Had a 4 day jaunt up Braemar way, time to bore you all with some trip
reports. Hope they are useful.
We intended to start our trip with the 3 munros at the end of Glen Ey.
Started from the new looking carpark at Inverey on bike and cycled using
a good landrover track to the ruins at altanour. This looked doable on a
bike with no suspension.
Once in our walking kit we headed on up to Carn Bhac initially using the
Alltan odhar as a useful landmark before getting a visual on the summit.
This was just as well as a squally snow shower severely dented out
interest in continuing at one point. Although the hill is mostly heather
covered peat with bits of bog thrown in the summit itself is a scree
covered dome and does lend it some character.
With the cloud level dropping and memories of the snow still in our
minds we set off to Beinn Lutharn Mhor skirting to the east of the
extensive bogs around the 818m bulge enroute (The source of several burns).
The cloud lifted as we got closer and enabled us to spot a good line to
the summit ridge which was up some steep slopes with a mix of scree ,
grass and heather. Easy walking on a bare rocky ridge gradually took us
to the summit in the mist. Some big cornices were still present on the
ridge.
Just as we were leaving the clouds lifted to present a great view of the
southern cairngorms with many of the major peaks clearly identifiable.
Definitely a highlight of the walk.
At this point we decided to carry on to An Socach as the weather looked
like holding and we had made good time. Came down the NE ridge of Beinn
Lutharn Mhor and after more burn crossing made it to the base of An
Socach where once again a steep climb on heather awaited us.
I thin kour legs had got used to climbing as we made it up An Socach
quicker than expected. Again it is a rocky barren summit with at least 2
cairns to visit. We left the summit via its north ridge and made out way
back to our bikes at Altanour. This involved wading across the burn next
to it (I'm sure there was an easier way!)
A very pleasant trip, dont have the timings to hand but the bike was
invaluable.
Pictures still being worked on.
--
Mike
Some pictures of the Scottish highlands here http://www.prog99.com