Scotland, September 2014. Cairngorms, Day 2.

Despite the long day yesterday we were still up and away early, perhaps because of the midges which were out in force as soon as we stirred.  The day began cloudy but gradually cleared and finished with a beautiful evening.  We enjoyed cloud free summits throughout though.  The day began with a climb up into Corrie Etchachan, stopping off at the Hutchinson Memorial Hut on the way up.  It was good to find that the hut was open and had had some refurbishment since we had been up here last, two years ago.  Pulling up over the lip of the corrie we had superb views of Ben Macdui behind the still waters of Corrie Etchachan.  We also began to hear ptarmigan and delighted at their curious creaking churrring call as they peered at us from behind rocks.  I had never seen so many of these birds in one place before, at one time half a dozen or so sat tamely on a group of rocks watching us carefully.  Oh for my 500mm lens!!  From the loch we made the steep pull up onto the plateau and walked across the tor studded high ground to the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin.  From up here there were superb views down to the famous Shelter Stone and Loch Avon and across to Cairngorm.  It was easy to linger up here taking photographs but we needed to geton  so made our way back down to where we had left our rucksacks and, after a quick cereal bar, headed on up towards Derry Cairngorm.  Again we left the sacks on the col to make the trek across to the summit easier.  Again, reunited with the bags, we continued up the path towards the summit of Ben Macdui.  Just before the summit, however, (we had been up here two years previously) we headed off down the very steep slopes beside the Allt Clach nan Taillear burn to the Lairig Ghru and the Corrour Bothy.  It was tempting to stop for the night here, but knowing it would be crowded and needing to get as far as possible, we carried on into Glen Geusachan where we found a wonderful campsite by the crystal clear waters of the river.  It was a beautiful evening and we were camped up earlier than the previous night, allowing us to eat our meal (pot noodles and angel delight again) before the midges descended and we retired to the tent.

We were out for 8 hours and 50 mins today with a moving time of 6 hours and 12 minutes. 14 miles, 2 Munros and 1190m of ascent.

Scotland, September 2014. The Cairngorms, Day 1.

Up early this morning with a day of good weather in prospect.  Bags packed the night before, we were quickly off down Glen Dee to the Lin of Quoich, our drop off point.  Our targets for today were the three Munros of Ben Avon, Beinn a' Bhuird, and Beinn a' Chaorainn and a wild camp in Glen Derry.  Today was a reminder in the huge distances involved when tackling some of Scotland's more remote summits; the walk in before we reached our first mountain was 10 miles.  It was good to be moving up the beautiful Glen Quoich, a wide gentle valley with magnificent river and majestic remnant Caledonian Pine trees.  Another timely reminder of the seriousness of some Scottish routes was the double river crossing we had to make, both being knee deep and resulting in wet feet!!!  By the time we reached the col between Ben Avon and Beinn a' Bhuird, the sky had clouded over and the wind strengthened.  A quick climb from the col took us onto the bleak stony, arctic/alpine plateau of Ben Avon with its huge granite tors, the highest of which was our summit.  By now 3.00 pm, we had to keep moving and were soon back at the col where we recovered our packs and set off up into the cloud for Beinn a' Bhuird, the summit of which is marked by a cairn at the highest point on the plateau.  Carrying on, it seemed to take a long while to reach our final summit for the day' Beinn a' Chaorainn, by now cloud free.  The views from this splendid top were stunning: down into Glen Derry and across to to the Ben Macdui range and our hills for the next day.  A steep descent brought us down into theGlen and we soon found a suitable spot for our first wild camp; and the midges soon found us, so it was a quick meal (of pot noodles and angel delight!!) before retiring into the tent for a well earned sleep.  21 miles and 10 hours 44 of walking (8h 40 moving time) and 1840m of ascent with a pleasing 2.5mph moving average.

Wildlife highlights were red deer, mountain hares and ptarmigan.  Everywhere on the high tops are colourful mosses and lichens and club mosses.  Plants still in flower included heather and ling and a few remaining bog asphodel with some tormentil and alpine ladies mountain to be found.

Scotland, September 2014, The Journey.

A good journey to Edinburgh on Friday 5th September in cool wet conditions.  We were soon settled into our usual caravan site at Musselburgh, Drummohr, and, after a quick cup of tea, headed off down the coast to North Berwick for fish and chips.  We called in briefly at all of our favourite places: Port Seton harbour, Longniddry Bents and Aberlady.  It was good to be back and we look forward to a longer stay at the end of our trip.  The next day we spent pottering around Edinburgh and then, in good time on the Sunday, set off for Braemar to meet up with Peter and Linda, my brother and his wife.  Again the journey went well, if a tad exciting towing the caravan through Glenshee!!!  The plan was for myself and Peter to spend the week' Munro bagging', beginning with a three day expedition into the high Cairngorms, while Linda and Heather enjoyed themselves with more gentle walks and galleries around Braemar.  Peter and I were thoroughly grateful for the assistance of the 'support party' in dropping off and picking up and so avoiding miles of road walking.