Neil's Hillwalking Exploits: The Loch Ruthven Marilyns

2 June 2012

Participants - Neil, with Ben on Stac na Cathaig
Where - Stac na Cathaig, 446m/1,463', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 26, NH 640302 and Stac Gorm, 430m/1,411', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 26, NH 630273.
Plus reports from earlier visit in 2009 on Tom Bailgeann, 464m/1,522', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 26, NH 588295 and Creag nan Clag, 407m/1,336', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 26, NH 630273

I first came across this area, south-west of Inverness near Dores, in autumn 2009. It is an area of many lochs and looks almost Canadian in places. As far as hills go, it is well off the beaten track but there are four sub-2k's there, clustered round Loch Ruthven. I climbed two of them in 2009 and my visit today was to climb the other two; for completeness, I am adding reports on the 2009 hills at the end because I guess that it is perfectly feasible to climb all four in a single visit.

It was to be Stac na Cathaig first. I parked at the entrance to a forest track near to the east end of Loch Ruthven, next to the road to the house named Balvoulin. The track wound up through the forest passing Loch a'Choire with the cliffs of Creag Dhearg beyond.....

At a junction, I took the right hand branch, went round a second gate and carried on to the high point of the track where I had read that there was a rough path up through the trees to the moor above. Great things these hill walking sites, you get loads of information about routes. The way up through the trees was a bit rough but I could see daylight at the top and we soon emerged on to rough moorland with the hill directly ahead.....

There were a lot of deer about and Ben had to go on his lead from time to time, which he was not pleased about! This was another hill with two cairns; there was a good view down the Highland fault line from the first one that we arrived at with Meall Fuar-mhonaidh prominent.....

The other cairn looked as though it was slightly higher.....

It wasn't. This is the view north over another loch, Loch Duntelchaig.....

We sat about for a bit before reversing the route; this is the gap through the forest.....

Once back, I moved the car to the RSPB car park at Loch Ruthven, less than a mile down the road. Stac Gorm is the best of the four hills- a rugged, shapely little peak.....

There were a lot of wee cliffs around so I left Ben in the car to have a snooze while I went up. There was a rough path which started at the car park; it went through thick heather low down and then wound a way up through the rocky section. On the way up there were views across Loch Ruthven to Stac na Cathaig which showed just how much it is surrounded by trees.....

and over the loch to a distant Ben Wyvis.....

There was a substantial trig; here are a couple of pictures, the first looking south-west down Glen Albyn and the second north-east with Stac na Cathaig immediately to the left of the pillar.....

but the best view of all was down Loch Ruthven.....

I sat around for a while before reversing the route and getting ready for the drive home.

So, for completeness as far as this mini-area is concerned, here are brief reports on the other two sub-2k's. Tom Bailgeann is the highest of the group; this is it seen from Creag nan Clag.....

It is also the easiest as there is a track all the way to the summit, built to serve the radio mast etc on top. The track isn't marked on any map that I have seen but it starts close to the east end of yet another loch- Loch Ceo Glais. If you ignore all the communications equipment, there is a fine view down Glen Albyn from the summit with Loch Ness just in sight.....

and Loch Duntelchaig is always in view during the descent.....

In September 2009, I found Creag nan Clag a bit of a heather horror, I guess that it is easier earlier in the year. This is it with Tom Bailgeann beyond.....