Friday 26 September - A walk back in time

Upper Glen Devon Reservoir as it is usually seen from the north shore - opened 8 June 1955

"... A farmstead, which is depicted on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map (Perthshire 1866, sheet cxxvii), now lies beneath Upper Glen Devon Reservoir"

We crossed the dam and followed the well known path above the reservoir to witness nature working its restorative magic on the upper the glen. Three deer sped across the mud; old fence posts, once marking field boundaries, were revealed; a quite delightful round sheep fold appeared; a wall, capstones still in place, ran down to the river from Glen Bee.

A delightful sheepfold; old fence posts can be seen on the opposite bank

I wandered down to the fold, touched the stones and imagined the past. A peaceful, somewhat melancholy place.

From Glen Bee

As far as I'm aware, 2003 was the last time the reservoir was so low - in fact lower. As we returned water was still being released to the lower reservoir so I imagine that even more of the glen has now been revealed.

More photographs can be found here.

Home and hoping for a NO vote

Well, that was an excellent trip with generally good weather, some very hot, some pleasantly cold but nearly always clear. The only serious rain was at The Gathering when it poured for a few hours before the sun shone to welcome the Queen!

I posted from the BlackBerry most days, largely for record purposes - I'd much rather read in the evenings really -  so the posts were fairly brief. Thanks to those who commented. I couldn't reply easily because although the WiFi on site improved, it was virtually impossible to publish comments.

Apart from days on the hills we went back to the Burn o' Vat at Muir of Dinnet and explored a bit more.

...and enjoyed a coffee or two at Braemar Mountain Sports cafe, The Bothy which opened last June. We didn't have breakfast so can't comment on that (their double Cappuccino was good) but it would be worth a look if you are on the TGO Challenge next year.

I expect we will get away again in October but for the moment it is the usual clearing up in the garden and elsewhere.

It's a big day here in Scotland tomorrow - just in case you don't know - and hope we vote to stay as part of the UK. I'll be very, very sad indeed if we leave.

I've posted some photographs here

Friday 12 September - Morrone in good weather

Apart from one ascent at the beginning of April 1988 when the weather was alpine, every other trip up Morrone had been in poor conditions. I suppose that's because in good conditions we've always wanted to do bigger things. That April ascent was an 'arrival day' climb which gave magnificent views of the hills we had planned for the week, was a Corbett, and looked superb in the snow and spring sunshine.

It was the start of an exceptional week when day after day we roamed snow clad hills on foot and ski. Thinking back, many of the slopes we crossed and climbed were avalanche prone, especially in the afternoon, with dripping cornices above and thigh- deep wet snow below. I recall a particularly worrying descent of Beinn Iutharn Mhor where with every downward step the snow moved slightly. To say we were very glad to be down and on our way back to Altanour hardly captures our sense of relief. I must dig out some slides when the darker nights arrive.

Today, steel structures were still being dismantled after last Saturday's Gathering as we walked through the Games field. It was hot, oh so very hot and we were glad of the shade among the birks. On the open hillside it was hard to believe that this was a September sun and not even at 859m did we find a cooling breeze. White clouds drifted and poured over and down Carn a' Gheoidhe and the Glas Maol.

Flies irritated at a stop for refreshments so we moved off and crossed to Carn na Drochaide, lazed around in the sun and now, in the gentle wind near the edge of a corrie, enjoyed lunch and absorbed the scene. Afterwards we wandered back and forth through the heather visiting various cairns for no particular reason.

A not-so-rapid descent to the road and along past the golf course brought us back into a bustling Braemar. A quick shop at the Co-op then back to the site. Somehow we'd clocked up 20km on our 'short' day.
A few beers were needed.




Sent from my BlackBerry®

Saturday 13 September - a day off

Enjoying a Cappuccino at The Bothy in Braemar. Then bought a new Buff and a Mountain Hardwear shirt. Lynne is still looking. Cheaper to stay out on the hills!
Sent from my BlackBerry®

Thursday 11 September - Baddoch, An Socach and the ridge to Sgor Mor

We met a local from the village as we started up the track by the Baddoch Burn and walked together until he broke off for Carn Aosda. I asked him who 'the guardians of the Christmas tree' were and apparently it's the work of another local, a TGO Challenger whose name I recognised from occasional visits to the message board. I'm sure AlanS will work it out!

Shortly after our new aquaintance left us, we took to the hillside and were quickly on the stony summit. As so often on this holiday, we were alone and it felt like forty years ago; so many memories of days such as this with just the wind and the sun in our faces and not a care in the world; nothing to do but put one foot in front of the other, think about where to go next, what to do tomorrow.

It was a bit hazy for photography but we took some anyway - a record of the day - and after a brief stop for sustenance we were on our way to the east top. From there we enjoyed a splendid walk on crisp cropped heather and crowberry out to the unnamed 855m top, our next objective being Sgor Mor.

A few years back we set out from Baddoch in poor weather to do today's route reverse. It was a well battered pair that arrived at Sgor Mor's cairn and we spent a miserable twenty minutes trying to decide whether to go on. It rained; the wind howled and we assured ourselves that the exposed route would provide little or no shelter or respite from the elements. We came down 'like fallen angels' to arrive at Baddoch just as the sun came out and a glorious day emerged. I'll leave you to imagine what we felt like.

At the bealach before the rise to Sgor Mor we found a mini lochan not marked on the map. An easy pull led to the summit where we polished off most of the tea. A fine continuation from here would be over Craig a' Mhadaidh, Carn na Drochaide, Morrone and so down to Braemar. Alas, with a vehicle parked in Glen Clunie, we descended to Baddoch to be met by the garrons once again.

What a great day out.
Sent from my BlackBerry®

Tuesday 9 September - a simple trip

"The old brig spanning the Cairnwell Burn below the rocky snout of Sron na Gaoithe leads to nowhere except the past" (Robert Smith)

Returning from a day on the heights we have often enjoyed a stop in the sun by this bridge - the Seann Spittal Bridge - where long ago a hospice (refuge) provided shelter for travellers using the Monega Pass. We would use part of the Monega on our return, but for the moment we were heading east to Carn an Tuirc.

Something has always managed to get in the way of a visit to Loch Kander or rather, I always let something get in the way: shooting, other plans; weather. Maybe it's the feeling that I want to leave something unseen, not done; imagined; for 'next time'; something to think about doing, to talk about doing.

The tablelands were deserted save for mountain hares and a few sheep. We exchanged greetings with an aspiring Munroist who rushed off for Tolmount and Tom Buidhe; two elderly walkers seemed to have vanished without trace. I descended somewhat reluctantly to the lip of the corrie, half hoping that Loch Kander would remain hidden from this particular spot; if so I would explore no further. Always leave something to come back for. But there it lay, quiet and still.

From Cairn of Claise we followed the rim of Garbh-choire and joined the Monega Pass path down to Sron na Gaoithe and its quartzite cairn. The late afternoon sunshine was strong and at the 'old brig' we paused, enjoyed it, imagined the travellers of the past then strolled back to base.





Sent from my BlackBerry®

Monday 8 September - Replies to comments

Christmas Tree

AlanR - in a small place like Braemar you'd think everyone would know who "they" are.

AlanS - it doesn't look like any attempt has been made to clear up although maybe we got it on a bad day. A second tree appears to be under "development" too.

Faeries

AlanR - Faeries have always been important in Scottish folklore and since there has been an inn at the Spittal for centuries it's possible that traveller's exchanged tales of encounters with faeries, hence the name. Glen Sith. Who knows? Not me anyway. Just make sure you don't wear green near faeries - they regard the colour as theirs and won't be too happy about it!

Scampering through posts

AlanS - an interesting image that. The hills here, as you know, are ideal for scampering over once high up. Hope my brief blurbs brought back happy memories.


Sent from my BlackBerry®

Sunday 7 September - Christmas is here

Today we wandered around the woods of Creag Choinnich just for a change. Imagine our surprise when we came upon the Christmas tree in the photo.

Hope you can read the board proclaiming "We are the Guardians of this Christmas Tree" etc. Who the "we" are I have no idea. Can't say that the sharp bits of broken decorations are much good for the wildlife.

How odd.
Sent from my BlackBerry®

Saturday 6 September - Braemar Gathering

Early - before the arena filled up.

Had a great day at the Braemar Gathering watching the various sports, having an interesting conversation with a member of the Braemar MRT (and donating of course), getting very wet, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine, eating and generally taking in the spectacle.
At £10 for the whole day (not seated but many bring their own), it's excellent value by any standards.

Although the games finished around 5:15pm we can hear at least one pipe band still playing in the village (we assume).

AlanR and AlanS - Thanks for your comments. I can now get on my blog but reply I cannot do so later in a separate post. All the best for now.


Sent from my BlackBerry®

Thursday 4 September -Carn Aosda - no ski tows

Carn Aosda is one of the easiest of all the Munros if climbed from the Glen Shee ski centre and because of this the hill, with its tangle of ski tows and associated roads and cafe, is apt to be dismissed as a tick on a list. This need not be so, for a long ridge bounded by the Baddoch Burn to the west and to the east by Clunie Water, runs to a small top a short distance west of the summit and provides a pleasant ascent.

We gained the ridge more or less immediately and around Strone Baddoch met four quiet garrons used by the estate (Invercauld) to bring deer carcasses off the hill during the cull. No work for them today though.

The grassy terrain was soon left behind for heather with occasional shooting butts right and left of the thin track. Higher, we crunched over large areas of quartzite boulder fields and carpets of dry crowberry and moss. Thick dark clouds obscured Carn a' Gheoidhe - and the rest. To the east everything was clear.
A short walk led to Carn Aosda's cairn and the customary photographs. Oddly, the summit felt unfamiliar.

Combining this route with an ascent of An Socach and a return to Baddoch via Sgor Mor would be a worthwhile outing I think.

Another interesting but slightly rougher route up Carn Aosda would be by Dubh choire but that's best left for a Sunday (no shooting) or for a different time of year altogether.

Happy with our relatively short day we sauntered back down to the van arriving just as the rain started.











Sent from my BlackBerry®