Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Thursday 12 September 2013

10 September - Creag nan Gabhar mystery and Burn O' Vat (9 September).

As noted on the post of 4 September we were unable to recall anything about our first ascent of this Corbett back in 1989, which we had assumed had been from Auchallater by Sron nan Gabhar.

Well, yesterday we went back to the summit by that very route and a most enjoyable tramp it was too. However, nothing triggered any memories so we concluded that either it was foul weather the first time or we had simply struck up through the heather from Glen Clunie.

Two other walkers were met but ours was the only vehicle in the car park on our return.

The previous day we drove up to Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve after a stop in Ballater, and visited The Burn O' Vat. The Vat is a deep bowl, formed by melting water at the end of the last Ice Age, which gradually filled with sand to a depth of about 7m - the floor of the Vat today. It's an impressive place about 18m wide with walls 13m high. It's well worth a visit if you are in this area and is only a short walk from the small Visitor Centre. Entry is through a narrow opening in the rocks though if you prefer, a viewing platform allows you to look down on it (take the main path, not the 'spur path'. Queen Victoria went right inside. I took some video which I'll try to post when home.
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2 comments:

AlanR said...

How interesting. No i have never been to the Burn O’ Vat.

afootinthehills said...

Hi Alan. A visit to the Vat and a walk around the Reserve is a pleasant way to spend half a day. We thought so anyway. As you can see, we went back for seconds!