Participants: Just me
Where: Creag a'Mhadaidh, 612m/2,008', Graham, Map 42, NN 634650
A day that started off bright and sunny soon clouded over and there were showers about although, apart from some gentle snowflakes while I was sitting at the summit, they stayed off until I was driving home. I had recently purchased the new SMC guide to the Grahams and decided to follow their recommended route to this rather remote hill mid-way between Loch Rannoch and Drumochter. So I parked at the start of the Right of Way track about a mile or so past Kinloch Rannoch.....
The track went through farm land and past a few ruins, all that remains of the settlement of Old Annat.....
and past a forest before emerging on to the moorland. My hill seemed an awful long way from here.....
There was a good view back to Schiehallion, still with a fair covering of snow on it.....
The path continued at a gentle incline past a small dam and up to the col between Creag a'Mhadaidh and it's westerly neighbour, Gualann Sheileach for which the map gives the same height but which I believe is in fact slightly the lower of the two. It was time to leave the track and head across the moor.....
As moorland crossings go, it was pretty benign and it didn't take too long to reach the ridge. The summit was only yards away marked with a substantial cairn for what I am guessing is not a heavily frequented hill. Loch Errochty is in the background.....
For a lot of the way up I had been looking at a fairly substantial hill with some decent snow patches on it and looking at the map I saw that it was Beinn Mholach, a Corbett. It is years since I climbed it and I can't remember the route, only that it was a long way.....
Creag a'Mhadaidh is a hill for those who like wide open spaces and distant views. The next nearest hills are Beinn Mholach and then to the north the Drumochter hills........
Sitting at the cairn I heard the distinctive sound of a Golden Plover; earlier in the day I had heard my first Cuckoo of the season, seen my first Wheatear and raised a Snipe. But I saw no other people, this is indeed another empty quarter. However, it is also close to the area where it is proposed to build the Talla a'Bhaigh windfarm, a desecration of wild land if ever I saw one.
The long way back, just as well there is a good track......
It took me 2 hours 50 minutes up and 5 hours 45 in total, for what was a very pleasant walk.
1 comment:
Too many wind farms are going to be the death of Scotland rather than its future,tourist wise. Making quick money always talks however.
A wild area but not the sort of moorland I'm particularly fond of as I prefer craggy summits and big drops. Good effort though and I admire your commitment.
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