Mor Bheinn

18 June 2016

Participants: Just me

Where: Mor Bheinn, 640m/2100', Graham/Marilyn, Map 52/57, NN 716212

 

Ben Halton and Mor Bheinn from the Comrie to Braco road.....

 

 

I had seen reports on the Hill Bagging website that suggested that there was a good route from the north, now that some of the forestry had been cut down. So I parked up in a layby just east of Tynreoch and was soon past the farm buildings and on the forestry track that wound uphill gradually on the west side of the hill. It wasn't long before Mor Bheinn came into view.....

 

 

Getting closer.....

 

 

Some reports recommended leaving the track at a burn just after leaving the main forest but that looked steep and not very pleasant underfoot so I carried on up the track which now rose quite steeply. It certainly goes a lot further than my map indicated. I followed it to its end and from there could see what looked like a good route slanting up and across the hillside towards the col between Mor Bheinn and Ben Halton.....

 

 

There were plenty of grass strips to follow which avoided most of the heather. This is looking back from part way up the hillside with the Carn Mairg hills in the distance.....

 

 

I arrived on Mor Bheinn's south ridge just above the col and picked up a developing path which went all the way to the summit. There were none of the crags which the map indicates are prevalent on this hill, at least, not on this route. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit cloudy, especially to the west; this is looking towards Ben Vorlich.....

 

 

North to Ben Chonzie....

 

 

And down to Loch Earn.....

 

 

It was virtually windless so I hadn't been at the trig long when the midges found me. Time to bail out! I returned by the same route, one which avoided all the steepness, most of the heather, all the bracken and all the deer fences. So a thank you to the Hill Bagging site! It took me 2 hours 20 up and the same down, when the sun came out and I stopped a few times for water and photos. This is looking across Strathearn to Ben Each.....

 

 

A'Chruach (Arran)

1 June 2016

Participants: Just me

Where: A'Chruach (Arran), 514m/1,685', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 69, NR 969335

 

A'Chruach is the least exciting of the Arran Marilyns, unless, of course, you like tramping across lots of upland moorland. Nevertheless, it has a fine remote feel to it and an unsurpassed view to most of the higher peaks.

 

I parked at the high point of the String road. From there, it was straight up -steeply- following a fence line up grassy tongues and then thick heather to the top of Cnoc Dubh. The consolation was the fine view that opened up behind.....the main peaks from Ben Nuis to Goatfell......

 

 

There was a substantial cairn on top and when I arrived, I was surprised to see another walker approaching from the direction of the Marilyn. Had to be another Marilyn bagger- it was. A chap who had just bagged his 900th Marilyn on A'Chruach. After chatting to him for a bit, I took a few photos. The cairn and the main hills.....

 

 

A zoom shot into Glen Rosa.....

 

 

And then it was Marilyn time for me. The initial climb up Cnoc Dubh had accounted for most of the day's height gain and it was now just a slog across the moorland (A'Chruach is on the right).....

 

 

There was a lot of moss underfoot which led to some tedious going. Fortunately, it had been dry for a few weeks now; it must be awful going in the wet. I guess that the cairn says something about the popularity of this hill.....

 

 

but the view was still good. The main hills again.....

 

 

Mullach Buidhe, a Graham that I have still to do.....

 

 

Then it was back the same way, 3 hours 30 car to car. As usual when I visit Arran, I drove round a bit before getting the evening ferry back. A last view from the ferry.....