19-20/07/24 Weekend Meet: Mill Cottage – Munros, Fionas and Scrambly Ridges

Our club booked Mill Cottage, https://www.mountaineering.scot/clubs/huts/national-huts/mill-cottage, NH 84708 04788, situated near Feshiebridge, for our July Weekend Meet. Some memorable walks are described covering Friday to Sunday.

First up, on Friday, 19/07, prior to going to the hut, MMcE drove up Glen Roy and parked just before Brae Roy Lodge. The objective was to climb Carn Dearg (834), NN 34492 88683, on the east side of the glen. Pic shows the crossing point at NN 33037 90912, and the bothy on the east side of River Roy.

Pic of River Roy taken from the bridge looking SW.

Erica flowering plants.

On the shoulder of Cairn Bhrunachain looking west, the Parallel Roads visible on the west side of Glen Roy.

A glimpse of Loch Linnhe to the SW.

…again looking to the SW, this time from the summit of Carn Dearg.

On the way back, another view looking SW from the bridge near the start point. A good start to the weekend.

On Saturday, 20/07, EA, AS, GB, MMcE & TF visited the Cromdale Hills. From the carpark at Inverchabet, NJ 15460 26531, they tackled two Fionas, Carn a Ghillie Chearr, NJ 13963 29857 and Creagan a Chaise, NJ 10407 24180, which are separated by an 8km bog trot! Pic shows Ben Rinnes, NJ 25511 35496, to the NE, taken from the start of the track leading up to the plateau.

Heading up the track.

Cloudberries on the way.

At the top the northern Fiona, Carn a Ghillie Chearr.

The nearby Coronation Cairn (Edward VII).

Complete with plaque.

The view SW and the long bog trot ahead to get their southern objective.

A walker, near the top of Creagan a Chaise, approaches the trig point with the much larger Victoria Jubilee cairn on the right.

 A brake at the cairn.

…and another plaque.

An impressive green tiger beetle.

Having had enough of bog trotting the group headed ENE down to Milton and then 2km along the public road to the carpark, completing a day grand day that was tough on the calf muscles with over 21km covered and around 700m of ascent in six and a half hours. 

Also on Saturday, 20/07, SP headed to the Cairngorm Mountain ski centre to go up Fiacaill ridge via the Twin Ribs variation which he hadn’t ascended before, and then round to Cairngorm, before descending to the car park. Pic shows the start of scramble on Twin Ribs, looking steep in the photo, but actually set at a pleasant angle, with lots of escape options and by-pass paths on both sides.

Second tier of scramble, the granite a fine surface to climb on.

SP topped out on the scramble and now headed south to the Fiacaill ridge proper.

Having completed the ridge it was time for a pleasurable walk to Cairngorm, top left of pic.

Looking south on the plateau over Loch Etchachan, with Derry Cairngorm at the back.

Looking SW back towards Fiacaill Ridge over Choire Cas. The Twin Ribs start is just visible about a quarter along the ridge from the right of pic. To complete the day SP followed a descent route via the ski area to the car park completing a half day of about four hours.

On the Sunday 21/07, SP & TF headed up Sgairneach Mhor NN 59887 73160 and Beinn Udlamain, NN 57952 73995, having parked in a lay-by on the A9, NN 63279 75440. Their general route can be found in the link; https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/23405308/240719--sp-and-tf-sgairneach-mhor-and-beinn-udlamain-?lat=56.839134&lon=-4.300600&zoom=13.3889&style=Leisure&type=2d

It is noted that the bridge at NN 61978 75057 is not on the OS Landranger or Explorer maps, along with many of the other tracks on the south side of Allt Coire Dhomhain. Unfortunately, they arrived at the summit of Sgairneach Mhor in the mist, denying them photo opportunities until they reached southern ridge of Beinn Udlamain from where they looked west to get this pic of Loch Ericht.

Cloudberries stand to attention.

On the NE descent from Beinn Udlamain we see Sgairneach Mhor to the SE top left of pic.

At last, they find somewhere dry to sit and have some tea when they reach the estate track at NN 60044 74639. This photo is looking west toward Beinn Udlamain, near top left, but the peak isn’t visible. The descent path from Beinn Udlamain is on the right. They followed this track back to the start. Another good day oot.

Also on Sunday, 21/07, MMcE & GH had a wee walk up the Fiona Creag Ruadh, NN 68520 88196, NE of Dalwhinnie, enjoying some spectacular views from this retiring hill. Pic shows Creag Ruadh from the approach track.

A' Mharconaich, NN 70818 84920, to the SE.

…and a fine view SW to Loch Ericht.

At the summit cairn with Munro Meall Cuaich, NN 71682 87912, directly lying east.

Crowberry.

The aqueduct on the way out.

And finally, nearing the end of the track, looking back ENE to Creag Ruadh, left of centre and Meall Chuaich centre pic.

Overall a very active Weekend Meet for the FVMC members at Mill Cottage.