Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorich

Saturday 2 April 2016

Wednesday 30 March - Meall Dearg 690m (Graham) NN886414 and Craig an Loch 663m (Graham Top) NN878408 Map 52

Poor Meall Dearg is blighted by bulldozed tracks and nearby windfarms but also, thankfully, blessed with fine views to the Ben Lawers range and Schiehallion. Most who make for it will be 'doing the Grahams' I imagine.

Lynne took a zoom of An Stac in the Lawers range (click to enlarge)
It's a fine start past the farm and keeper's cottage following the Wade road into Glen Fender near Amulree. We had never been in this Glen before and opted to follow the track above Glenfender Burn rather than divert upwards onto the Beinn Liath ridge, thus postponing for as long as possible the sight of the Griffin wind farm

This is grouse shooting country but from a distance Lynne thought this looked like a menu! You never know these days.



The track continued well beyond that shown on our map and a short diversion from it brought us to the small cairn of Beinn Liath and the inevitable...

Griffin wind farm

Our destination was now visible and it took little time to gain the trig point and a view to Loch Hoil and Schiehallion - and the Callaichar wind farm.

 Loch Hoil and Schiehallion in distance - and Callaichar wind farm

Loch Fender
From Meall Dearg we descended to lonely Loch Fender and crossing the outflow ploughed through thick heather passing numerous shooting butts on our way to Creag an Loch and beyond.

Meall Dearg (centre) with Creag an Loch (left)

Eventually we rendezvoused as planned with yet another bulldozed track and leaving the 'go-backs' to their moorland home, descended by the Kinloch Burn to Wester Kinloch and the line of the Beauly-Denny pylons, striking through Glen Quaich by the shores of Loch Freuchie. It was a peaceful spot, enriched by calling curlews, tumbling peewits and oyster catchers.

Loch Freuchie
We only have one Graham left to do in the area but will return to explore the many fine hills belonging to no list other than our own, the through routes and circuits, the history. And it's all a mere thirty four miles away.













6 comments:

Sir Hugh said...

Looks like a good round. A bit more ambitious than my minor forays on the Marilyns, but just being out on the hills, whatever is the important thing.

afootinthehills said...

Sir Hugh - yes a good day and about 14.5km. As you say just being out on the hills is the only thing that matters. Your holiday has got off to a good start and no doubt you've had some interesting ascents today.

AlanR said...

Loch fender looks a nice spot for a wild overnight camp.

afootinthehills said...

It would be Alan although might be hard to find a decent heather-free spot. Pick your time of year carefully though - you could be burned alive!

Alan Sloman said...

A glorious day, Gibson.
But those tracks, and turbines, and the Beauly-Denny... Criminal.
It's heart-breaking stuff.

afootinthehills said...

Hi Alan. Difficult to imagine how any sane person or government could inflict this sort of damage on such a lovely area. The 'stacking effect' as the pylons march across the area is in some ways worse than their actual scale.

The Griffin is more horrendous than in my photograph.

All thje same, it was a really enjoyable day in the hills.

Hope your knee is fine.