Whitsun in Scotland....Driesh...(finally)

Driesh was a bit of bone of contention in our household. Claire and I had climbed it's near neighbour and fellow Munro on New Years Day a couple of years ago, and we had got to about 100m (if that) from the summit of Driesh before strengthening winds led Claire to deploy her winter veto (for the only time it should be said to be fair!!). Given my winter experience, I said to Claire that she could have a veto on mountaineering trips in winter (there is no such thing as Scottish Winter Walking in my opinion).

That being said, the wind was not that bad (we've successfully ascended peaks in far worse!) and it did leave Driesh outstanding as a walk to do...

Only 2 years too late! Claire nears the summit!

The Whitsun trip was drawing to an end - the pattern of miserable weather out west (which we still have 3 months later) was settled and so we'd dodged around the outlying ranges near the Cairngorms - with quite a lot of success. Some lovely walks on Mullach Choire a Blair (Glen Feshie) and An Socach had seen us contemplate heading home early....the only hope seemed to be go further East. So, we decided to splurge on the Glenn Clova Hotel (where we'd had a lovely meal and pint before our Mayar walk) and then go on ascend Driesh before the weather arrived [it was due about lunchtime]. Having secured a room and had a lovely supper and breakfast we rocked up at GlenDoll car-park and set off up Driesh. The ascent route (the way we'd come down a couple of years ago) is actually pretty good. It climbs through the forest and emerges onto a very good stalkers path that gains height steadily but without silly amounts of steepness. In pretty good time, we emerged on the col between Driesh and Mayar and began the final ascent. Now, it was not exactly t-shirt and shorts weather and we met a strong cross-wind on the col, pushing us towards the edge. There are several paths up the final ascent and we reached the summit of Driesh; took in the (very good) view and munched a roll with some hot ribena. The rapid disappearance of Mayar into a bank of cloud did suggest it was time to depart - not a minute too soon as we met a driving bank of hail/snow into our faces. Heads down and hoods up we had to use the compass to get us back safely down to the col. Once there we were sheltered by the hill and enjoyed an increasingly warm and sunny descent back to the car-park, for a second lunch. At last - Driesh was done!

The best cross-training around...?

Back from another run on the moors in a rare day of good weather. I have recently got back into fell-running (am still FAR from running the uphills but one gets there eventually), and had forgotten what a great all purpose work out it is. Coming down the steep grassy slopes that are around Dovestones is great for the arms and core as well as the legs - not to mention the balance that is needed to hop around the innumerable peat bogs in these parts.....and the jumping between dry parts is good for muscle recruitment.

As mentioned in the last blog - I am making a conscious effort to get fitter and stronger; slowly I think it's starting to show benefits...

Beinn a' Ghlo...

Beinn a'Ghlo was the mountain that Claire and I had seen almost every day of last years trip to Scotland... with this years leave being much more of relaxing in Wales (partially enforced by a pretty appalling summer), the weather finally levered open a window for us to blitz up to Scotland.

Claire and I drove Suilven to Blair Atholl and to the rather posh Atholl Castle campsite/caravan park. As Suilvan is somewhat smaller than the modern motorhome he actually got a lovely spot all by himself  near the woods - and the sun and breeze meant no midges. With a decent forecast for the next day, although still very cold for the time of year, we were able to have supper and wander off to the Atholl Arms for a pint and get ready to go.

Carn Liath from the walk-in

Next day was a nice early start and we were driving up the very steep road to the parking spot by 7.30. Someone was already there - having spent the night there and another person arrived not long afterwards. We were on the road by 8 (good for us), and beginning the approach to the mountain. The approach to the first of Beinn a'Ghlo's summits (Carn Liath) is quite 'famous' and somewhat abrupt. The farm track is followed for a short mile and then you strike off on a path to the foot of the very steep ridge and climb it. The final 300-400m is very steep and quite loose. There is a decent path in the scree but it's still a path I'd much rather go up than come down - it would be ok in hard neve but that is about it. Once up to the summit (and the first of 3 Munro's) the views are extensive.

Looking across from Carn Liath

Cloud was high but it was still pretty cold as we set off on the lovely ridge walk to the second Munro (the almost unpronounceable Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain), and it stayed off the summits as we climbed. Each of the summits of Beinn a'Ghlo is higher than the last, however we were making steady progress. A quick sandwich stop lightened the load in Claire's sack even more - I had insisted on lots of food as I had no idea of our fitness levels and thought the walk might take 11-12 hours), before we descended to a lovely remote belach below Carn nan Gabhar.  The Carirngorm summits were in cloud, however we could see right across the Mounth hills towards and beyond the Cairnwell Pass. This is a good hill to put pieces of the jigsaw together and to see the potential for lovely cross-country back-packs, if the transport issues could be resolved.

Claire climbs up to Carn nan Gabhar

Dragon log in the peat

Carn nan Gabhar is the highest of the summits and is set back beyond a cairn and the trig-point. The ascent was quite taxing, but we did eventually get there and could think about heading back. At this point you are only half-way in the mileage and the descent is also quite well known; tales of very steep descent paths and horrendous bog-trots to reach the farm track abound. We climbed over the Munro top of Airgiod Bheinn (this is probably the best way anyway imo) and then took a path along the ridge. From the other two hills we had spotted a very steep path descending the side of the hill. The path we were on took the edge of the ridge and was steep and loose in places. That being said, it wasn't as bad as the path down Carn Liath would have been and we were down in the valley. The extra food helped as were flagging a little at this point - and the boggy path (not on the OS maps but definetly there) did sap some of the energy a bit. We did eventually hit the lovely estate track which was good to stretch out on for the last couple of miles (I did find myself longing for the bike it must be said)....and a round of just less than 8 hrs is really encouraging and gives scope to build on when were return to Scotland at the end of August.

The Western Cairngorms.

The Beinn a'Ghlo massif from Carn Liath