Route description: Carn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Carn Mairg & Creag Mhor Munros included on this walk: Creag Mhor, Carn Marig, Meall Garbh (Carn Marig) & Carn Gorm Time taken: 6 hours Distance: 18 km Ascent: 1310m |
I was flying solo today and the numerous warnings regarding the very small car park at the start point saw me leaving Perth around 6.30 heading up the A9 in glorious early morning sunshine. The early start worked well as I arrived to find the Invervar car park empty. Quickly suited and booted I started the short stroll up towards the forrested area. The owners have kindly waymarked the path and intimated by sign that the new start point takes you by the old mill, so you can't go wrong really...or so I thought ! I took the well defined path to the left, ignoring the lesser worn path that headed straight to the mill. All ended well as both paths converged at a large metal gate and a high and shoogly style allowing access to the forest. The rocky path meanders through the small area of forest, the only hardship being the numerous fallen trees lying across the route. Some were easily stepped over others required skills unused since acquiring the Mr Mas Palomas Limbo Dancer title in 1993 !! As you exit the forest you are greeted with the eyesore of the ongoing hydro works. The scene very reminiscent of something out of the Discovery channel's Gold Rush series ! There were a number of JCB's operating ahead, however numerous signs were positioned around the site pointing walkers toward the diversion route. I followed the signs for 10 mins or so and realised I was getting further from the direction I had expected to be heading. I checked my position on the map and found I was quite a way along the 'return' route ! Convential guidance suggests that this route should be tackled in a clockwise direction, however as I had already gained a bit of height and the wind direction seemed it would mostly be at my back for most if the walk I decided to be a tad rebellious. I continued heading towards Creag Mhor which I had anticipated would have been the final summit of the 4 targeted for today. The initial ascent in this direction was quite a long slog, not overly steep but just seemed to go on a bit. The going was boggy in places but most of it was still partly frozen so no real problems. The views behind you down Glen Lyon and over to the Lawers range were very impressive and remained so throughout the walk. In around 90 mins from leaving the car park I had reached the small rocky tor summit of Creag Mhor, giving great views to Ben Lawers to the South and North to the imposing mass of Schiehallion. The descent to the beleach was quick and easy due to the large patches of gently sloping frozen snow. If you were the bum sliding type you would be down in a matter of minutes....I reached the beleach in a matter of minutes !! I had actually dropped a bit lower than required as I thought I was going to have to head up the very steep left flank of Carn Marig to avoid the large accumulations of snow over the path up through the crags. As I got closer there was a clear set of footprints in the snow heading direct to the summit, these had clearly been made in softer snow and now with the much firmer snow made an excellent staircase which saw me reach summit number 2 in less than 40 minutes. The view to the snow free, Southern facing slopes of Schiehallion was even better from here. Given the recent weather I'm absolutely sure the other side of the mountain looked considerably more alpine. After a quick bite to eat I decided it was time to push on, the wind was beginning to pick up and some foreboding grey clouds were starting to shroud the summit of Ben Lawers in the South. The route follows a line of rusted fence posts and the initial going underfoot is very rocky. Careful foot placement was paramount in order to avoid the need for an embarassing airlift from the hill with a badly sprained ankle ! An hour or so later I had completed the short pull up to Meall Garbh where you are confronted with one of the most bizarre summits of any Munro. The cairn is festooned in numerous rusting fence posts. In some eyes, modern art ? To me it resembled half summit cairn, half Steptoe's yard ! With a wee bit of work it wouldn't take much to turn it into a structure to rival the Iron throne of Kings Landing ! Looking North West over Loch Rannoch saw great views over to my favourite haunt of the snow-tipped mountains of Glencoe looking splendid under the blue skies. The old legs were starting to feel it now as I started the steep and boggy descent to the col. I had it in my head that to avoid the unnecessary ascent of the Munro top An Sgorr I should keep to the left path. However, as I rapidly gained height I remembered that keeping to the left path was the instruction if you were completing this round in the more conventional clockwise direction ! From what I'd read of these hills previously no-one seemed to bother with this top so deciding to follow the script for the first time today I traversed across the hill eventually re-joining the correct path to the summit of Carn Gorm. It is a good rocky path which climbs quite steeply to the summit which is marked by a small cairn and a toppled trig (must have been windier than I thought !!). The view from here over to the Lawers range was fantastic as well as giving you a view of the summits already bagged, or if you are doing it the 'right' way, the summits that lay ahead. By now the wind had really begun to gather in stength so I didn't hang around long, stopping only for a couple of 'posey' shots before beginning the descent back down into the glen. The descent back down towards the forrest was easy enough on a clear path, all the time being treated to great views over the Lawers range and down into Glen Lyon. Before long I reached the forrest and made my way along the deer fence towards the Invervar burn which you follow back towards the start point. Soon you reach the landrover track and head back towards the hydro works, this time I managed to skirt around the sole remaining working JCB and re-entered the forrest to undertake the limbo course one more time, before reaching the car exactly 6 hours after I'd left. My limbs ached and my feet were battered but I had had another great day in the hills and Munros 34 to 37 were firmly in the bag.
2 Comments
11/5/2015 09:45:15
excellent blog - planning to do these hills soonish, so good reference point.
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Steven Hughes
11/5/2015 15:38:52
Cheers Stewart. It makes a good day, great views and an easy way to bag 4 in the one outing.
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Munros ClimbedBinnein Mor Na Gruagaichean Schiehallion Ben Lomond (no walk report) Stob Dearg Stob na Broige Beinn Ghlas Ben Chonzie Ben Lawers Ben Vorlich Bidean Nam Bian Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain Cairn of Claise Carn An Tuirc Carn Liath (Beinn a'Ghlo) Carn nan Gabhar Creag Leacach Glas Maol Stuc A'Chroin Stob Coire Raineach Stob Coire Sgreamhach Stob Dubh Meall nan Tarmachan (no walk report) Mayar Driesh The Cairnwell Carn Aosda Carn a'Gheoidh Meall Chuaich (no walk report) Stob Diamh Geal Charn (no walk report) A' Mharconaich (no walk report) Sgairneach Mhor (no walk report) Beinn Udlamain (no walk report) Carn Gorm Meall Garbh (Carn Marig) Carn Marig Creag Mhor Beinn Narnain Beinn Ime Geal Charn (Monadhliath) (no walk report) Meall Greigh Meall Garbh An Stuc Meall Corranaich (no walk report) Meall a'Choire Leith (no walk report) Beinn an Dothaidh Beinn Dorain Sgor Gaoith Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) Ben Nevis Carn Mor Dearg Creise Meall a'Bhuiridh Ben More Stob Binnein Meall Buidhe BeinnChabhair A'Bhuidheanach Bheag (no report) Stuchd an Lochain Beinn a'Chocuill Beinn Eunaich Ben Starav Glas Bheinn Mhor Beinn Achaladair Beinn a'Chreachain An Caisteal Beinn a'Chroin Beinn Tulaichean Cruach Ardrain Meall Ghaordaidh Ben Challum An Socach Chno Dearg Stob Coire Sgriodain Beinn a'Chaorainn Beinn Teallach Ben Lui Beinn a'Chleibh Stob Coire Easain Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin Bynack More Stob Ghabhar Stob a'Choire Odhair Carn a'Mhaim Beinn Mhanach Stob Ban (grey corries) Ben Cruachan (updated report) Sgorr Dhearg Sgorr Dhonuill Carn Liath (Creag Meagaidh) Stob Poite Coire Ardair (no walk report) Creag Meagaidh (no walk report) Cac Carn Beag (Lochnagar) Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach Carn an t-Sagairt Mor Cairn Bannoch Stob Ban (Mamores) Mullach nan Coirean Broad Cairn Carn a'Chlamain Sgurr Fiona Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill Archives
June 2019
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