PLAN “B” IS FOR BOTHIES.

Scotland 7th/8th July 2007









So it's midsummer 2007; this sceptr'd isle; therefore it MUST be raining, right?





First Thursday in July, all packed up and wondering where to go. The weather north of Inverness looked just dandy for frogs living below 400metres, so ditching (as you might say) Andrew's ambitions for now, we needed plan B, and the five of us made for Glen Feshie. REASONS:- natural beauty / easily accessible summits / nice bothy.


A bag of house coal for a fiver, some firelighters and some red wine indicated the trend of events!

Plan B for Bothy called for an overnight stop near Newtonmore, finally reaching the bothy by about 11.00pm. (Just as well we weren't trying to get to Invergordon, then.) After a tedious and delayed journey, a cheerful blaze and a warming glass seemed to bring the conversation to life, and some who had expected to crawl swiftly into a bag, only got there much later.

Saturday began with a drive round to Achlean in Glen Feshie, always a beautiful Glen with its winding shingly river and generous woodlands.
 




GLEN FESHIE --->>>






Best of all, it wasn't actually raining, (although the cloudbase was down over the summits). But the water was coming off the hills in torrents, so we had two or three tricky side stream crossings before checking in to Ruigh- a'teachain bothy about midday.  Dumping the household goods, we were soon off up the broad track which sweeps onto Mullach Clach a Blair. 










<<<---FESHIE BOTHY




TRACK UP MULLACH--->>>






This Mullach is not noted as one of Scotland's noblest summits:- but hey! check the weather. The big track took us quickly and easily into the mist at 800 metres, and twisted onwards in a grey world to within 300 metres distance from the 1019m summit. A compass bearing  and 5 minutes march and we were there.  Once out of the clag on the way back, there were good views of the Feshie valley.  And so we were home in time to gather lots of wood, cook lots (and lots) of food, play lots and lots of cards (Amanda had a different game this time) and consume the odd thimbleful of grape juice.












<<<---WHICH WAY




ON MULLACH--->>>






<<<---VIEW DOWN

Sunday dawned much better. Blue patches for sailors' trousers adorned the sky, and after packing back to Achlean to leave kit in the car, it got downright warm on the good track climbing east to Carn Ban Mor. An interesting walk, this - as last time I struggled down these slopes it was in a very scary blizzard after being hit by an avalanche!!. Fears and reminiscences were left behind as the track topped out above 1000 metres, and YO!!; all the cloud had lifted and there stood Brieriach and Carn Toul, massive and clear, views way east towards Braemar.













BRIERIACH--->>>







<<<---SKOOR GOOEY





Easy going at high level took us onto Sgor Gaoith (skor goo-ey).  The rocky summit juts out over Glen Einich far below - more than 2000 feet below, in fact, so its a great long way looking down those cliffs !!

Plan B had well & truly delivered here. (After previous visits (a) in thick mist (b) on night navigation, Andrew thought it was about time !!).





Not wanting the weather to spoil itself, we dropped westwards to lose height into the first valley. Possibly not the best decision (sorry, folks) as the heather & bracken became a bit weary and slowed progress. Never mind, it's all good practice and by teatime we were back at Achlean in the afternoon sunshine, not really regretting at all the pouring rain further north. 




DOWN THE GLEN--->>>




Andy E.