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

Summer in the Gorms revisited - Beinn a' Chaorruinn

No I have no clue how to pronounce this either........

We'd had a new arrival before this walk...we'd dropped the Trek off and procured a lovely mountain bike for Claire from the shop in Ballater - whilst having a rest day after our excursion onto Carn a' Mhaim....she was called Layla and this was to be her first trip...

View up Glen Derry

Being an old hand at such things now - Claire whizzed along the bike leg to Derry Lodge, where we locked the steeds and set off. Beinn a' Chaorruinn is one of a brace of hills on a small plateau above Glen Derry. The peaks are almost outliers of the Beinn Avon/Beinn a' Bhuird massif (a VAST area of high ground in itself), the other peak being Beinn Bhreac which I had done in a hurry one winter morning racing the incoming weather (and winning!!). They are separated by a vast tableland called the Moine Bhealaidh which has the reputation of being a little boggy - given it had been scorchingly hot for the last week we thought it was the perfect time to do it!!

Beinn a' Mheadhoin from Glen Derry

Creagan a' Choire Etchachan and the Hutchinson Hut

Another joy was the approach, up the length of Glen Derry to it's summit before leaving the path and heading straight up the hill. Despite more searing heat (and even Claire thought it was hot again) the approach was an absolute delight....Glen Derry is a superb glen with amazing views into the MacDui massif and it's outliers. More was to come when the path divides, with one branch heading off towards the Hutchinson Hut, Creagan a' Choire Etchachan and Loch Etchachan, whilst we took the other path up the Glen. The views were amazing and the cliff looks VERY appealing for the climbers (both winter and summer actually). You could bike a fair way up the glen, although there are places you'd have to carry - and this is something worth thinking about...the bothy is right under the cliffs as well and would be an amazing base. Leaving the path at the col we began a slow but steady ascent. There were some signs of fitness showing, and the heat necessitated a slower pace anyway. Slowly but surely the summit was reached - crowned by a large cairn, and lunch was declared.

 Beinn a' Ghlo in the distance

Once again the views were amazing, with the vast high ground of the Avon/Bhuird massif (where you could drop most of the High Peak and lose it before seeing the next road) along with Bynack More, the hills of Lochnagar and Beinn a' Ghlo. The latter seemed to be the mountain of this holiday, everywhere we went we could see it - probably due to it's height and isolation. These hills are also an amazing viewpoint over to MacDui and it's satellites and it helps a lot to help build a picture of how the Cairngorms fit together as a whole jigsaw, especially for Claire who has not been to the area as much as I. That being said, a lot of my visits have been in winter and it's amazing to see the huge size and scale of the area. Claire's knee was feeling a little sore and so she eschewed the top bagging that I undertook [Claire does NOT collect Munro's anyway as she tells me!!!!] and we met where the two paths intersected. Given Claire's knee (and her lack of Munro collection) we wandered across the Moine Bhealaidh towards it mid-point before finding a very good and reasonably gentle route into Glen Derry. From there we tottered back to a very suitable bridge with very suitable pools - and a splashing was had!! before wandering back to the Lodge, back on the bikes and to the car-park....where the river was once again calling...

Looking over Glen Derry to Beinn a' Ghlo

Pen-y-ghent.....the start of Spring....

The forecast was glorious for the day a couple of weeks ago, and, rarely, it was a weekend when Claire wasn't on-call - part of the reason for our lack of getting out recently has been Claire doing some on-call weekends (thus freeing up most of the rest of Spring and Summmer). I wanted a break from marking books and preparing lessons so we set the alarm and headed up to the Dales.

Pen-y-ghent from Brackenbottom

It's not actually that far to the Dales from ours - only about 1 1/4 hrs - and so we didn't need a crack of dawn start. Upon arriving at Horton it became obvious that we weren't the only people with the idea of going up Pen-y-ghent that day. We did manage to find a parking spot on the road next to the campsite and, having got boots on etc, we headed off. Given Pen-y-ghent's name (it means Hill of the Wind) and the fact it was still March we had brought along fleeces etc...it soon became evident that they were redundant in the extreme; it was a glorious day, as can be seen. It was also painfully obvious that other people were taking advantage of the glorious day. Our ascent of Pen-y-ghent was slow, due to lack of exercise and fitness in the most part. The lower section was like a procession and it got worse when we joined the Pennine Way and the path through the escarpments. Those who were zooming along earlier now slowed right up and it actually became quite frustrating. Claire put in a spectacular burst of speed to overtake some of the pink perspiring person's on a section where there was a choice of two paths - but suffered for it a bit higher up.

The summit was utterly heaving and so we wasted no time in carrying on. Bizarrely, once over the summit and starting the descent the number of people thinned out on the spot. Going down thus became a nice pleasant late morning walk - with lovely weather and views over to Ingleborough.

Looking to Ingleborough from the descent path.

Lunch at Hull Pot was another great idea - only 300 metres of the main path (and on the path round towards Foxup and Halton Gill) it was almost like being in another world with hordes of people wandering off the hill and turning left for Horton  - almost robotically. We were able to bask in the sun with rolls, cake and hot ribena and enjoy our lunch - before joining the hordes for the descent to Horton....followed by pints of tea at the cafe (and being able to sit outside) and a gear fix at the Rohan shop....

Home over the holidays...

Alderman Hill

the plan was Scotland - however Claire was too tired after a long stint at work without a break; not to mention we were both worn down by the non-stop rain. Even by autumn in Manchester the weather over the last couple of months has been depressing.

Not going turned out to be a very good idea - as Claire came down with a cold on the 24th and I woke up this morning feeling pretty grotty....that being said; today was too good to miss without some exercise. Clear skies and some snow overnight made Dovestones an alluring place to go.

Defrosting the car took some time; then sliding down the hill to where the road had been gritted. The road up to the reservoir hadn't been gritted either (not being a public road), and even though it was near 10am when we arrived we were one of only a few cars...maybe people were still in holiday lie-in mode.

The light and views were amazing as can (hopefully) be seen from some of the shots. A thought was to walk around the second of the reservoirs, however that was closed for shooting. As it turned out, energy levels were quite low and a gentle circuit was fine - with time to stop to talk to humans/dogs and take some photo's. Car-park was much busier when we got back to the car; but the road was in a lot better nick as well!!

Looking towards Chew Valley from Dovestones

A circuit of Seat Sandal...

Ullscarf and Wythburn Church from Wythburn car -park

which is a lovely little hill above the Ambleside - Keswick road; guarding the approach to Grisedale Tarn from Dunmail Raise.

OK, it wasn't what Gary and I had planned; when we had rendezvoused at the car-park at 9am. The drive up from Manchester was agreeably quick - something to bear in mind for future trips - and the hills looked agreeably white as well; whilst the roads were clear.

The plan was simple  - up to Grisedale Tarn and then up onto the ridge between Dollywaggon Pike and Helvellyn....returning by basically the same route. The first challenge was crossing the stile from the lay-by! Wood with a thin skein of ice/verglas on it - once across it we ambled toward the path up the ravine. Gary and I know from first hand experience that this can be very slippery indeed - it gets very little/if any sun this time of year and the path up can resemble a rink. This is my mitigation for suggesting we cross the stream and take a path up the side of the hill leading up to Grisedale Tarn. Crossing the stream proved more 'entertaining' than first thought (we managed not to see the bridge 200m downstream!) and then we struggled up steep grass slopes to meet the path. Neither of us were particularly fit; I had been busy with work (preparing for a new job in Jan) whilst Gary had had far too much real life and not enough walking/climbing, not to mention injury. So the ascent was a struggle; made more a struggle by the snow which got softer and deeper the higher we walked. The forecast was also out  - the snow storms weren't forecast -and the temperature was clearly higher than we'd been led to believe. Honestly, my short ski's would have been perfect in this kind of terrain. Approaching the tarn the snow got deeper and the plod got more tiring. It had been some time since I'd been out in new, soft snow and it was a salutory reminder of how tiring it can be - especially when one is as unfit as I am.

Gary descends towards Dunmail Raise

View towards Grasmere on the descent

Given conditions, snow etc a change of plan was decided upon. We'd follow the path up to Grisedale Hause (a place, embarrassingly, I'm not sure I've ever been) and thence down the path towards the road. The aim was to contour Seat Sandal, worse case was 1.5km up the road to get to the cars. The path down was actually very nice. Even better, a new path left the original path down Little Tongue Gill and contoured the shoulder of Seat Sandal. We gladly took this, and then the path petered out a gate. The gate had a footpath sign on it so we could clearly go through. We then got emeshed in a series of fields and walls that made getting to the road - about 100m away - a real pain. With hindsight, we should have stayed much higher (above the intake wall) and contoured the hillside to get back to Dunmail Raise. Suffice to say that we didn't and had to climb a fence and scramble down to the road. Gary's hamstrings were really troubling him so I went ahead to the car-park; hopped in the Jazz and drove down the road to collect him.....I got a pint for my troubles so :-)...