans and the sweet wrappers.) The price was
only a quid or two cheaper than the Braemar site and the facilities
were not even half as nice. The showers were cramped and had peeling
paint. The water was hot but the shower block was not the sort of
place you'd like to linger.

Judith

* The air of uk.rec.walking was filled with the delicate perfume
* of violets, as Judith <[email hidden]> descended on a shaft
* of golden sunlight, and announced:

Quoted message said:

When I got back to Aviemore I stayed at another formal site. This one
is set in a forest and you actually pitch your tent between the trees
(after moving the Coke cans and the sweet wrappers.) The price was
only a quid or two cheaper than the Braemar site and the facilities
were not even half as nice. The showers were cramped and had peeling
paint. The water was hot but the shower block was not the sort of
place you'd like to linger.

Would that be the Rothiemurchus Camp Site at Coylum Bridge? If it is, I've
been going there for years. They've now got a new Swedish designed and built
toilet and shower block, which provide the best facilities I've encountered.
It's a fiver a night per person with no extra charges.

Regards: Jim Ford

"Judith" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

The facilities were very good but I find the whole "organised site"
experience a bit nauseating. You will camp here. You will wash your
plates here, but only between these hours. You will do this; you will
not do that. You will not stay here if you are in a single sex group
of more than 2 people. You will enjoy your stay. By Order.

Did you like the "Everyone loves your dog... on a lead" signs?

Quoted message said:

Saying that though, I was so tired and hungry I had my tea, had a
lovely shower, washed my clothes then fell asleep. The site served
its purpose.

That's the way I usually do backpacking. Walk for 4 or 5 days camping wild
then pay to stay on a site for a rest day, shower, maybe wash a few clothes
and restock food supplies.

"Jim Ford" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When I got back to Aviemore I stayed at another formal site. This one
is set in a forest and you actually pitch your tent between the trees

Quoted message said:

Would that be the Rothiemurchus Camp Site at Coylum Bridge? If it is, I've
been going there for years. They've now got a new Swedish designed and

built

Quoted message said:

toilet and shower block, which provide the best facilities I've

encountered.

Quoted message said:

It's a fiver a night per person with no extra charges.

There's also one on the hill behind the tourist info place in Aviemore where
you can camp in the pine trees. Bit of road noise but good views up into
the Northern Corries. When we went by in February this year there seemed to
be building work going on there too so maybe there's a bit of campsite wars
going on. Or maybe they both got trashed in the annual Harley Davidson
raping and pillaging fest. (That's one very noisy week to be staying in
Aviemore).

On 6 Nov 2004 16:00:19 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Would that be the Rothiemurchus Camp Site at Coylum Bridge? If it is, I've
been going there for years. They've now got a new Swedish designed and built
toilet and shower block, which provide the best facilities I've encountered.
It's a fiver a night per person with no extra charges.

Dunno. Let's have a quick Google ..... um? still not sure. The
photo of a tent in a forest looks familiar .... but could be a
different forest. I don't remember having to walk to Coylumbridge but
you may be right.

Don't ask me about anything I did more than two days ago! It was a
piney sort of forest; there were several motorbikers there for a
rally. The warden was friendly enough and, yes, I think it was a
fiver a night.

Judith

AndyP said:

Or maybe they both got trashed in the annual Harley Davidson
raping and pillaging fest. (That's one very noisy week to be staying in
Aviemore).

I think it was there that I stayed. The Warden asked me if I was
frightened of bikers becasue they were arriving the day I left.
"Frightened of bikers?" er, no.... should I be?

They were all German and Dutch and seemed quite friendly.

Judith

"Jim Ford" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Would that be the Rothiemurchus Camp Site at Coylum Bridge? If it is, I've
been going there for years. They've now got a new Swedish designed and

built

Quoted message said:

toilet and shower block, which provide the best facilities I've

encountered.

Quoted message said:

It's a fiver a night per person with no extra charges.

I still haven't forgiven Rothiemurchus for not bothering to tell us that
several people who had just stayed there had been hospitalised with E coli
and they were having tests done on their water supply (which did turn out to
be the cause).