Some 12,000 years later, the weather was looking a bit cloudy. So Frank, Dave, Linda and I found our way all along Glen Roy, -- an internationally famous geological feature -- taking in the amazing horizontal lines which run for miles along the hillsides [being the ancient beaches of the former lake]. Anyone who has perused OS34 (Creag Meagaidh etc) will have seen the unusual lines called "Parallel Roads"
There are two hills in Glen Roy which we thought would see the least poor weather. The canny inhabitants must have wanted to save on typesetting (or something), because both hills are named Carn Dearg.
After our compasses had got us to Carn Dearg summit, and then to Carn Dearg summit, things looked up rather well, so we went on to ............
Carn Dearg Beag. (imaginative or wot ?? ).
Then further to Glas Bheinn, 680m which is Gaelic for "hill of the fishing gnomes".
The gnomes had good views over the watershed where the Roy flows westwards, and the River Spey begins its journey east. We could make out the favourite Melgarve Bothy about 7 miles away; and after we dropped off the hill, afternoon tea was served in Luib-chionnal Bothy.
Then we were joined by Orrin for a jolly night at Corpach bunkhouse, and Steve & Bev came too. Woof.
We all headed east on Sunday, chasing the sunshine. The Fara - bounding the north of Loch Ericht - is an imposing long ridge when seen from the Munros to the south (as I have done a couple of times recently) and it was a straighforward pull to the top with atmospheric views.
The 911-metre summit has a particularly large cairn, and as this is possibly 3.4 metres high, it became apparent that Ben Carrier ought to be added to Munro's List. Hmmmm !!
We went a couple of Km southwestwards to look towards Ben Alder and Prince Charlie's Cave, 
then headed off the north side of the mountain to traverse the Dirc Mhor gorge. Puts the Chalamain Gap totally in the shade !!
But its very bouldery bottom made for slow going.
By the time we got back to Dalwhinnie, Eve was preparing to spread her dusky mantle edged with pink across the hillsides:- but we still had time for some good trad nosh at Balinluig Cafe for the journey home.
More days, more hills. Always something more to see...............
ANDREW
