Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Saturday 28 May 2016

Friday 27 May - Meall Onfhaidh 681m Graham

We asked permission to park the motorcaravan by a cottage since the small car park at Fassfern had a height barrier. These are now quite common in the Highlands, partly to prevent 'travellers' from setting up camp but also to stop some motorcaravanners, too mean to pay for a site, staying overnight. As usual, the few ruin things for the many.

The initial part of the walk up Gleann Suileag through native woodland provided a pleasing interlude with a cuckoo for company, before the bulldozed roads materialised. Construction of a hydro scheme is underway. A lorry trundled its way up a newly established highway in a cloud of dust to what looked like a site car park. Say the words 'hydro' or 'wind' and anything goes in Scotland.

We pushed on to Glen Sulaig bothy and up the path to the Allt Fionn Doire for a stop and some tea below Meall a' Phubuill. A straightforward but steepening ascent then took us onto the broad south-east ridge and fine walking on crisp moss to the summit. Gulvain was grey on this sunless day, the first of the trip, and the Nevis range never lost its cloud cover.

We returned the same way eventually stopping back in the glen at a convenient seat by the An t-Suileag for more refreshments, only to be driven away by the midges.

Thoughts have now turned to Rum so Lynne is busy buying a few supplies in The Fort. All being well we sail on Monday.




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3 comments:

Gayle said...

It's not that I'm too mean to pay for a campsite every night, it's that: a) I don't have the budget available to do so unless I significantly cut back on trips; and b) there's not always a campsite conveniently located where I want to be. However, I'd like to think that, as I go out of my way to be unobtrusive and to leave parking areas cleaner than I found them, that I've not contributed to any barriers being constructed.

afootinthehills said...

Hi Gayle - I was really referring to areas such as designated picnic spots or specific parking areas which are meant for day parking only (and usually signed No Overnight parking). I can think of many such places where it is impossible for us to park whether for a hill or just a brief stop because of barriers, where once it was no problem. Fassfern was just the latest. I'm sure you leave places cleaner than you found them Gayle but I'm equally sure that doesn't help: it's the fact that councils, estates etc just don't want us parked overnight in these places. Of course neither do caravan site owners!

Sorry if I offended you - you were the furthest person from my mind.

AlanR said...

Have a great time on Rum.