The Monadhliath and Other Hills

South From Carn Dearg

Matt popped north for a few days in late November to complete some unfinished business either side of the A9.  Three days of pretty reasonable conditions for the time of year saw him successfully complete all the Munros east of the A9 - another significant landmark in his on-going quest for Munro glory!

The Monadhliath Hills

Glen Banchor

There was just enough time on a short winter’s day to canter around the 3 easternmost Munros in the range before night set in.  We took the clockwise option from Glen Banchor following the track beside the Allt Fionndrigh and up into Gleann Ballach to gain our first peak of the day: Carn Dearg (945m; red hill).

Carn Dearg

Then came the long traverse over the broad ridge past assorted bumps and dips as the cloud descended intermittently to hide the view.  Eventually, the line of rusting fence posts led us to the summit cairn of Carn Sgulain (920m; hill of the basket).

Carn Sgulain

In the gathering gloom, we headed SW steeply down to the meltwater channel of the Allt Cuil na Caillich and equally steeply up the other side to the smooth grass and moss slopes that led us to the big unmistakable summit cairn of A’ Chailleach (930m; the old woman).

A' Chailleach From Glen Banchor

It was then a race against time down the wet, heathery slopes of An Leitir, past the Red Bothy and over the neatly concealed dilapidated footbridge over the Allt a’ Chaorainn for the final walk along the track back to the car.

Glen Feshie

A Murky Glen Feshie

Yet another largely cloud-enshrouded day traversing the high plateau of the Moine Mhor proved, nevertheless, to be as enjoyable as ever.  Climbing up the excellent path from Achlean on to the slopes of Carn Ban Mor, we entered cloud at 900m and stayed in it all the way to Sgor Gaoith (1118m; windy peak) and back again before heading south across the featureless plateau.

Sgor Gaoith (On A Better Day)!

Later in the day, the cloud started to lift and we were afforded great views down Coire Garbhlach before intercepting the vehicle track that leads past the flat non-descript summit of Mullach Clach a’ Blair (1019m; summit of the stone of the plain).

Coire Garbhlach

We descended down into Glen Feshie via the vehicle track before intercepting the very welcome recently upgraded track and path that now lead all the way back alongside the River Feshie to Achlean - give or take the odd problematic river crossing!

Glen Feshie

Drumochter East

The Drumochter Hills

Two cars gave us the welcome option of tackling these 2 Munro in an A-to-B traverse for a change.  Leaving one at Lay-By No 87 on the A9, we parked at the summit of the Pass and headed due east up the steep slopes in bright clear and frosty conditions.

Mountain Hare

Once away from the Pass, the going got very easy across the wide-open grassy slopes which we shared with numerous mountain hares in the process of turning white for the winter!  The slope flattens out to a plateau that leads all the way to the trig point marking the flat summit of A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag (936m; little yellow place).

The Drumochter Plateau

Given Matt’s onward drive south later in the day, we wasted little time on the summit before turning north and descending slightly to intercept the vehicle track that leads NE almost the whole way to Carn na Caim (941m; hill of the curve).

Carn na Caim

The sky remained clear as we retraced our steps to the old marble quarry that marks the junction of the tracks, one of which leads down easy slopes back to the A9 and that ever-so cleverly positioned car!

Check out my plans for this winter at:  http://www.hillways.co.uk/