tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1159336715428678422024-03-13T04:07:54.470+00:00Alistair's WalksBackpacking, day-walks and shorter strolls in the uplands and lowlands of Northern England, Wales, Scotland and occasionally further afield too.Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.comBlogger348125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-91628879097876804832016-05-19T18:16:00.001+01:002016-05-19T18:16:12.171+01:00TGO Challenge 2016 - Day 3: Glencoe to Above Coire Bhalach<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><b>Sunday 15th May 2016</b><br/>
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I woke to another morning of blue skies and sunshine, which was a surprise as the forecast had suggested that it would be overcast today. However I didn't complain! The campsite warden kindly let me charge my backup battery pack in reception whilst I enjoyed a breakfast of crunchy nut cornflakes and started to get myself ready.<br/>
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I set off walking just after 10am this morning and followed the B863 road east along the south shore of Loch Leven. I passed another challenger who was resting in the shade at the bottom of the track over the shoulder from Glencoe. I realised that since arriving back on the mainland on Friday afternoon I had yet to dip my feet in the sea! Therefore I took the opportunity to nip down to the seaweedy shore of Loch Leven to get my boots wet before leaving the west coast.<br/>
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It was turning into another warm day so i stopped at a picnic area for a break, from where there was a lovely view west down Loch Leven, as shown in the first photo below:<br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QctP6M0g_9w/Vz30cBo5I8I/AAAAAAAAj-A/zz2UMLp5RaU/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QctP6M0g_9w/Vz30cBo5I8I/AAAAAAAAj-A/zz2UMLp5RaU/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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After a bit more road walking I reached Kinlochleven, where I popped into the Coop to resupply with food, before heading into the Ice Factor cafe for a late lunch of burger and chips (again!). Here I met David from Devon who was on his 3rd crossing, but the first for several years. He'd started from Acharacle and was the first challenger I'd met on my crossing who hadn't started at Oban!<br/>
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After much chatting I thought I'd better actually make some more progress eastwards, so I set off up the West Highland Way sometime after 2:30pm. This section of path was very, very busy and I reckoned I must have passed at least 50 other walkers descending to Kinlochleven whilst I headed the other way. Eventually I left the West Highland Way and continued on the vehicle track towards the Blackwater Reservoir; I saw no one else for the rest of the day! <br/>
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It was a pleasant walk up through the woods with lovely views northwards across to the Mamores, as shown in my photo below:<br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WsBSvjxPPqU/Vz30sd5sWmI/AAAAAAAAj-E/mXFTRnp7Ev4/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WsBSvjxPPqU/Vz30sd5sWmI/AAAAAAAAj-E/mXFTRnp7Ev4/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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At around 6pm I reached the end of the track at the Blackwater Reservoir dam. I considered trying to camp somewhere alongside the reservoir and then picking up a new track 3km east of the dam in the morning, which I had noticed on satellite images shortly before the challenge. However as the weather was nice, I decided to continue with my planned high camp as I might not have another opportunity this challenge if the weather deteriorates. <br/>
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Therefore I headed up into Coire Garbh, visiting several of the burns before deciding to follow the largest one upstream. After a while I stopped to collect water from the burn whilst there was still sufficient flow. My bag was now much heavier as I picked up water for tomorrow to so I could avoid descending in the morning.<br/>
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I reached the bealach at around 8pm, to be greeted by the view in the photo below. It had definitely been worth climbing up here as the views across Rannoch Moor to the Bridge of Orchy hills was excellent :-) <br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JyEvoyVPFcg/Vz302KrA43I/AAAAAAAAj-I/cs75cKy2LTw/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JyEvoyVPFcg/Vz302KrA43I/AAAAAAAAj-I/cs75cKy2LTw/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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I soon found somewhere mostly free of heather to pitch my tent and set about cooking whilst enjoying the view from my tent. It had been another good day of walking! <br/>
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<i>See my current progress on <a href='http://www.shareyouradventure.com/map/64580/alistairpooler/TGO-Challenge-2016'>Social Hiking</a></i><br/>
<br/>
<i>Route map and more photos will be added once I get home</i><br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-19565276019391361062016-05-18T21:42:00.001+01:002016-05-18T21:50:24.293+01:00TGO Challenge 2016 - Day 2: High Camp S of Fraochaidh to Glencoe <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<b>Saturday 14th May 2016</b><br />
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After a cold frosty night, I woke to warm sunshine on the tent. I was in no great hurry to start walking this morning after yesterday's late finish, and I also believed that today would be shorter too! Therefore I spent a leisurely time in the sunshine warming up after the cold night, but finally setting off walking at around quarter to eleven! <br />
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It was a tough, steep climb up the southern slopes of Fraochaidh in the warm sunshine. However eventually I reached the summit, and I was rewarded with fantastic panoramic views of the many peaks of Lochaber and across over to Loch Linnhe to Ardgour and Mull, plus I could just about make out the Paps of Jura in the distance to the SSW. The first photo below is a panorama of Beinn a' Bheithir and the Glen Coe hills from the summit of Fraochaidh. The second is the summit cairn with Loch Linnhe, Mull, Lismore and Ardgour beyond. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rLHMunlHLWY/VzzR9MUWxfI/AAAAAAAAj9I/eFKoc-KgyFM/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rLHMunlHLWY/VzzR9MUWxfI/AAAAAAAAj9I/eFKoc-KgyFM/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Ngg4DaVI6A/VzzS1kkamHI/AAAAAAAAj9Q/KHPsgBmm4UQ/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Ngg4DaVI6A/VzzS1kkamHI/AAAAAAAAj9Q/KHPsgBmm4UQ/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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After spending a fair while taking in the views, I started my descent down the east ridge over several subsidiary tops to reach the Mam Uchdaidh, where the right of way from Glen Creran crosses the hills on its way to Ballachulish. I toyed with the idea of descending this way myself, but decided to stick with my plans to climb two more hills this afternoon. <br />
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The ascent up to Sgorr a' Choise was very heathery to start with, but there seemed to be some faint paths to follow that made the going slightly easier. Higher up the ground became rockier and I eventually managed to lug my heavy pack up to the summit of this hill. Again the views were stunning :-).<br />
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Continuing onwards in the hot afternoon sunshine I slowly climbed up my final hill of the day: Meall Mor. Despite the south ridge not looking horrendously steep, I found it hard going and wondered whether I should have descended after Fraochaidh. However by now the easiest route to Glencoe lay over the top of Meall Mor so I continued with my ascent. <br />
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I reached the summit of Meall Mor just before 6pm, with yet more great views! Just east of the summit there was a great vantage point for looking up the length of Glen Coe surrounded by the Aonach Eagach and Bidean nam Bian hills, as shown in the third photo. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PFYOZEJwcfs/VzzTupzMzlI/AAAAAAAAj9Y/K41RvXYXPlI/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PFYOZEJwcfs/VzzTupzMzlI/AAAAAAAAj9Y/K41RvXYXPlI/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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I was now quite tired and had concluded that I would miss out my first hill tomorrow, Garbh Bheinn, and instead head via Kinlochleven. This therefore meant that I could resupply there instead of Ballachulish as planned. Therefore I headed towards Am Meall as planned, but instead of continuing up this small hill from the bealach I instead picked up a newish forest road heading down into Glen Coe. This seemed to go on forever as it looped endlessly down the hillside. I was keen to get down as I'd finished the last of my water and was feeling thirsty again! Eventually I reached the bottom of the glen where I picked up a pleasant woodland path running parallel with the A82 towards Glencoe village. <br />
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Shortly after 8pm I reached the Glencoe Gathering pub and headed inside for water, real ale, burger, chips and ice cream! I then headed to the Invercoe campsite where I pitched my tent at sunset after a cracking day in the hills, although I perhaps wished I'd set off earlier this morning! <br />
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<i>See my current progress on <a href="http://www.shareyouradventure.com/map/64580/alistairpooler/TGO-Challenge-2016">Social Hiking</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>Route map and more photos will be added once I get home</i><br />
<div align="right" style="font-size: xx-small;">
posted from <a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger">Bloggeroid</a></div>
</div>
Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-12846749379882173762016-05-14T11:21:00.001+01:002016-05-14T11:21:24.265+01:00TGO Challenge 2016 - Day 1: Oban to High Camp S of Fraochaidh<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I left the SYHA on a sunny morning, after signing out at around 8:30am and nipped down the steps opposite to dip my feet in the sea. A quick walk around the harbour brought me to the Lismore ferry, with 7 other challengers already on board.<br/>
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After a breezy crossing of the Lynn of Lorn, we arrived on Lismore shortly before 10am. I walked up the track to Balure with Janet, with four other challengers a few hundred metres ahead of us. The first photo below is on the coastal section of the track. <br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dhCRmR85JYw/Vzb7vwdn3zI/AAAAAAAAj8E/NEk8dgBV_xM/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dhCRmR85JYw/Vzb7vwdn3zI/AAAAAAAAj8E/NEk8dgBV_xM/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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I'd heard that the second half of this track could be tricky to follow, but we had no trouble today (although it wasn't always where it was shown on the map!). A road walk then led us to the very windy, and overcast, NE tip of Lismore, we the eight of us gathered in the ferry waiting room out of the wind. <br/>
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A short ferry journey then took us back to the mainland at Port Appin, where two of us opted for pub lunch. The fish and chips were very tasty :-). <br/>
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Soon I was on my own following the road to the Jubilee Bridge and then ESE along the cycle path for a few kilometres. It was nice to be off the road, but the path was still tarmac so I was glad when I left it to head up Gleann na h-Iola! It was good to finally get up into the hills, with excellent views back over the seascape to the SW. The track made for easy walking, except where I had to divert to avoid a large heard of very inquisitive cows! <br/>
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A long climb out of the head of the glen then followed, with the sun starting to break back through the clouds. My ascent was steeper than planned due to an unexpected deer fence around newly planted woodland, but eventually I was able to contour up to the ~500m bealach as planned. The views were stunning with a now near cloudless sky! Continuing on to Beinn Mhic na Ceisich the views just got even better, with a great view of the Glen Coe hills from the summit (see photo below). <br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M5qs-t-Kipo/Vzb8B8IV46I/AAAAAAAAj8I/Nn_-Mcyyxk4/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M5qs-t-Kipo/Vzb8B8IV46I/AAAAAAAAj8I/Nn_-Mcyyxk4/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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Due to the dry weather there had been little water in the burns so I opted to continue for a couple of kilometres towards Fraochaidh, where I eventually found some running water at around 8pm. Pitching in the sunshine, I enjoyed dinner of soup and pork stew before watching the sun set behind the hills of Ardgour :-) <br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6XO6JjxoPTQ/Vzb8I8HKFXI/AAAAAAAAj8M/Pqh52xWRVe8/s2560/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6XO6JjxoPTQ/Vzb8I8HKFXI/AAAAAAAAj8M/Pqh52xWRVe8/s640/%25255BUNSET%25255D.jpg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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It had been an excellent start to the challenge, although quite long at 29.5km! However tomorrow would be shorter, but with more hills.<br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-74244391350132978462016-02-03T20:43:00.001+00:002016-02-03T20:55:49.673+00:00My Planned Route for the 2016 TGO Challenge<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oban to Stonehaven</b></span> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKHaOvpvNuc/Vq8qpMhwwYI/AAAAAAAAjug/9emU06jGw40/s1600/TGOC_2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKHaOvpvNuc/Vq8qpMhwwYI/AAAAAAAAjug/9emU06jGw40/s400/TGOC_2016.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot of planned route (scroll down for zoomable map)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Having previously started at Shiel Bridge, Strathcarron, Mallaig and Glenelg, I decided I fancied a more southerly route this year, so I've opted to start in Oban. However I also wanted to visit Ballater and finish in Stonehaven, which are both more northerly than any of my previous routes! Therefore my resultant route is reasonably southerly, before heading NE from Pitlochry to Ballater.<br />
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It splits nicely into five chucks:<br />
<ul>
<li>2 days from Oban to Glencoe, via Lismore</li>
<li>2 days from Glencoe to Bridge of Gaur</li>
<li>3 days from Bridge of Gaur to Pitlochry, via Ben Lawers</li>
<li>3 days from Pitlochry to Ballater, via the cocktail party in Gleann Mòr</li>
<li>3 days from Ballater to Stonehaven, via Mount Battock</li>
</ul>
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And here is a nice zoom-able and pan-able map showing my planed route:</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2016/TGOC/Plan/TGOC2016_FinalPlannedRoute.gpx"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2016/TGOC/Plan/TGOC2016_FinalPlannedRoute.gpx" target="_"blank"">See planned route in new window</a></span></div>
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It's a similar length to my previous TGO Challenge routes, at 325km, and there's around 14,000m of ascent. Assuming that the weather is fine I'm planning on climbing 7 Munros, 7 Corbetts and 3 Grahams, plus a few other hills on the way across. However I anticipate that bad weather might put pay to some of these plans! Although you never know, it might be another year like 2008 when it was dry and sunny for most of the fortnight!<br />
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This is by my fifth TGO Challenge and I'm already counting down the days until I set off! Only 100 days to go...<br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-60673290297544961452015-11-07T22:14:00.000+00:002015-11-07T22:14:48.856+00:00Across Kinder Scout from Edale to Glossop<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sunday 4th October 2015</b></span><br />
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<i>A walk across the centre of the Kinder plateau, before picking up the Pennine Way and Doctor's Gate</i><br />
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Distance: 23km; Ascent: 550m; Cloudy morning, turning warm and sunny later; Solo<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2015/20151004_EdaleGlossop.gpx"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2015/20151004_EdaleGlossop.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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I'd been thinking about crossing the Kinder plateau again for some time, as most of my more recent walks in the area had been around the edges. I was also intrigued by the words "Kinder Gates" marked on my map, and I wondered what was there. As I had a opportunity to get out for a walk today, and it had been mainly dry for the last couple of weeks, I decided to head to Edale and wander up Grindsbrook Clough.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9jRClGIDHw/VjT1gJhH85I/AAAAAAAAjaM/C1qZYFMj8ig/s1600/DSC06823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9jRClGIDHw/VjT1gJhH85I/AAAAAAAAjaM/C1qZYFMj8ig/s400/DSC06823.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Grindsbrook Clough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I set off walking from Edale station at around ten past ten this morning, and was soon following the path up along the Grinds Brook. It was grey, overcast but dry this morning, although occasional bits of blue sky looked promising for the rest of the day. There were a few other walkers around, but it definitely didn't feel particularly busy, and I spent much of the time higher up in the clough without seeing or hearing anyone else.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7XqPBQlDzg/VjT1hhoyOGI/AAAAAAAAjaU/SVRng7bCbRk/s1600/DSC06827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7XqPBQlDzg/VjT1hhoyOGI/AAAAAAAAjaU/SVRng7bCbRk/s400/DSC06827.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Grindsbrook Clough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Around an hour after setting off from the station I reached the plateau at the top of Grindsbrook Clough, with hazy views back down into the valley. Heading west for a kilometre or so, I soon reached the top of Crowden Clough and headed north alongside the headwaters of Crowden Brook.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHz7MTFwddM/VjT1jPGmDHI/AAAAAAAAjac/2bBM8K3n5Ew/s1600/DSC06828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHz7MTFwddM/VjT1jPGmDHI/AAAAAAAAjac/2bBM8K3n5Ew/s400/DSC06828.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down Grindsbrook Clough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F22k9WzAdfw/VjT1kzgWsjI/AAAAAAAAjak/PE8zZYezuBY/s1600/DSC06830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F22k9WzAdfw/VjT1kzgWsjI/AAAAAAAAjak/PE8zZYezuBY/s400/DSC06830.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A surprisingly grassy section of the Kinder plateau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I wandered across the plateau, I was pleasantly surprised as to how grassy it was now in lots of places. Although the long grass did make it tricky at times to follow the faint boot-worn path towards the River Kinder! Soon I stumbled across the inevitable peat hags, which I have to admit I am quite fond of! They add features to what would otherwise be a completely flat plateau. Although that's easy to say when the ground is so dry underfoot!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nyofx19nSrk/VjT1mrV1U9I/AAAAAAAAjas/DWvhf-1-Mpk/s1600/DSC06832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nyofx19nSrk/VjT1mrV1U9I/AAAAAAAAjas/DWvhf-1-Mpk/s400/DSC06832.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In amongst the peat hags</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By now the morning cloud had pretty much burnt off and it was warm and sunny :-). I followed what looked to be the biggest looking grough as it twisted and turned through the peat hags to eventually reach the River Kinder at a prominent cairn.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrTizFb7p5c/VjT1orVR01I/AAAAAAAAja0/n_9T0glG1CA/s1600/DSC06833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrTizFb7p5c/VjT1orVR01I/AAAAAAAAja0/n_9T0glG1CA/s400/DSC06833.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Kinder above Kinder Gates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I followed a reasonable small path downstream alongside the River Kinder, bumping into the first other walkers since leaving the southern edge of the plateau. Soon I reached Kinder Gates, which consists of some impressive gritstone crags that appear to guard the onward route - presumably that's how they got their name!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWgJHgX0XBw/VjT1qq-LaII/AAAAAAAAja8/_FxyeVXPX1A/s1600/DSC06834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iWgJHgX0XBw/VjT1qq-LaII/AAAAAAAAja8/_FxyeVXPX1A/s400/DSC06834.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Kinder at Kinder Gates</td></tr>
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After another half a kilometre or so, I reached the western edge of the plateau above Kinder Downfall. There were hazy views westwards towards Kinder Reservoir from here, and I wandered along the edge for a bit to get a look at the downfall, which had hardly any water flowing over it today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daZ1DyN0HtU/VjT1sgURYZI/AAAAAAAAjbE/wRpiD61t68o/s1600/DSC06837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daZ1DyN0HtU/VjT1sgURYZI/AAAAAAAAjbE/wRpiD61t68o/s400/DSC06837.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hazy view down to Kinder Reservoir from Kinder Downfall</td></tr>
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This edge of the plateau was teeming with other walkers out enjoying the lovely October weather today! Therefore I headed slightly off path to find a pleasant gritstone outcrop on which to sit and enjoy a spot of lunch. It was now about half-past midday and I decided that I probably wouldn't have enough time to head over Bleaklow and down to Hadfield to catch the train home as originally planned. Instead I hatched a new plan to head along the Pennine Way and then down Doctor's Gate into Glossop to catch the train from there instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgaaM3v7kLE/VjT1uuVM0HI/AAAAAAAAjbM/F_XNBp9xCL0/s1600/DSC06839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgaaM3v7kLE/VjT1uuVM0HI/AAAAAAAAjbM/F_XNBp9xCL0/s400/DSC06839.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mill Hill from Kinder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wO8rYnplYP8/VjT1wTxSl1I/AAAAAAAAjbU/k8Jvz5EfvDs/s1600/DSC06840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wO8rYnplYP8/VjT1wTxSl1I/AAAAAAAAjbU/k8Jvz5EfvDs/s400/DSC06840.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junction with the Snake Path</td></tr>
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Therefore I headed NW along the busy Pennine Way path to reach the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=3635" target="_blank">Mill Hill</a> <i>(Dewey)</i>, which is probably the hill I've climbed the most after Mam Tor! Continuing along the Pennine Way I had another hill in my sights, but this time it was one I hadn't actually climbed before: Featherbed Top.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkz_fGJ45Qw/VjT1yuy-nEI/AAAAAAAAjbc/G0AVyNTKHQw/s1600/DSC06843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkz_fGJ45Qw/VjT1yuy-nEI/AAAAAAAAjbc/G0AVyNTKHQw/s400/DSC06843.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slabbed path NE of Mill Hill</td></tr>
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After much walking along the slabbed path I reached the featureless summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=3634" target="_blank">Featherbed Top</a> <i>(Dewey)</i> at around 2pm. I wandered around for a while in an attempt to ensure that I'd visited the highest point of this somewhat flat-topped hill, before descending northwards towards the A57 Snake Pass road.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cOHSPmX_Tgs/VjT10iqIlkI/AAAAAAAAjbk/g8-d14f6neY/s1600/DSC06844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cOHSPmX_Tgs/VjT10iqIlkI/AAAAAAAAjbk/g8-d14f6neY/s400/DSC06844.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Featherbed Top</td></tr>
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The A57 was very busy today, and I had to wait a while to be able to cross the road safely! Continuing northwards along the Pennine Way, I soon turned off onto the Doctor's Gate path. There were good views down into the Shelf Brook valley and at one point I came across a sign saying that the path for closed for a few metres at one point, with no diversion. However given that the surrounding land was open access land, this seemed a little bit bizarre!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBjd-UUH5fg/VjT12BGdsrI/AAAAAAAAjbs/AWjHULZshgs/s1600/DSC06845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBjd-UUH5fg/VjT12BGdsrI/AAAAAAAAjbs/AWjHULZshgs/s400/DSC06845.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Doctor's Gate</td></tr>
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A passing group of walkers soon informed me that the closure was due to a missing bridge over the Shelf Brook, but that the river was easy to cross today. Therefore I continued down along Doctor's Gate towards the river crossing. After a little over a kilometre I reached the site of the missing bridge and easily crossed the river, although it has been dry for the last couple of weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tV5j-AKTT7g/VjT14LDF2xI/AAAAAAAAjb0/04LLb1KeqxU/s1600/DSC06848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tV5j-AKTT7g/VjT14LDF2xI/AAAAAAAAjb0/04LLb1KeqxU/s400/DSC06848.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The missing bridge on the Doctor's Gate path</td></tr>
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I continued on a good path on the northern bank of the Shelf Brook, before picking up a vehicle track near to Mossey Lea Farm and following it through fields to the edge of Glossop. A kilometre or so of road walking then brought me to the station, where I arrived in plenty of time to catch the 16:08 train back into Manchester and then home again. All in all it had been an excellent walk in the Dark Peak :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRfl-aaPlD0/VjT16OAUQqI/AAAAAAAAjb8/c6woxaLMp9E/s1600/DSC06849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRfl-aaPlD0/VjT16OAUQqI/AAAAAAAAjb8/c6woxaLMp9E/s400/DSC06849.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up Doctor's Gate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kztumUW1Qk0/VjT17v64D5I/AAAAAAAAjcE/GLcNzwukrFg/s1600/DSC06851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kztumUW1Qk0/VjT17v64D5I/AAAAAAAAjcE/GLcNzwukrFg/s400/DSC06851.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Glossop Church</td></tr>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com1Glossop, Derbyshire, UK53.4433284 -1.948906999999962953.4054974 -2.0295879999999631 53.481159399999996 -1.8682259999999629tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-14335412061425266352015-08-23T20:12:00.001+01:002015-08-23T20:12:45.314+01:00Penrhyn Castle <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><span style='font-size: large;'><b>Sunday 23rd August 2015</b></span> <br/>
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On our first day in North Wales we headed to Penrhyn Castle, near Bangor, with the kids. Here are a few photos from a pleasant wander around the grounds and garden this morning before the heavy rain set in! There were good views eastwards towards the Great Orme from the castle ramparts. <br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6zMZ4rx9Vs4/VdoZGVrCFDI/AAAAAAAAjOM/M_AIubvVPjg/s2560/1440356379592.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6zMZ4rx9Vs4/VdoZGVrCFDI/AAAAAAAAjOM/M_AIubvVPjg/s400/1440356379592.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qOR312WS_04/VdoZpVfZ_NI/AAAAAAAAjOU/7IIgUTxhd1Q/s2560/1440356634016.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qOR312WS_04/VdoZpVfZ_NI/AAAAAAAAjOU/7IIgUTxhd1Q/s400/1440356634016.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uLZdqLYEC_E/VdoZ0qB2FZI/AAAAAAAAjOc/dxtd0Gen9N8/s2560/1440356778465.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uLZdqLYEC_E/VdoZ0qB2FZI/AAAAAAAAjOc/dxtd0Gen9N8/s400/1440356778465.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-snNhrROBvhk/VdoaQ76Zy1I/AAAAAAAAjOk/efUaR6LrEFg/s2560/1440356819456.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-snNhrROBvhk/VdoaQ76Zy1I/AAAAAAAAjOk/efUaR6LrEFg/s400/1440356819456.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I2tWdJ3iBB0/VdobKU9iAMI/AAAAAAAAjOw/2B3Sw2z8wQE/s2560/1440356931801.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I2tWdJ3iBB0/VdobKU9iAMI/AAAAAAAAjOw/2B3Sw2z8wQE/s400/1440356931801.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-78855138461882664012015-08-06T21:37:00.000+01:002015-08-06T21:37:22.692+01:00A Sunset Walk from Upton to Bude<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thursday 30th July 2015</b></span> <br />
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<i>A pleasant evening circuit from Bude combining the canal towpath and the coast path </i><br />
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Distance: 6.5km; Ascent: 150m; Dry, but cool for the time of year; Solo<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzwg6ANqKkU/VcPDG6jd1xI/AAAAAAAAjK4/G9SpiCDWxw8/s1600/20150730_211006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzwg6ANqKkU/VcPDG6jd1xI/AAAAAAAAjK4/G9SpiCDWxw8/s400/20150730_211006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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At around half-past eight I set off walking along the canal towpath heading out of Bude, before cutting up to the coast by way of the road to Upton from Rodd's Bridge. I arrived at the coast just as the sun was setting, and enjoyed a most pleasant walk north along the coast path at dusk. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_qRWawZ7hM/VcPDISpx4_I/AAAAAAAAjLA/d2V3CuDpCMs/s1600/20150730_211812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_qRWawZ7hM/VcPDISpx4_I/AAAAAAAAjLA/d2V3CuDpCMs/s400/20150730_211812.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The trig point on Efford Beacon beckoned, followed by the tower on Compass Point, before I dropped back down to the canal at the sea locks by the light of a full moon.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz83B7A0ymU/VcPDI4OONjI/AAAAAAAAjLI/WjpbFQhxjMw/s1600/20150730_212238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz83B7A0ymU/VcPDI4OONjI/AAAAAAAAjLI/WjpbFQhxjMw/s400/20150730_212238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A lovely evening coastal walk :-)<br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com4Bude, Cornwall, UK50.826636 -4.54367850.7865175 -4.624359 50.8667545 -4.462997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-30931012133987300592015-06-29T20:13:00.000+01:002015-06-29T20:13:00.198+01:00Rishworth Moor and Blackstone Edge<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 27th June 2015</b></span> <br />
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<i>An evening walk in the South Pennine moors </i><br />
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Distance: 13km; Ascent: 280m; Dry, mostly overcast with a fresh breeze; Solo<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2015/20150627_BlackstoneEdge.gpx"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2015/20150627_BlackstoneEdge.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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Somehow I'd not yet been out on an evening walk this spring or summer, so I decided to rectify that this evening. Blackstone Edge was somewhere I'd not been to for a while, and a quick look at a map suggested a possible circular route taking in Rishworth Moor too, so a plan was formed. So after a quick journey along the M62, I set off walking soon after 7:30pm and followed the track up to Green Withins Reservoir.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXg7kJn6HUo/VZEDxBIRvOI/AAAAAAAAjBE/TN8M-xJR0Dc/s1600/DSC06325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXg7kJn6HUo/VZEDxBIRvOI/AAAAAAAAjBE/TN8M-xJR0Dc/s400/DSC06325.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Withins Reservoir</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lE37MNWD3Tw/VZEDy8eVtQI/AAAAAAAAjBM/pLh4KnVJe1g/s1600/DSC06328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lE37MNWD3Tw/VZEDy8eVtQI/AAAAAAAAjBM/pLh4KnVJe1g/s400/DSC06328.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drainage ditch near Green Withins Reservoir</td></tr>
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A path then led me alongside a drainage ditch, before beginning to ascend up through the bracken, heading for Blackwood Edge. As this wasn't where I wanted to be heading this evening, I soon left the path and headed across the moor to reach the <a href="http://trigpointing.uk/trig/5692" target="_blank">trigpoint</a> on Dog Hill, the highest part of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=16516" target="_blank">Rishworth Moor</a> <i>(TuMP)</i>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trig point on Dog Hill</td></tr>
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The ground 50m or so to the east looked to be slightly higher so I headed over there to ensure I visited the highest point. There was a lot of cotton grass blowing around in the wind up here this evening!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QL81sjXD1h8/VZED2JrVdBI/AAAAAAAAjBc/4V0d7SxAj1c/s1600/DSC06332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QL81sjXD1h8/VZED2JrVdBI/AAAAAAAAjBc/4V0d7SxAj1c/s400/DSC06332.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cotton Grass on Dog Hill</td></tr>
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I followed a faint path across the moorland, past Cat Stones and Warm Withins Hill to reach Rishworth Drain and another track. It was now decision time: I could either turn left along a reasonable track back to the car, or turn right and continue with my planned route up Blackstone Edge. The weather was reasonable, sunset was still half an hour away and I had two torches with me, so I opted to continue. Therefore I picked up the Old Packhorse Road, which was quite peaty in places. This lead me to the Aiggin Stone, where I joined the Pennine Way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WEnKZ4pRtl0/VZED4bsO2wI/AAAAAAAAjBk/2SqzHnr3QD8/s1600/DSC06337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WEnKZ4pRtl0/VZED4bsO2wI/AAAAAAAAjBk/2SqzHnr3QD8/s320/DSC06337.JPG" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aiggin Stone Information Sign</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMhfqRq0518/VZED5Xb1ERI/AAAAAAAAjBs/3cDYy78UNCY/s1600/DSC06340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMhfqRq0518/VZED5Xb1ERI/AAAAAAAAjBs/3cDYy78UNCY/s400/DSC06340.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Aiggin Stone at Dusk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD9CkrpxbW0/VZED6NHva6I/AAAAAAAAjB0/Emjwk4n6FsY/s1600/20150627_213827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD9CkrpxbW0/VZED6NHva6I/AAAAAAAAjB0/Emjwk4n6FsY/s400/20150627_213827.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at the Aiggin Stone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After watching sunset from the Aiggin Stone, and using the nearby fenceposts as a support for my camera, I headed south up to the rocky outcrops of Blackstone Edge. Soon I reached the <a href="http://trigpointing.uk/trig/1459" target="_blank">trigpoint</a>, which I'd last visited back in 2008 when I walked this bit of the Pennine Way.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLGIUuZwAgc/VZED7PybeAI/AAAAAAAAjB8/a1s5j0EjeTM/s1600/DSC06344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SLGIUuZwAgc/VZED7PybeAI/AAAAAAAAjB8/a1s5j0EjeTM/s400/DSC06344.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trig Point on Blackstone Edge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'd heard that the trigpoint wasn't actually on the highest point of the hill, so I headed south-east to reach the boulder that marked the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=5319" target="_blank">Blackstone Edge</a> <i>(HuMP)</i>, which had an OS benchmark symbol carved into it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9AQ5QdpIX0/VZED8mLysUI/AAAAAAAAjCE/_nJ-OOfAsQA/s1600/DSC06351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w9AQ5QdpIX0/VZED8mLysUI/AAAAAAAAjCE/_nJ-OOfAsQA/s400/DSC06351.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackstone Edge Summit Boulder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By now it was 10pm and the light was fading, so I donned my headtorch and headed south along the Pennine Way towards the traffic noise from the M62. I crossed the footbridge over the motorway and headed back along the A672 to reach my car shortly before 11pm after a pleasant moorland walk.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tUMlA8h3OY/VZED9-0omvI/AAAAAAAAjCM/fXiTk9tRS-0/s1600/20150627_223039%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tUMlA8h3OY/VZED9-0omvI/AAAAAAAAjCM/fXiTk9tRS-0/s400/20150627_223039%25280%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The M62 from the Pennine Way Footbridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Blackstone Edge, Ripponden, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire HX6, UK53.650000000000013 -2.033333299999981128.127965500000013 -43.341927299999981 79.172034500000009 39.275260700000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-39872901123976665852015-05-07T16:29:00.000+01:002015-05-07T21:09:34.694+01:00TGO Challenge 2014 - Index of PostsWith the 2015 TGO Challenge kicking off tomorrow, I thought it was about time that I actually finished off my blog posts about last year's crossing! Therefore here is an index of my various 2014 TGO Challenge posts:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBF8kZqJoqc/U4-aF7zjbQI/AAAAAAAAhXs/pkxZM80VuXg/s1600/DSC04396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gBF8kZqJoqc/U4-aF7zjbQI/AAAAAAAAhXs/pkxZM80VuXg/s400/DSC04396.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across Loch Hourn to Ladhar Bheinn from the west ridge of Beinn Sgritheall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Posts prior to setting off:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/04/tgo-challenge-spring-gathering-2014.html" target="_blank">Spring Gathering 2014</a> - a moorland walk in the Dark Peak</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/05/my-planned-route-for-this-years-tgo.html" target="_blank">My Planned Route</a> - from Glenelg to Montrose</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/05/live-mapping-for-tgo-challenge.html" target="_blank">Live Progress Map</a> - using SPOT and Social Hiking</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpOtHoKXzwo/U5TOjtIYllI/AAAAAAAAhac/QMOvKFGV97E/s1600/DSC04455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpOtHoKXzwo/U5TOjtIYllI/AAAAAAAAhac/QMOvKFGV97E/s400/DSC04455.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gairich, Sgurr an Fhuarain & Sgurr Mor from the SW slopes of Sgurr a'Mhaoraich</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Occasional posts during the challenge:<br />
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/05/glenelg.html" target="_blank">Glenelg</a> - at the start</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/05/tgoc-2014-first-four-days.html" target="_blank">The First Four Days</a> - Glenelg to Fort Augustus</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/05/tgoc-2014-middle-section.html" target="_blank">The Middle Bit</a> - Fort Augustus to Braemar</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/05/tgoc-2014-final-five-days.html" target="_blank">The Final Five Days</a> - Braemar to Montrose</li>
</ul>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3vAIRvhmmQ/VCCl6xPu8MI/AAAAAAAAh-E/dxxDpe5_wgw/s1600/20140516_145518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3vAIRvhmmQ/VCCl6xPu8MI/AAAAAAAAh-E/dxxDpe5_wgw/s400/20140516_145518.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carn na Criche, Braeriach, Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Carn Toul from Monadh Mor summit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
Day by day posts following the challenge, with lots of photos:<br />
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/06/tgoc-2014-day-1-glenelg-to-glen.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a> - Glenelg to Glen Arnisdale</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/06/tgoc-2014-day-2-glen-arnisdale-to-loch.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a> - Glen Arnisdale to Loch Quoich</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/06/tgoc-2014-day-3-loch-quoich-to.html" target="_blank">Day 3</a> - Loch Quoich to Inchlaggan</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/07/tgoc-2014-day-4-inchlaggan-to-fort.html" target="_blank">Day 4</a> - Inchlaggan to Fort Augustus</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/07/tgoc-2014-day-5-fort-augustus-to.html" target="_blank">Day 5</a> - Fort Augustus to Chalybeate Spring</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/08/tgoc-2014-day-6-chalybeate-spring-to.html" target="_blank">Day 6</a> - Chalybeate Spring to Newtonmore</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/08/tgoc-2014-day-7-newtonmore-to-ruigh.html" target="_blank">Day 7</a> - Newtonmore to Ruigh Aiteachain</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/10/tgoc-2014-day-8-ruigh-aiteachain-to.html" target="_blank">Day 8</a> - Ruigh Aiteachain to Glen Dee</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2015/01/tgoc-2014-day-9-glen-dee-to-braemar.html" target="_blank">Day 9</a> - Glen Dee to Braemar</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2015/04/tgoc-2014-day-10-braemar-to-gelder-shiel.html" target="_blank">Day 10</a> - Braemar to Gelder Shiel</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2015/05/tgoc-2014-day-11-gelder-shiel-to-queens.html" target="_blank">Day 11</a> - Gelder Shiel to Queen's Well</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2015/05/tgoc-2014-day-12-queens-well-to-tarfside.html" target="_blank">Day 12</a> - Queen's Well to Tarfside</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2015/05/tgoc-2014-day-13-tarfside-to-north.html" target="_blank">Day 13</a> - Tarfside to North Water Bridge</li>
<li><a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2015/05/tgoc-2014-day-14-north-water-bridge-to.html" target="_blank">Day 14</a> - North Water Bridge to Montrose</li>
</ul>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wi_5ohZ9LhM/VCCmSI8J9BI/AAAAAAAAh_s/3j9OpqOpQi0/s1600/DSC04762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wi_5ohZ9LhM/VCCmSI8J9BI/AAAAAAAAh_s/3j9OpqOpQi0/s400/DSC04762.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up Glen Dee towards the Lairig Ghru</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was an excellent crossing and my fourth challenge after three previous crossings in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The weather was pretty reasonable much of the time and I had only about 20km overlap with my previous three crossings.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-14627949634615736042015-05-06T12:33:00.000+01:002015-05-06T12:33:00.062+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 14: North Water Bridge to Montrose<b style="font-size: x-large;">Thursday 22nd May 2014</b><br />
<br />
<i>A morning walk to Montrose trying to stay off the road as much as possible </i><br />
<br />
Distance: 15km; Ascent: 120m; Overcast with rain on the coast; Solo<br />
<div>
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140522_TGOC_Day14.gpx"></iframe></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140522_TGOC_Day14.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
<br />
It was forecast to be a wet end to this year's challenge, with rain due to arrive from around 11am. Therefore I resolved to make an earlier start than usual and set off walking at around quarter past eight this morning, although others had left much earlier than me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROdYYs9xWRA/VCCpAHKw_NI/AAAAAAAAiL0/LWbCcfnSf9E/s1600/20140522_065329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROdYYs9xWRA/VCCpAHKw_NI/AAAAAAAAiL0/LWbCcfnSf9E/s1600/20140522_065329.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Water Bridge campsite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxS2_JI65Qc/VCCpBWrIj_I/AAAAAAAAiL8/R3iZtR39Xc0/s1600/DSC05026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxS2_JI65Qc/VCCpBWrIj_I/AAAAAAAAiL8/R3iZtR39Xc0/s1600/DSC05026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the River North Esk from North Water Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was grey and overcast as I followed the main road east towards Marykirk. However, rather than crossing the River North Esk and heading for St Cyrus, I instead picked up a footpath. I had planned my route from here to the coast to have as little road walking as possible by studying the Angus Council <a href="http://archive.angus.gov.uk/corepathsplan/" target="_blank">Core Paths Plan</a>. Using this useful resource, I had plotted a route to Montrose beach along various core paths, with only around 2-3km of road walking from this point onwards.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BU1gUAmXUjk/VCCpDhiOP9I/AAAAAAAAiME/rM1Q_8Jztxw/s1600/DSC05030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BU1gUAmXUjk/VCCpDhiOP9I/AAAAAAAAiME/rM1Q_8Jztxw/s1600/DSC05030.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signpost for the path to Logie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnVaHAsmZrE/VCCpFdZtXVI/AAAAAAAAiMM/7LMCifWN5E8/s1600/DSC05031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnVaHAsmZrE/VCCpFdZtXVI/AAAAAAAAiMM/7LMCifWN5E8/s1600/DSC05031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River North Esk at Craigo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LlthRhqbJDk/VCCpHo5fOKI/AAAAAAAAiMU/e4Zwp-MHXiA/s1600/DSC05034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LlthRhqbJDk/VCCpHo5fOKI/AAAAAAAAiMU/e4Zwp-MHXiA/s1600/DSC05034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path from Craigo to Logie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMOnnwkCxHk/VCCpJRWG0_I/AAAAAAAAiMc/zWNSaMh0rSQ/s1600/DSC05035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMOnnwkCxHk/VCCpJRWG0_I/AAAAAAAAiMc/zWNSaMh0rSQ/s1600/DSC05035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path through the fields to Logie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Core Paths were actually signposted, which made route finding significantly easier. I had brought printouts of the Core Paths overlaid onto 1:25000 maps from the council website in case I needed them to locate the paths; however these weren't needed in the end. The path from Craigo to Logie was pleasant enough, with a section through some woodland followed by a bit through some fields. From Logie I had a bit of road walking to reach the start of my next Core Path of the day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWxy0OXk4_c/VCCpLlZ307I/AAAAAAAAiMk/mC4oHRPIgeA/s1600/DSC05037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWxy0OXk4_c/VCCpLlZ307I/AAAAAAAAiMk/mC4oHRPIgeA/s1600/DSC05037.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signpost for the path to Hillside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B4unVFyJVMY/VCCpNiSHVlI/AAAAAAAAiMs/niNqdbcWOh0/s1600/DSC05038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B4unVFyJVMY/VCCpNiSHVlI/AAAAAAAAiMs/niNqdbcWOh0/s1600/DSC05038.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track to Hillside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLJA67rQzqI/VCCpP6m7dnI/AAAAAAAAiM0/vy1KBCbkTsE/s1600/DSC05041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLJA67rQzqI/VCCpP6m7dnI/AAAAAAAAiM0/vy1KBCbkTsE/s1600/DSC05041.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the Rosemount Estate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xn_on-cdEgY/VCCpSNN2D5I/AAAAAAAAiM8/zJz2AgL_g2U/s1600/DSC05044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xn_on-cdEgY/VCCpSNN2D5I/AAAAAAAAiM8/zJz2AgL_g2U/s1600/DSC05044.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Rosemount Estate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Good woodland tracks led me to the pleasant Rosemount Estate, after which I emerged onto the road again in Hillside. Again a few hundred metres of road walking led me onwards to my next Core Path, this time from Hillside to Borrowfield. This path ended in the middle of a housing estate on the northwestern edge of Montrose, from where I picked up the cycle path that I followed virtually all the way to the sea.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6q1BDxHFEA/VCCpTkL4SkI/AAAAAAAAiNE/1Qv1fcdYhsM/s1600/DSC05048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6q1BDxHFEA/VCCpTkL4SkI/AAAAAAAAiNE/1Qv1fcdYhsM/s1600/DSC05048.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track from Hillside to Borrowfield</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zv8_NnWPXjE/VCCpVNxlG-I/AAAAAAAAiNQ/LqjWdOesd0c/s1600/DSC05050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zv8_NnWPXjE/VCCpVNxlG-I/AAAAAAAAiNQ/LqjWdOesd0c/s1600/DSC05050.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small lochan on the edge of Montrose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I rejoined the road a short distance from the sea, near to the golf club, at a road junction with a handy signpost for the Seafront Splash play area where I was due to meet Lynsey and the kids. It was now getting a bit windy in addition to the threatening sky so I continued quickly towards the beach. On the way there I met Lynsey, Isabel and Olivia and walked to the beach with them :-).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly there!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montrose beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished!</td></tr>
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Due to storm damaged paths, we were unable to get the pushchair down to the beach itself so I nipped down to the sea to dip my feet in the sea on my own. It was now shortly after 11am and I'd finished the 2014 TGO Challenge :-). I then spent an enjoyable half hour playing at the Seafront Splash play area with the kids, before rain stopped play!<br />
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We headed into town to get a spot of lunch somewhere indoors, before moving on to the Park Hotel for me to officially finish, which is also where we were staying this evening. It was good to catch up with John, Ali, Gayle and Mick on control. I spent a leisurely afternoon in Montrose with the family, before it was time for the enjoyable celebration evening meal in the hotel. Lynsey joined me after the meal and it was good to catch up with so many other challengers :-). Although it was sad to think that it was all over for another year. It would be Lynsey's turn to do the TGOC next year, so it would be 2016 at the earliest before I'm next setting out from the west coast to walk eastwards for two weeks!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b-O4kiQSkA8/VCCpZDM4CnI/AAAAAAAAiNs/GVulA9mo8AI/s1600/20140522_192638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b-O4kiQSkA8/VCCpZDM4CnI/AAAAAAAAiNs/GVulA9mo8AI/s1600/20140522_192638.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what Andy & Alan are so surprised about!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_iLZDb53go/VCCpauNF3kI/AAAAAAAAiN0/LpsFQsbznEY/s1600/20140522_203258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_iLZDb53go/VCCpauNF3kI/AAAAAAAAiN0/LpsFQsbznEY/s1600/20140522_203258.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Park Hotel</td></tr>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Montrose, Angus, UK56.714742167531249 -2.446846010436956956.712563667531249 -2.451888510436957 56.716920667531248 -2.4418035104369569tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-65513378249580565062015-05-05T23:13:00.000+01:002015-05-06T08:50:13.999+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 13: Tarfside to North Water Bridge<b style="font-size: x-large;">Wedneday 21st May 2014</b><br />
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<i>A pleasant walk down Glen Esk, via the Rocks of Solitude and the Blue Door Walk </i><br />
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Distance: 27.5km; Ascent: 280m; Dry with plenty of sunshine; Mostly Solo<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140521_TGOC_Day13.gpx"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140521_TGOC_Day13.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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The start and end points of today's walk were pretty familiar to me, having walked between them twice before in 2008 and 2009 (despite not actually having been on my route sheet either year!). However this year I decided to investigate an alternative route instead of the perfectly pleasant walk down the southern side of the glen. Angus Council's <a href="http://archive.angus.gov.uk/corepathsplan/" target="_blank">Core Paths Plan</a> proved to be a useful resource for planning bits of today's and tomorrow's walk, which resulted in me deciding to pick a route between the hills over to Millden.<br />
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I set off at 9:15am, initially northwards along the Fungle Road, but after a few hundred metres I came to a signposted track junction and headed towards Millden. The bulldozed track headed east and was reasonably well signposted every so often. After a few kilometres I left this bulldozed route and picked up a older, greener track that led me down to the road.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signposted footpath to Millden from the southern end of the Fungle Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to the Hill of Rowan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track from Tarfside to Millden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signposts at the half-way point between Tarfside & Millden, with Craig Soales in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back west from near Mile Cairn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hill of Wirren</td></tr>
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Around half a kilometre of tarmac then brought me to the main road through Glen Esk, where I had a break to rehydrate on what was turning out to be a warm day! I also took the opportunity to change into shorts given I still had a long walk ahead of me. My original plan had been to backtrack westwards along the road for the best part of a kilometre so as to cross to the other side of the river. However I decided that I couldn't really be bothered with the extra distance and instead headed straight down the road, which on the plus side was a route I hadn't previously walked!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River North Esk a few km downstream from Millden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebells in Glen Esk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees in Glen Esk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HIwtz7tGIvY/VCColarIy5I/AAAAAAAAiKU/R7HAT1kIJU0/s1600/DSC04995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HIwtz7tGIvY/VCColarIy5I/AAAAAAAAiKU/R7HAT1kIJU0/s1600/DSC04995.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old looking signpost</td></tr>
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At around half past midday I reached a old looking signpost for the Rocks of Solitude. I'd heard that these were worth a visit, so I followed a path down through the woods to reach some rocky outcrops above the river. It was lovely and sunny here so I stopped to enjoy the warmth of the sun whilst having lunch down near the river.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rocks of Solitude</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THsSkLqnEmY/VCCoqQTg-zI/AAAAAAAAiKk/eMriXUDbXBU/s1600/DSC05004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THsSkLqnEmY/VCCoqQTg-zI/AAAAAAAAiKk/eMriXUDbXBU/s1600/DSC05004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rocks of Solitude</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4UPA8m0Zec/VCCotHE55OI/AAAAAAAAiKs/Z3ilfqWK5rc/s1600/20140521_124054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4UPA8m0Zec/VCCotHE55OI/AAAAAAAAiKs/Z3ilfqWK5rc/s1600/20140521_124054.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rocks of Solitude</td></tr>
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I was pleased that I'd decided to come this way as the Rocks of Solitude were indeed worth a visit. After feeling suitably refreshed I continued on a good path through the pleasant beech woods to reach the famous Blue Door.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YB9utgm02zw/VCCovvjJKLI/AAAAAAAAiK0/MgYTFAst_7s/s1600/DSC05007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YB9utgm02zw/VCCovvjJKLI/AAAAAAAAiK0/MgYTFAst_7s/s1600/DSC05007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading through The Burn woods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CsmMrBei-1w/VCCoyigQhQI/AAAAAAAAiK8/8B_MNoP2a7U/s1600/DSC05011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CsmMrBei-1w/VCCoyigQhQI/AAAAAAAAiK8/8B_MNoP2a7U/s1600/DSC05011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The riverside woodland path</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7i4r2ZDS_w0/VCCo0F6ay9I/AAAAAAAAiLE/gdQZlr-DS6Y/s1600/DSC05015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7i4r2ZDS_w0/VCCo0F6ay9I/AAAAAAAAiLE/gdQZlr-DS6Y/s1600/DSC05015.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blue Door, of walk fame ;)</td></tr>
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I'd heard about this Blue Door several times over the last few years from various different people and had decided to include the Blue Door Walk on my route this year. I was very glad that I had as it had been a really pleasant woodland wander :-).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oAyasP1-b8Y/VCCo2g4lvvI/AAAAAAAAiLM/Sxh26mWg-p0/s1600/DSC05016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oAyasP1-b8Y/VCCo2g4lvvI/AAAAAAAAiLM/Sxh26mWg-p0/s1600/DSC05016.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River North Esk from Gannochy bridge</td></tr>
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Crossing the river by way of the road bridge, I picked up a path between the fields and the river down to Edzell where I arrived at the Tuck Inn at around 2pm for a second lunch!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Tuck Inn</td></tr>
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Here I met up with Lynsey, Isabel and Olivia again :-). I was in no great rush to get to North Water Bridge this afternoon so I spent a good couple of hours in Edzell with them, which included much running around on the grassy Edzell Muir playing with a tennis ball :-). Eventually it was time for them to head back to Montrose for tea, so I picked up a few supplies in the village shops and left Edzell at around quarter to five.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JXm9maMB-M/VCCo61Q65QI/AAAAAAAAiLc/Wi-MDpHVj0Q/s1600/DSC05022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JXm9maMB-M/VCCo61Q65QI/AAAAAAAAiLc/Wi-MDpHVj0Q/s1600/DSC05022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shakin Brig</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the River North Esk from Shakin Brig</td></tr>
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I crossed the Shakin Brig with Martin and Andrew, who I spent the rest of the day walking with to North Water Bridge. We arrived at the campsite at around 6:30pm, to find it overrun with challengers (no surprise there then!). There then followed a very sociable evening at campsite catching up with lots of other challengers, although it was sad to think that tomorrow would be the last day of this year's TGOC for me!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ploughed fields near Arnhall</td></tr>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0North Water Bridge, Aberdeenshire, UK56.786688520991156 -2.575618028640747156.786145020991157 -2.576878528640747 56.787232020991155 -2.5743575286407472tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-31746166457362977112015-05-04T08:32:00.000+01:002015-05-04T08:32:00.269+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 12: Queen's Well to Tarfside<b style="font-size: x-large;">Tuesday 20th May 2014</b><br />
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<i>A short morning walk down Glen Mark and over to Tarfside </i><br />
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Distance: 11km; Ascent: 130m; Overcast with warm sunshine later; Solo<br />
<div>
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140520_TGOC_Day12.gpx"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140520_TGOC_Day12.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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I slept well last night after my long day in the hills yesterday, and I woke this morning to find my tent surrounded by cloud. However this gradually thinned and lifted a few hundred metres over the next hour or two. I set off walking soon after half past eight and wandered over to take another look at the Queen's Well in the light of day. It seemed a little odd to have such a dank well when there were perfectly good burns around to get water from!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTgVZVINsM0/VCCoExtaqwI/AAAAAAAAiHk/Qu0J4bcAmMY/s1600/DSC04920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cTgVZVINsM0/VCCoExtaqwI/AAAAAAAAiHk/Qu0J4bcAmMY/s1600/DSC04920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My overnight pitch near the Queen's Well</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZNYHbFGfVU/VCCoGTJXzeI/AAAAAAAAiHs/OPqvGVmeJHw/s1600/DSC04926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZNYHbFGfVU/VCCoGTJXzeI/AAAAAAAAiHs/OPqvGVmeJHw/s1600/DSC04926.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen's Well</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa_uPGOblx0/VCCoIfXCsbI/AAAAAAAAiH0/AC0GGjmPH_k/s1600/DSC04928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa_uPGOblx0/VCCoIfXCsbI/AAAAAAAAiH0/AC0GGjmPH_k/s1600/DSC04928.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Queen's Well</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kt8vydrd-TU/VCCoJg3zNaI/AAAAAAAAiH8/Enufu5ydMw0/s1600/DSC04932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kt8vydrd-TU/VCCoJg3zNaI/AAAAAAAAiH8/Enufu5ydMw0/s1600/DSC04932.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenmark and the Queen's Well</td></tr>
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After leaving the Queen's Well, I made my way down Glen Mark on the reasonable vehicle track. All the surrounding hills were still covered in cloud, but there were still good views up and down the glen at times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-28HGCADcewY/VCCoK6UFJoI/AAAAAAAAiIE/_RvuCF372fM/s1600/DSC04933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-28HGCADcewY/VCCoK6UFJoI/AAAAAAAAiIE/_RvuCF372fM/s1600/DSC04933.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up the Glen Mark track</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vPSmKzjubA/VCCoMMt3VrI/AAAAAAAAiIM/vu8MpsLGejg/s1600/DSC04935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vPSmKzjubA/VCCoMMt3VrI/AAAAAAAAiIM/vu8MpsLGejg/s1600/DSC04935.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Water of Mark from the bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4sk7gl9goTw/VCCoNexXSuI/AAAAAAAAiIU/N8KScNV9T8A/s1600/DSC04936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4sk7gl9goTw/VCCoNexXSuI/AAAAAAAAiIU/N8KScNV9T8A/s1600/DSC04936.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very old looking gate near the bottom of Glen Mark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-maliPlR3-UE/VCCoOtOyYRI/AAAAAAAAiIc/gWfNZAXCWJg/s1600/DSC04937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-maliPlR3-UE/VCCoOtOyYRI/AAAAAAAAiIc/gWfNZAXCWJg/s1600/DSC04937.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footpath signs at Invermark</td></tr>
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At around 10am, I reached the road at Invermark and wandered over to the car park, where I met a couple of other challengers: David and Margaret Brocklehurst. I stopped here to chat to them and to have a bit of a second breakfast. However I didn't linger too long as when I was on Mount Keen yesterday evening I'd arranged with Lynsey that I'd meet her in Tarfside at midday. Therefore I headed along the hill track over to Tarfside, which I'd walked three times previously - the only such overlap between my four crossings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_UM08VDelw/VCCoP8i4raI/AAAAAAAAiIk/hFh6UppVGws/s1600/DSC04944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_UM08VDelw/VCCoP8i4raI/AAAAAAAAiIk/hFh6UppVGws/s1600/DSC04944.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back westwards from the track to Tarfside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0laIsvIAAA/VCCoRJtWkwI/AAAAAAAAiIs/dXgwJmcs0jM/s1600/DSC04945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0laIsvIAAA/VCCoRJtWkwI/AAAAAAAAiIs/dXgwJmcs0jM/s1600/DSC04945.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Glen Esk on the way to Tarfside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9lToXGXZoc/VCCoSZBV5dI/AAAAAAAAiI0/hXzRMnXWfk4/s1600/DSC04946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B9lToXGXZoc/VCCoSZBV5dI/AAAAAAAAiI0/hXzRMnXWfk4/s1600/DSC04946.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A welcome sign :-)</td></tr>
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On entering Tarfside at 11:15am, I headed straight for St Drostan's for a welcome shower, bacon butty and tea :-). At around midday I wandered over to the camping field to find Lynsey, Isabel & Olivia waiting for me - it was good to see them all again! It was strange arriving in Tarfside so early as I had the pick of the entire field for pitching my tent as no-one else had yet arrived.<br />
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We had a leisurely picnic lunch followed by a visit to the nearby play park; it was good to be spending time with the kids again :-). My tent seemed to be an exciting place to play in too! By now a few more challengers had started arriving, so we decided it was time to start eating Lynsey's birthday cake. It reminded me of our first challenge back in 2008, when Lynsey also celebrated her birthday in Tarfside and Roger had arranged for a surprise birthday cake to be delivered to Tarfside!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sbXb6A-l8zU/VCCoT1d2pnI/AAAAAAAAiI8/VsHG5RyRYGc/s1600/DSC04959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sbXb6A-l8zU/VCCoT1d2pnI/AAAAAAAAiI8/VsHG5RyRYGc/s1600/DSC04959.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynsey's birthday cake :-)</td></tr>
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The rest of the afternoon was spent around the camping field and back at St Drostan's saying hello to lots of other challengers. We headed down the road to The Retreat for Lynsey's birthday meal, before it was time for Lynsey and the children to head back to Montrose. I headed back to St Drostan's for a jacket potato, before spending a sociable evening in the Mason's Arms with many friendly faces :-).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FgD8DPynAsY/VCCoVX8DeXI/AAAAAAAAiJE/Be5M3pWpYQI/s1600/DSC04968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FgD8DPynAsY/VCCoVX8DeXI/AAAAAAAAiJE/Be5M3pWpYQI/s1600/DSC04968.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tarfside camping field</td></tr>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com2Tarfside, Angus, UK56.904975924202986 -2.8339193743438556.904433924202984 -2.83517987434385 56.905517924202989 -2.83265887434385tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-76913038109795339782015-05-03T14:45:00.000+01:002015-05-03T14:45:01.174+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 11: Gelder Shiel to Queen's Well<b style="font-size: x-large;">Monday 19th May 2014</b><br />
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<i>A long day walking in the hills of the eastern Mounth, including Conachcraig & Mount Keen </i><br />
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Distance: 31km; Ascent: 1300m; Warm & sunny, but misty on the tops; Mostly solo<br />
<div>
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140519_TGOC_Day11.gpx"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140519_TGOC_Day11.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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The weather was forecasted to be good today, which was promising as it was due to be my penultimate day up in the hills on this year's crossing. I had a reasonably leisurely start to the day and found that half the tents had already gone by the time I got up! And by the time I set off walking just after 9am, there were only a couple of tents remaining.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a couple of tents remaining as I set off walking</td></tr>
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I followed the riverside path along the Gelder Burn for a few hundred metres before it petered out into the heather. Therefore I opted to head directly across the rough ground to an area of recently burnt heather and on up to the vehicle track. Perhaps I should I just taken the slightly longer way round via vehicle tracks instead from the bothy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F5Tsu6fNMgc/VCCnfrKUVOI/AAAAAAAAiE0/GRfVP6-T2HY/s1600/DSC04868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F5Tsu6fNMgc/VCCnfrKUVOI/AAAAAAAAiE0/GRfVP6-T2HY/s1600/DSC04868.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lochnagar from near Gelder Shiel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZkdEhieBis/VCCnhi7wRBI/AAAAAAAAiE8/QkSrE36mC74/s1600/DSC04869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iZkdEhieBis/VCCnhi7wRBI/AAAAAAAAiE8/QkSrE36mC74/s1600/DSC04869.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last views back to the Cairngorms on the way up Conachcraig</td></tr>
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I ascended along the vehicle track for a couple of kilometres, past Little Conachcraig, before deciding that it was time to begin my ascent up to my first hill of the day: Conachcraig. The ascent was up some pretty steep rough, rocky and heathery ground, so it took a while to pick my way through. I saw a couple of ptarmigan on my ascent up into the mist; the cloud base was at around 800m so the tops were only just cloud covered! <br />
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Eventually I reached the summit of the subsidiary top of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=3093" target="_blank">Caisteal na Caillich</a> <i>(Corbett Top)</i> at around quarter past eleven. A reasonably pleasant misty walk over the plateau, punctuated with granite outcrops brought me to the higher summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=492" target="_blank">Conachcraig</a> <i>(Corbett, Marilyn) </i>around thirty minutes later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qHegXCecbJI/VCCnjCzyBuI/AAAAAAAAiFE/wZJ-oQcPz7s/s1600/DSC04874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qHegXCecbJI/VCCnjCzyBuI/AAAAAAAAiFE/wZJ-oQcPz7s/s1600/DSC04874.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Conachcraig</td></tr>
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After a quick break I descended SW by way of a path back down to the vehicle track; clearly this was the most popular way to ascend this Corbett! My pace increased noticeably as I followed the reasonable track down towards Glen Muick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TPw8dpZWjmA/VCCnkamLBuI/AAAAAAAAiFM/Hf98Qfo7aRg/s1600/DSC04880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TPw8dpZWjmA/VCCnkamLBuI/AAAAAAAAiFM/Hf98Qfo7aRg/s1600/DSC04880.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down the track into Glen Muick</td></tr>
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Soon I caught sight of another couple of backpackers ahead of me; I wondered if they were probably challengers too. I didn't have to wonder too long as I had soon caught up with them and discovered that they were Laura & Louise, who thought I was slightly crazy to have nipped up Conachcraig on route from Gelder Shiel!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aP6pqfFqYDo/VCCnmI2WWWI/AAAAAAAAiFU/eumLVUhgJ8Q/s1600/DSC04881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aP6pqfFqYDo/VCCnmI2WWWI/AAAAAAAAiFU/eumLVUhgJ8Q/s1600/DSC04881.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Glen Muick woods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RteMrE6tUQw/VCCnnsDVm6I/AAAAAAAAiFc/MNi89UFPnB8/s1600/DSC04882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RteMrE6tUQw/VCCnnsDVm6I/AAAAAAAAiFc/MNi89UFPnB8/s1600/DSC04882.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louise & Laura approaching Allt-na-giubhsaich</td></tr>
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I walked down through the woods with them and past a shuttered up building near Allt-na-giubhsaich to reach the floor of the glen. A pleasant flat kilometre or so led across the glen and over the River Muick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zB8o5u68Ico/VCCno9uM9FI/AAAAAAAAiFk/bXhjkoYqbko/s1600/DSC04883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zB8o5u68Ico/VCCno9uM9FI/AAAAAAAAiFk/bXhjkoYqbko/s1600/DSC04883.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the River Muick</td></tr>
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Soon we reached the visitor centre at the Spittal of Glen Muick, where we stopped for lunch on a handy bench outside in the warm sunshine :-). <br />
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After a reasonably long and restful break in the sunshine, I decided that I'd better get going again as I still had to get over to the Water of Mark if I was going to fit Mount Keen into my day tomorrow. Therefore at around 2pm I set off walking up alongside the pleasant Allt Darrarie. Lynsey and I had previously walked this way back in 2008, during the only few hours of rain of our entire crossing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcIYvwvp9JI/VCCnq8dU-jI/AAAAAAAAiFs/sXhPgEwU2TY/s1600/DSC04885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pcIYvwvp9JI/VCCnq8dU-jI/AAAAAAAAiFs/sXhPgEwU2TY/s1600/DSC04885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Allt Darrarie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-temGVT9DQDw/VCCns_mQ_XI/AAAAAAAAiF0/Z6eR8mIwmdQ/s1600/DSC04886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-temGVT9DQDw/VCCns_mQ_XI/AAAAAAAAiF0/Z6eR8mIwmdQ/s1600/DSC04886.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge over the Allt Darrarie</td></tr>
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Higher up the path ends around a stream confluence, and I followed the left hand branch of the Burn of Mohamed up onto the peaty and heathery moorland above. Back in 2008 we'd headed towards the Shielin of Mark, but this time I opted to bypass it and instead aim to pick up the Water of Mark further downstream.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n5R_Yy8MoM8/VCCnvDPQhBI/AAAAAAAAiF8/J3XoQ7I2iss/s1600/DSC04889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n5R_Yy8MoM8/VCCnvDPQhBI/AAAAAAAAiF8/J3XoQ7I2iss/s1600/DSC04889.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burn of Mohamed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ifk2bdPo2pc/VCCnxTUavbI/AAAAAAAAiGE/joBsgo8i3rE/s1600/DSC04891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ifk2bdPo2pc/VCCnxTUavbI/AAAAAAAAiGE/joBsgo8i3rE/s1600/DSC04891.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upper part of the Burn of Mohamed</td></tr>
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After reaching the headwaters of the Burn of Mohamed, I crossed the peat hags for a few hundred metres before picking up another burn heading SE towards the Water of Mark. This made for a reasonably pleasant route and I was soon walking downstream along the Water of Mark. <br />
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For the first couple of kilometres along the river, I was able to cross at will to pick the easiest line although this was only possible due to the low water level. As I got further downstream the glen became more well defined with steeper sides, meaning that I was sometimes down at water level and other times picking a way across the heather slopes high up above the burn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3AsQ_5rlSo/VCCnzKcWH7I/AAAAAAAAiGM/q4GSXw6bfj8/s1600/DSC04894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3AsQ_5rlSo/VCCnzKcWH7I/AAAAAAAAiGM/q4GSXw6bfj8/s1600/DSC04894.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Water of Mark a couple of km downstream from Shielin of Mark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niGaBFzVLTw/VCCn1Ot-8bI/AAAAAAAAiGU/7Fzg6Bd39UM/s1600/DSC04895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niGaBFzVLTw/VCCn1Ot-8bI/AAAAAAAAiGU/7Fzg6Bd39UM/s1600/DSC04895.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Glen Mark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZwPo6jz1CU/VCCn3BKlIvI/AAAAAAAAiGc/KBxP6Gok4c4/s1600/DSC04897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZwPo6jz1CU/VCCn3BKlIvI/AAAAAAAAiGc/KBxP6Gok4c4/s1600/DSC04897.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Water of Mark near Craig Michael, with Mount Keen in the distance</td></tr>
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After a lovely couple of hours walking down Glen Mark, I reached my planned halt for the day around the northernmost point of the Water of Mark at 5pm. However it seemed too early to stop walking on such a wonderful afternoon, and with the tops of the hills forecast to be in cloud tomorrow I decided to press on and climb Mount Keen this evening! <br />
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My original plan had been to follow one of the side streams up onto the moorland, but I'd noticed that the slopes of Little Hill seemed to offer a grassy alternative ascent. This turned out to be quite pleasant initially, but soon turned into rough heathery moorland. However there were lots of mountain hares bounding around on the moor this evening, which were entertaining to watch :-).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UKAq0XZeHw4/VCCn42X3d6I/AAAAAAAAiGk/w0o3_6DwTAY/s1600/DSC04899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UKAq0XZeHw4/VCCn42X3d6I/AAAAAAAAiGk/w0o3_6DwTAY/s1600/DSC04899.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking East towards Mount Keen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMuARJSEP4Q/VCCn6t9zjWI/AAAAAAAAiGs/VuZlY-g-9Q0/s1600/DSC04901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMuARJSEP4Q/VCCn6t9zjWI/AAAAAAAAiGs/VuZlY-g-9Q0/s1600/DSC04901.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hazy view down into Glen Tanar from the NW slopes of Mount Keen</td></tr>
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I picked a route across the peaty moorland for a few kilometres to reach the Mounth Road track, which I crossed and ascended to join the track heading up the NW slopes of Mount Keen. At around half-past seven I reached the <a href="http://trigpointing.uk/trig/4944" target="_blank">trigpoint</a> and summit rocks of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=485" target="_blank">Mount Keen</a> <i>(Munro, Marilyn)</i>, just as the mist started to descend! However there were still hazy views down towards Glen Tanar when the mist thinned.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5PxtCBXgwrk/VCCn8A5hU2I/AAAAAAAAiG0/2M3DxVXR37k/s1600/DSC04902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5PxtCBXgwrk/VCCn8A5hU2I/AAAAAAAAiG0/2M3DxVXR37k/s1600/DSC04902.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The summit rocks of Mount Keen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YCFRFgcMD8/VCCn9XmtpjI/AAAAAAAAiG8/Qs4hnygr4RU/s1600/DSC04906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YCFRFgcMD8/VCCn9XmtpjI/AAAAAAAAiG8/Qs4hnygr4RU/s1600/DSC04906.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the misty summit of Mount Keen</td></tr>
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I had a pleasant rest, savouring my last mountain summit of this year's crossing. However eventually I decided that perhaps I'd better actually descend off this rocky and windy hill top and actually find somewhere to camp! A good path led south, past a boundary stone, towards Glen Mark. A while later this turned into a vehicle track, which I followed down to the Ladder Burn.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmTpZ3mrQqY/VCCn_v-1CnI/AAAAAAAAiHE/d8fJ93jejTI/s1600/DSC04908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmTpZ3mrQqY/VCCn_v-1CnI/AAAAAAAAiHE/d8fJ93jejTI/s1600/DSC04908.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Boundary stone on Mount Keen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xh-sdLVXLKY/VCCoA2G1dsI/AAAAAAAAiHM/-2Nz5mLmkKI/s1600/DSC04912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xh-sdLVXLKY/VCCoA2G1dsI/AAAAAAAAiHM/-2Nz5mLmkKI/s1600/DSC04912.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track alongside the Ladder Burn</td></tr>
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I had wondered whether there might be anywhere to camp alongside this burn, but it all looked to be unpleasantly heathery so I opted to continue my descent towards Glen Mark. Soon after 9pm I reached Glenmark cottage and headed towards the Queen's Well in search of somewhere to camp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9QSqvMPDclM/VCCoCHpB2yI/AAAAAAAAiHU/Hd0ztr0AUeE/s1600/DSC04917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9QSqvMPDclM/VCCoCHpB2yI/AAAAAAAAiHU/Hd0ztr0AUeE/s1600/DSC04917.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to Glenmark cottage at dusk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz7lX-s4Bi4/VCCoDR-lBhI/AAAAAAAAiHc/CcepN1Lp4u8/s1600/DSC04919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz7lX-s4Bi4/VCCoDR-lBhI/AAAAAAAAiHc/CcepN1Lp4u8/s1600/DSC04919.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up Glen Mark at dusk</td></tr>
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After deciding that the Queen's Well wasn't really an inviting spot to camp, I finally pitched the tent down near the Water of Mark. It was now almost 9:30pm and I'd had been walking for over twelve hours so I was now pretty tired! However it did mean that I was only around 9km away from Tarfside, which would mean for a short day tomorrow :-).<br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com2Glen Mark, Angus, UK56.933891806943222 -2.956904768943786656.933621306943223 -2.9575352689437868 56.934162306943222 -2.9562742689437864tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-80096484865889222822015-04-25T22:35:00.000+01:002015-04-27T14:12:44.178+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 10: Braemar to Gelder Shiel<b style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday 18th May 2014</b><br />
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<i>A mainly low level afternoon heading east from Braemar </i><br />
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Distance: 16.5km; Ascent: 530m; Warm and dry; Solo<br />
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I had a restful morning in Braemar this morning as I was in no great hurry to reach Gelder Shiel. Some of the morning was taken up by performing an improvised repair to my tent's flysheet :(. After a good lunch of fish & chips for lunch in The Old Bakery, I picked up a few supplies and set off walking in shorts and t-shirt at around 2:30pm. Many of the other challengers I'd chatted to this morning were heading for Loch Callater, but I quite fancied going a different way from my previous three crossings. Therefore I headed into the woods to the east of town on this warm afternoon, heading for the nearby hill of Creag Choinnich.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9D50GSZsoI/VCCm72UjDaI/AAAAAAAAiCc/cOuqjr2663I/s1600/DSC04828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9D50GSZsoI/VCCm72UjDaI/AAAAAAAAiCc/cOuqjr2663I/s1600/DSC04828.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clunie Water in Braemar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Npx7ETmU1_Q/VCCm-6OcI4I/AAAAAAAAiCk/zdHMh7dk_Yk/s1600/DSC04830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Npx7ETmU1_Q/VCCm-6OcI4I/AAAAAAAAiCk/zdHMh7dk_Yk/s1600/DSC04830.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Creag Choinnich woods</td></tr>
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Around half an hour after leaving Braemar, I reached the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=4607" target="_blank">Creag Choinnich</a> <i>(HuMP, Highland Five)</i>. There were excellent views from up here considering its somewhat modest height. Beinn a'Bhuird and Ben Avon could be made out to the NNW and Morrone to the SW, as well as good views down to Braemar and up Glen Dee.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ufd2lKLsk1Y/VCCnA0h7BlI/AAAAAAAAiCs/owAxN_POGFk/s1600/DSC04833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ufd2lKLsk1Y/VCCnA0h7BlI/AAAAAAAAiCs/owAxN_POGFk/s1600/DSC04833.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Creag Choinnich</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjUk8sjdEjg/VCCnC_9B7PI/AAAAAAAAiC0/N6YhuGitf6Q/s1600/DSC04835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjUk8sjdEjg/VCCnC_9B7PI/AAAAAAAAiC0/N6YhuGitf6Q/s1600/DSC04835.JPG" height="258" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beinn a'Bhuird and Ben Avon from Creag Choinnich</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuvWlmzJM6c/VCCnEK176oI/AAAAAAAAiC8/LgTW_Fl-QAc/s1600/DSC04836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zuvWlmzJM6c/VCCnEK176oI/AAAAAAAAiC8/LgTW_Fl-QAc/s1600/DSC04836.JPG" height="256" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braemar and Glen Dee from Creag Choinnich</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iNqQTGNCZZA/VCCnFqg0z6I/AAAAAAAAiDE/nsx6K7I-z3U/s1600/DSC04837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iNqQTGNCZZA/VCCnFqg0z6I/AAAAAAAAiDE/nsx6K7I-z3U/s1600/DSC04837.JPG" height="248" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glen Clunie and Morrone from Creag Choinnich</td></tr>
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After admiring the views, I set about my descent with the intention of cutting down to the Queen's Drive. However my pathless route of descent was not particularly pleasant, with minor crags to avoid and forest to pick a route through down to the path. In hindsight, it would probably have been better to reverse my ascent route! However I soon reached a better path, which led me to the Queen's Drive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8_r0eJwzMM/VCCnICWgpMI/AAAAAAAAiDM/R4ExWseRMtk/s1600/DSC04838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8_r0eJwzMM/VCCnICWgpMI/AAAAAAAAiDM/R4ExWseRMtk/s1600/DSC04838.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joining the Queen's Drive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBObxy5UmzU/VCCnKJY7JDI/AAAAAAAAiDU/-ya8gHIkTcc/s1600/DSC04840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBObxy5UmzU/VCCnKJY7JDI/AAAAAAAAiDU/-ya8gHIkTcc/s1600/DSC04840.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lion's Face</td></tr>
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I headed along the track below the crag known as The Lion's Face, before dropping down towards the road. However to reach the road, I had to cross a old rickety stile!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7prvzjdqv_0/VCCnMhEWNOI/AAAAAAAAiDc/VfSLYMZtyVM/s1600/DSC04841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7prvzjdqv_0/VCCnMhEWNOI/AAAAAAAAiDc/VfSLYMZtyVM/s1600/DSC04841.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A somewhat dilapidated stile!</td></tr>
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Stile crossing completed without incident, I headed ESE along the A93 for a couple of kilometres to reach Invercauld Bridge, where I left the road to follow an estate road on the south side of the river. I stopped for a break at the old Bridge of Dee a short distance away from Invercauld Bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eo0tl2Gma5U/VCCnOeAH4yI/AAAAAAAAiDk/nqUy2mjCFy4/s1600/DSC04842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eo0tl2Gma5U/VCCnOeAH4yI/AAAAAAAAiDk/nqUy2mjCFy4/s1600/DSC04842.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Dee at Bridge of Dee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KPTUYF_3euU/VCCnQjfPndI/AAAAAAAAiDs/ZjlKTX6P9Oc/s1600/DSC04844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KPTUYF_3euU/VCCnQjfPndI/AAAAAAAAiDs/ZjlKTX6P9Oc/s1600/DSC04844.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge of Dee</td></tr>
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From here I followed a succession of vehicle tracks through the pleasant Ballochbuie Forest, past Connachat Cottage to reach open country.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WuKy23wYMDM/VCCnS0UjLaI/AAAAAAAAiD0/qnVBCOMhZgQ/s1600/DSC04849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WuKy23wYMDM/VCCnS0UjLaI/AAAAAAAAiD0/qnVBCOMhZgQ/s1600/DSC04849.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Log pile in Ballochbuie Forest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vL2d-I6agWk/VCCnVemJE8I/AAAAAAAAiD8/4-1tPSwrJqw/s1600/DSC04851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vL2d-I6agWk/VCCnVemJE8I/AAAAAAAAiD8/4-1tPSwrJqw/s1600/DSC04851.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Garbh Allt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uvykFGjaJY4/VCCnXFbziVI/AAAAAAAAiEE/nsKqufL1UTg/s1600/DSC04854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uvykFGjaJY4/VCCnXFbziVI/AAAAAAAAiEE/nsKqufL1UTg/s1600/DSC04854.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Ballochbuie Forest</td></tr>
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I left the woods at around quarter to seven and continued my now evening walk along a vehicle track across the windy moorland. Approximately half and hour later I crossed the Gelder Burn, from where there were good views up to Lochnagar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QgNy-D3xI9A/VCCnX_7xp9I/AAAAAAAAiEM/i8pU3dfdnfw/s1600/DSC04857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QgNy-D3xI9A/VCCnX_7xp9I/AAAAAAAAiEM/i8pU3dfdnfw/s1600/DSC04857.JPG" height="215" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking NW towards Beinn a'Bhuird and Ben Avon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20QwOb9Xk-Q/VCCnZf0r0cI/AAAAAAAAiEU/Z0yxDLURlLc/s1600/DSC04860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-20QwOb9Xk-Q/VCCnZf0r0cI/AAAAAAAAiEU/Z0yxDLURlLc/s1600/DSC04860.JPG" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the Gelder Burn towards Lochnagar</td></tr>
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At about half past seven I finally reached Gelder Shiel, where it was beginning to get a bit windy. There were already plenty of challengers here and I spotted around fifteen tents nearby. There weren't many pitching options left that provided a degree of shelter from the wind! I settled on a spot next to Laura and Louise and soon had my tent pitched. I wandered round chatting to other challengers and found Russ, Markus and Philipp were also here. However the weather soon put pay to any more socialising as it started to rain. I retreated into my tent for dinner and a good night's sleep in preparation for a long day tomorrow.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULEijoga1q4/VCCnbAwtVWI/AAAAAAAAiEc/_UcFuym0Exk/s1600/DSC04864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ULEijoga1q4/VCCnbAwtVWI/AAAAAAAAiEc/_UcFuym0Exk/s1600/DSC04864.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pitch at Gelder Shiel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peij8eJa5bU/VCCnc0Az8jI/AAAAAAAAiEk/GafWDD-MGTk/s1600/DSC04865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peij8eJa5bU/VCCnc0Az8jI/AAAAAAAAiEk/GafWDD-MGTk/s1600/DSC04865.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More tents at Gelder Shiel</td></tr>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Cairngorms National Park56.991854165356422 -3.221054077148437556.98320366535642 -3.2412240771484373 57.000504665356424 -3.2008840771484377tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-28171762142485795722015-03-09T21:33:00.000+00:002015-03-09T21:33:28.631+00:00Along Derwent Edge<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thursday 5th March 2015 </b></span><br />
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<i>A four hour circuit along Derwent Edge, returning via the east side of Ladybower Reservoir </i><br />
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Distance: 14km; Ascent: 450m; Dry with a bitter westerly wind; Solo<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2015/20150305_DerwentEdge.gpx"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2015/20150305_DerwentEdge.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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I had taken the day off today with the aim of getting out for my first hill walk of the year. The forecast suggested that the eastern Peak District would have the best weather out of my nearby hills so I planned an ascent of Back Tor from the south via Derwent Edge. It had been almost three years since I last climbed Back Tor, but many more years since I had walked along Derwent Edge so it would be nice to return there.<br />
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After parking the car up between the two road viaducts, I set off walking shortly before half-past ten and ascended up through the woods and out onto the moorland. Twenty minutes or so of ascent brought me up to Whinstone Lee Tor, from where there were good views down to Ladybower Reservoir and up the upper Derwent valley.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBjxwSq0Fuw/VPiDyP3xCrI/AAAAAAAAiaM/lSxIdInbpKk/s1600/DSC05893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBjxwSq0Fuw/VPiDyP3xCrI/AAAAAAAAiaM/lSxIdInbpKk/s1600/DSC05893.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybower Reservoir from just below Whinstone Lee Tor</td></tr>
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Things had changed up here since my last visit some years ago, with ongoing path improvement work clearly taking place. However there didn't appear to be any work taking place on the path on this windy morning, although there were plenty of bags of rocks and soil around that had clearly been dropped by helicopter. I also spotted lots of little signs, which presumably indicated the planned route of the path.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5lPiMOOm04/VPiDzmIdybI/AAAAAAAAiaU/kn30oW3xiQc/s1600/DSC05896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5lPiMOOm04/VPiDzmIdybI/AAAAAAAAiaU/kn30oW3xiQc/s1600/DSC05896.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Path work on Derwent Edge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pP3Y198m7Lc/VPiD1iKQkOI/AAAAAAAAiac/ZhSOCSoU2_I/s1600/DSC05897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pP3Y198m7Lc/VPiD1iKQkOI/AAAAAAAAiac/ZhSOCSoU2_I/s1600/DSC05897.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of markings for the path work on Derwent Edge</td></tr>
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Continuing northwards along the new path along the edge, there were good views down to Ladybower Reservoir and over towards Bleaklow in the distance. At a path junction I came across an informative sign advising me that the footpath work was taking place over the couple of kilometres of path from Whinstone Lee Tor to the Salt Cellar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTRnVDtW2FQ/VPiD2tyfp8I/AAAAAAAAiak/-6y49jgVXOs/s1600/DSC05899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTRnVDtW2FQ/VPiD2tyfp8I/AAAAAAAAiak/-6y49jgVXOs/s1600/DSC05899.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybower Reservoir from Derwent Edge</td></tr>
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By now I was getting a little cold due to being exposed to the full force of the bitter wind whilst walking along Derwent Edge. Therefore I stopped in the lee of the Wheel Stones to don a hat and an extra layer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POOVOvz6yM8/VPiD31YOEKI/AAAAAAAAias/O69RlKdbIdQ/s1600/DSC05903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POOVOvz6yM8/VPiD31YOEKI/AAAAAAAAias/O69RlKdbIdQ/s1600/DSC05903.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wheel Stones</td></tr>
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I continued to follow the improved path NW along the edge past White Tor, before detouring to ensure that I didn't miss the impressive gritstone rock known as the Salt Cellar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KTfUPKT82Qc/VPiD5SC0ABI/AAAAAAAAia0/a60u_d3ngbc/s1600/20150305_113701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KTfUPKT82Qc/VPiD5SC0ABI/AAAAAAAAia0/a60u_d3ngbc/s1600/20150305_113701.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Salt Cellar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6rih_7H7tU/VPiD6tNh2LI/AAAAAAAAia8/x4glMlnbDzM/s1600/DSC05911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6rih_7H7tU/VPiD6tNh2LI/AAAAAAAAia8/x4glMlnbDzM/s1600/DSC05911.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holey rock on Derwent Edge</td></tr>
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I continued on past Dovestone Tor and the Cakes of Bread to reach the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=3637" target="_blank">Back Tor</a> <i>(Dewey)</i> soon after midday. After having a quick lunch in the lee of the tor, I took a quick scramble up to the windy <a href="http://trigpointing.uk/trig/949" target="_blank">trigpoint</a> on the top of the gritstone tor. There were good views from up here today and there was even a glimpse of blue sky out to the east!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l03-R_5nPC4/VPiD8eiSMyI/AAAAAAAAibE/C8JbJaIJ67w/s1600/20150305_121102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l03-R_5nPC4/VPiD8eiSMyI/AAAAAAAAibE/C8JbJaIJ67w/s1600/20150305_121102.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Back Tor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YTc7SxcAlVg/VPiD9kZivDI/AAAAAAAAibM/yv3OvqtK6Gw/s1600/DSC05919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YTc7SxcAlVg/VPiD9kZivDI/AAAAAAAAibM/yv3OvqtK6Gw/s1600/DSC05919.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Back Tor</td></tr>
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Once I was suitably refreshed I headed NW along the slabbed path towards Lost Lad, with good views back towards the impressive gritstone tors.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cT93UXaR4yg/VPiD-z-l1KI/AAAAAAAAibU/s7vL9TNSPOE/s1600/DSC05920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cT93UXaR4yg/VPiD-z-l1KI/AAAAAAAAibU/s7vL9TNSPOE/s1600/DSC05920.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back Tor</td></tr>
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I followed a succession of grassy paths W, SW and S to eventually pick up a reasonable track below Pike Low near a small forest plantation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBWHPl4akFo/VPiEAaeSelI/AAAAAAAAibc/VsVpaUmIjD4/s1600/DSC05924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBWHPl4akFo/VPiEAaeSelI/AAAAAAAAibc/VsVpaUmIjD4/s1600/DSC05924.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east across the moorland to Derwent Edge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CanG0oh0KY/VPiEB3nQ9sI/AAAAAAAAibk/Tat6itU-H64/s1600/DSC05925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0CanG0oh0KY/VPiEB3nQ9sI/AAAAAAAAibk/Tat6itU-H64/s1600/DSC05925.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derwent Edge from the track below Pike Low</td></tr>
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There were good views down to Ladybower Reservoir as I followed the track downhill. Once past a lone house, the path became a sunken track lined with some lovely gnarled trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULJzB1k9p9I/VPiEDV0qLZI/AAAAAAAAibs/iKnmB-LLw8c/s1600/20150305_131352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULJzB1k9p9I/VPiEDV0qLZI/AAAAAAAAibs/iKnmB-LLw8c/s1600/20150305_131352.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybower Reservoir</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R0iv0YlDazk/VPiEFp97BnI/AAAAAAAAib0/c-pKKyXPibY/s1600/DSC05930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R0iv0YlDazk/VPiEFp97BnI/AAAAAAAAib0/c-pKKyXPibY/s1600/DSC05930.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees along the sunken path</td></tr>
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Eventually I reached the road along the NE bank of the reservoir near its end close to the lost village of Derwent. The road soon turned into a vehicle track, which I followed SSE past plenty of snowdrops and through some pleasant woodland.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkTZm1rTvyE/VPiEIahkLOI/AAAAAAAAib8/I7fupXo_4is/s1600/DSC05933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bkTZm1rTvyE/VPiEIahkLOI/AAAAAAAAib8/I7fupXo_4is/s1600/DSC05933.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrops</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zDagl_YdY8/VPiELdJY5uI/AAAAAAAAicE/xPQgdUrEyZE/s1600/DSC05936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zDagl_YdY8/VPiELdJY5uI/AAAAAAAAicE/xPQgdUrEyZE/s1600/DSC05936.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodland track alongside Ladybower Reservoir</td></tr>
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Near the end of my walk I came across a robin sat on a old fencepost, which I enjoyed watching for a few minutes before it flew into the nearby trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nFU24EKdZC0/VPiEMw_8gKI/AAAAAAAAicM/YOTr4iZex1A/s1600/DSC05942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nFU24EKdZC0/VPiEMw_8gKI/AAAAAAAAicM/YOTr4iZex1A/s1600/DSC05942.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A robin by Ladybower Reservoir</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P7cOXPLeJus/VPiEOA5quZI/AAAAAAAAicU/U_Y-XYw8ZrE/s1600/DSC05944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P7cOXPLeJus/VPiEOA5quZI/AAAAAAAAicU/U_Y-XYw8ZrE/s1600/DSC05944.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A robin by Ladybower Reservoir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Shortly after 2pm I returned to the A57 and my car after a pleasant few hours out in the hills. I was looking forward to my next walk already, which would be the TGOC Spring Gathering walk around the northern parts of Kinder Scout in just a couple of days time :-).<br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Peak District, Derbyshire, UK53.3752234453345 -1.705165518554622453.3373404453345 -1.7858465185546224 53.4131064453345 -1.6244845185546224tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-61587016948904657842015-02-07T22:25:00.001+00:002015-02-10T13:09:55.075+00:00The Winter Garden at Dunham Massey <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><span style='font-size: large;'><b>Saturday 7th February 2015</b></span> <br/>
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This morning we had a wander around the winter garden at Dunham Massey, and here are a few photos of the snowdrops, daffodils and irises.<br/>
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<a href='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r6NqOsK2NX0/VNaQeXpdUKI/AAAAAAAAiXs/5kwRzuNwX40/s2560/1423347788124.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r6NqOsK2NX0/VNaQeXpdUKI/AAAAAAAAiXs/5kwRzuNwX40/s400/1423347788124.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
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<a href='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C4NEGhtgH2M/VNaQzPsi-3I/AAAAAAAAiX8/aD6k9XTj9Ok/s2560/1423347867747.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C4NEGhtgH2M/VNaQzPsi-3I/AAAAAAAAiX8/aD6k9XTj9Ok/s400/1423347867747.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/>
<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_7L1N26ZIsM/VNaQ8B3QRmI/AAAAAAAAiYE/P_EJaBZizFo/s2560/1423347915521.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_7L1N26ZIsM/VNaQ8B3QRmI/AAAAAAAAiYE/P_EJaBZizFo/s400/1423347915521.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;'/></a><br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-9117377237626589642015-02-07T21:59:00.001+00:002015-02-10T13:15:36.148+00:00Snow on the Trans Pennine Trail <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thursday 29th January 2015</b></span> <br />
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A few photos from a snowy walk along the Stockport to Didsbury section of the Trans Pennine Trail. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down Gorsey Bank Road towards the footbridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the Mersey from Gorsey Bank footbridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between the M60 and Vale Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Green Pastures</td></tr>
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Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-31457473194909432542015-01-27T14:42:00.000+00:002015-01-27T14:42:09.392+00:00TGOC 2014 - Day 9: Glen Dee to Braemar<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 17th May 2014</b></span><br />
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<i>A low level walk down Glen Dee to Braemar, via Linn of Dee and the Morrone Birkwood </i><br />
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Distance: 21.5km; Ascent: 330m; Dry with rain later; mainly with Andrew W and others<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140517_TGOC_Day9.gpx"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140517_TGOC_Day9.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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After yesterday's wonderful long day on the hills, I opted to have a leisurely start this morning unlike Sue who was up early to head over more hills. However I was due into Braemar this afternoon, which meant that I had a reasonably easy day's walk down Glen Dee :-). I had a lovely view up the glen towards The Devil's Point and Carn a'Mhaim from the tent whilst I enjoyed breakfast and a cup of coffee.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrFoYDM7AKE/VCCmQV0WUzI/AAAAAAAAh_k/x1otGiaPU10/s1600/DSC04761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrFoYDM7AKE/VCCmQV0WUzI/AAAAAAAAh_k/x1otGiaPU10/s1600/DSC04761.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a view to wake up to on a Saturday morning! (The Devil's Point and Carn a'Mhaim)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up Glen Dee towards the Lairig Ghru</td></tr>
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The sky had mainly clouded over by the time I had packed up and set off walking at around 9am. The path on the west bank of the Dee made for reasonably easy walking, with pleasant views up and down the glen. Today being a Saturday, it wasn't long before I met some other walkers - the first of many groups, who were presumably heading up the Munros of Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain for the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2x1lwBbR2w/VCCmTh-nXCI/AAAAAAAAh_0/mYMX7RGMt78/s1600/DSC04764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2x1lwBbR2w/VCCmTh-nXCI/AAAAAAAAh_0/mYMX7RGMt78/s1600/DSC04764.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up Glen Dee to The Devil's Point</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-6xvdacsgU/VCCmVMQvZlI/AAAAAAAAh_8/YnJ0RZtoD5o/s1600/DSC04766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-6xvdacsgU/VCCmVMQvZlI/AAAAAAAAh_8/YnJ0RZtoD5o/s1600/DSC04766.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down Glen Dee towards White Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_pIIn0NO_M/VCCmW1WyR4I/AAAAAAAAiAE/fY9tBYRIU6g/s1600/DSC04767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_pIIn0NO_M/VCCmW1WyR4I/AAAAAAAAiAE/fY9tBYRIU6g/s1600/DSC04767.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up Glen Dee towards Beinn Bhrotain</td></tr>
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At around twenty past ten I reached White Bridge, where I joined the main track that comes down Glen Geldie. Here I joined one of my previous TGOC routes, as I had followed the Feshie-Geldie route back in 2008 with Lynsey. It seemed to be incredibly busy at White Bridge this morning, with getting on for 50 walkers from a couple of different groups all stopped for a break when I arrived!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-90OpcpGu0Xs/VCCmY1gk3AI/AAAAAAAAiAM/kg--5uki--g/s1600/DSC04769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-90OpcpGu0Xs/VCCmY1gk3AI/AAAAAAAAiAM/kg--5uki--g/s1600/DSC04769.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Dee at White Bridge</td></tr>
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I pushed on past White Bridge wondering when I'd bump into my first challenger of the day. Soon my wondering was answered as I spotted Andy a few hundred metres ahead of me, still with a yellow balloon attached to his rucksack from the cheese and wine party several days earlier!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OY8PTyOWV_g/VCCmaegW0lI/AAAAAAAAiAU/ifO0I22cnAY/s1600/DSC04770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OY8PTyOWV_g/VCCmaegW0lI/AAAAAAAAiAU/ifO0I22cnAY/s1600/DSC04770.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up towards the Feshie-Geldie watershed</td></tr>
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Picking up my pace I soon caught up with Andy, who was currently walking with David Brown. I tagged along with them and enjoyed chatting to them both as we headed along the vehicle track to reach the Linn of Dee. It was quite a warm day so we stopped for a leisurely break at the Linn of Dee and spent time looking at the waterfalls, which I'd not done before having previously just viewed them from the road bridge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCW6tIoKyY0/VCCmdMvWmPI/AAAAAAAAiAc/I3R786x9VHE/s1600/DSC04773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCW6tIoKyY0/VCCmdMvWmPI/AAAAAAAAiAc/I3R786x9VHE/s1600/DSC04773.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Linn of Dee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klpKJviXduo/VCCmfmOKs9I/AAAAAAAAiAk/aaifjWFWmRI/s1600/DSC04777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-klpKJviXduo/VCCmfmOKs9I/AAAAAAAAiAk/aaifjWFWmRI/s1600/DSC04777.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linn of Dee Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LV3fMeZUhWc/VCCmhpdYffI/AAAAAAAAiAs/KWKa3aQcOSY/s1600/DSC04779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LV3fMeZUhWc/VCCmhpdYffI/AAAAAAAAiAs/KWKa3aQcOSY/s1600/DSC04779.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Linn of Dee</td></tr>
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After a relaxing break and a bite to eat we set off walking along a path through the woods on the north bank of the Dee to see how much road walking we might manage to avoid. The answer was little more than 500 metres, but it was still a pleasant woodland stroll!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3Cn--PdaOQ/VCCmkFbSoXI/AAAAAAAAiA0/lMFYnEBETqw/s1600/DSC04785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3Cn--PdaOQ/VCCmkFbSoXI/AAAAAAAAiA0/lMFYnEBETqw/s1600/DSC04785.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Walker in the Woods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GyqPOhgI5YA/VCCmmfD1PfI/AAAAAAAAiA8/vOht682SRuA/s1600/DSC04788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GyqPOhgI5YA/VCCmmfD1PfI/AAAAAAAAiA8/vOht682SRuA/s1600/DSC04788.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back uphill towards the road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksUbtTBhoxM/VCCmoUPUS2I/AAAAAAAAiBE/BIjcrRQVPLA/s1600/DSC04789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksUbtTBhoxM/VCCmoUPUS2I/AAAAAAAAiBE/BIjcrRQVPLA/s1600/DSC04789.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pleasant woodland alternative to the road</td></tr>
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As we left the woodland path and rejoined the road, who should appear but Alan and Phil who'd walked down the road from Linn of Dee. We walked with the for a couple of kilometres down the road to reach a welcome sign at the start of the access track to Mar Lodge :-). I'd walked past Mar Lodge on a couple of previous challenges but hadn't stopped before, so I decided to rectify this today and dropped in for a break. There were a number of other challengers here and it was good to stop to chat to them all over a cup of tea :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4iACpiQgIg/VCCmqOqtVxI/AAAAAAAAiBM/HLdnBKN84BI/s1600/DSC04792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4iACpiQgIg/VCCmqOqtVxI/AAAAAAAAiBM/HLdnBKN84BI/s1600/DSC04792.JPG" height="295" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A welcome sign :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbWLtLdjd2U/VCCmrqifrUI/AAAAAAAAiBU/kGdGNtO0qYs/s1600/DSC04793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbWLtLdjd2U/VCCmrqifrUI/AAAAAAAAiBU/kGdGNtO0qYs/s1600/DSC04793.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mar Lodge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI860xnMPTg/VCCmtQUf7UI/AAAAAAAAiBc/BniRtABlHds/s1600/DSC04796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI860xnMPTg/VCCmtQUf7UI/AAAAAAAAiBc/BniRtABlHds/s1600/DSC04796.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of the Mar Lodge ballroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJpKKPuMZ0k/VCCmveziwiI/AAAAAAAAiBk/LeIHI-6e1is/s1600/DSC04803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GJpKKPuMZ0k/VCCmveziwiI/AAAAAAAAiBk/LeIHI-6e1is/s1600/DSC04803.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of the Mar Lodge ballroom</td></tr>
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We spent the best part of an hour at Mar Lodge, including taking a look inside the ballroom whose interior decoration was not really to my taste! We crossed Victoria Bridge to reach the road, which we followed for a couple of kilometres. Here I opted to deviate from my planned route and ascended up a forest track in the rain, heading for the Morrone Birkwood (a route that had previously been recommended to me by Mr Grumpy back in 2008).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEKRgUMIW5Q/VCCmxIJ0eKI/AAAAAAAAiBs/fah0cUP1bbM/s1600/DSC04807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pEKRgUMIW5Q/VCCmxIJ0eKI/AAAAAAAAiBs/fah0cUP1bbM/s1600/DSC04807.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing Victoria Bridge</td></tr>
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Andy and David were also heading this way, and we walked together up the muddy track past a small lochan to reach the edge of the Morrone Birkwoods National Nature Reserve, from where our onward route was along the signposted circular walk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLymvN2SEFQ/VCCmzUXnSYI/AAAAAAAAiB0/HA9Cb16fknE/s1600/DSC04810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLymvN2SEFQ/VCCmzUXnSYI/AAAAAAAAiB0/HA9Cb16fknE/s1600/DSC04810.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small lochan on the way to the Morrone Birkwood</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2dbdVw3YUU/VCCm0npsyTI/AAAAAAAAiB8/yj-RzxTpXCA/s1600/DSC04813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2dbdVw3YUU/VCCm0npsyTI/AAAAAAAAiB8/yj-RzxTpXCA/s1600/DSC04813.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the Morrone Birkwoods</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR1pidyxJUQ/VCCm2e7aJ5I/AAAAAAAAiCE/sSPTng3t55I/s1600/DSC04815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR1pidyxJUQ/VCCm2e7aJ5I/AAAAAAAAiCE/sSPTng3t55I/s1600/DSC04815.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Challengers in the Morrone Birkwoods</td></tr>
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After a pleasant wander through the Morrone Birkwoods we reached a viewpoint indicator above Braemar, from where there were good views under the somewhat hazy and cloudy sky this afternoon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iu2nI5jmkoc/VCCm4BWvutI/AAAAAAAAiCM/TU74UsQlOZQ/s1600/DSC04818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iu2nI5jmkoc/VCCm4BWvutI/AAAAAAAAiCM/TU74UsQlOZQ/s1600/DSC04818.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewpoint indicator above Braemar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDQKL7egAzE/VCCm5hVeHKI/AAAAAAAAiCU/zW74DT3HQCY/s1600/DSC04824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDQKL7egAzE/VCCm5hVeHKI/AAAAAAAAiCU/zW74DT3HQCY/s1600/DSC04824.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Challengers looking at the views ;)</td></tr>
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From here it was all downhill to Braemar, which we reached at around 3pm and headed straight for the Fife Arms, where I had decided to stay this year. I checked in, picked up my parcel, unpacked and enjoyed an afternoon and evening of relaxing and catching up with lots of other challengers over a few beers :-)<br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com5Braemar, Ballater, Aberdeenshire AB35, UK57.006353 -3.398032000000057531.484318499999997 -44.706626000000057 82.5283875 37.910561999999942tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-10411433413692319272014-10-02T10:00:00.000+01:002014-10-02T10:00:35.107+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 8: Ruigh Aiteachain to Glen Dee <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friday 16th May 2014</b></span><br />
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<i>An excellent high level day over four Munros between Glen Feshie and Glen Dee </i><br />
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Distance: 30km; Ascent: 1470m; Sunny but quite windy on the tops; with Sue O<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140516_TGOC_Day8.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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The hills were under a blanket of low cloud when I met Sue outside the bothy this morning for our day of Munro bagging; we hoped the forecasted lifting of the cloud in the morning would turn out to be correct! At 8am we set off walking, initially retracing yesterday's steps for the best part of a kilometre, before picking up the vehicle track that climbs up towards the plateau.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KaBKVBn3HgY/VCClj9C-VyI/AAAAAAAAh8U/nd2IKH1YvVU/s1600/DSC04698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KaBKVBn3HgY/VCClj9C-VyI/AAAAAAAAh8U/nd2IKH1YvVU/s1600/DSC04698.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across Glen Feshie to Carn Dearg Mor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coire Garbhlach</td></tr>
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The track made for very quick progress and it wasn't long before we we looking into the misty Coire Garbhlach, and around here we passed another challenger heading into the high hills for the day. As we continued to ascend the cloud gradually began to clear, with most of it having cleared by around 9:30am. We detoured south for around a kilometre to visit our first windy summit of the day: <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=M&rf=571" target="_blank">Mullach Clach a'Bhlair</a> <i>(Munro, HuMP)</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LX_fy1S7tzc/VCClm1tvIhI/AAAAAAAAh8k/xZHwzAF8xUE/s1600/DSC04701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LX_fy1S7tzc/VCClm1tvIhI/AAAAAAAAh8k/xZHwzAF8xUE/s1600/DSC04701.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Mullach Clach a'Bhlair</td></tr>
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Returning to the LRT we headed northeast across the plateau, before stopping for a break in the slight depression formed by the upper part of the Caochan Dubh burn. I was keen to include Sgor Gaoith in today's walk, which would result in a detour of around 7km - luckily Sue was quite happy to have a long day in the hills as well!<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Continuing onwards, we left the LRT after around a kilometre to head NW to the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=565" target="_blank">Carn Ban Mor</a> <i>(Munro Top)</i>, before we continued NNE towards Sgor Gaoith in a strengthening westerly wind. Approaching Sgor Gaoith from this direction, it just looked like a small lump in the moorland but as we got closer it revealed it's true nature and we were rewarded with excellent views of it's craggy eastern side above Loch Einich.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk1h9yJPa8k/VCCloRAj2pI/AAAAAAAAh8s/zzHLzJrsEs0/s1600/DSC04705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lk1h9yJPa8k/VCCloRAj2pI/AAAAAAAAh8s/zzHLzJrsEs0/s1600/DSC04705.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading up the southern slopes of Sgor Gaoith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy0B4LFnnXk/VCClqfccT-I/AAAAAAAAh80/Tz0cVRgvCnE/s1600/DSC04706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wy0B4LFnnXk/VCClqfccT-I/AAAAAAAAh80/Tz0cVRgvCnE/s1600/DSC04706.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The impressive craggy arete on the east side of Sgor Gaoith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L71XgAeF66Y/VCClrhRcWGI/AAAAAAAAh88/ZVB4d_SkafI/s1600/DSC04707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L71XgAeF66Y/VCClrhRcWGI/AAAAAAAAh88/ZVB4d_SkafI/s1600/DSC04707.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the head of Loch Einich towards Carn na Criche and Monadh Mor</td></tr>
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Shortly before midday, we reached the very windy summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=M&rf=548" target="_blank">Sgor Gaoith</a> <i>(Munro, Marilyn)</i>, which I didn't dare stand up on as it is perched above the precipice of the east face and there was a pretty strong westerly wind today! Therefore I briefly sat on the summit instead to avoid being blown over, whilst admiring the truely fantastic views out over the main Cairngorm hills to the east and over the Moine Mhor towards our next hills of the day: Monadh Mor and Beinn Bhrotain.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VGe2yYx5I9s/VCClswrADnI/AAAAAAAAh9E/4TwooRclsZo/s1600/DSC04710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VGe2yYx5I9s/VCClswrADnI/AAAAAAAAh9E/4TwooRclsZo/s1600/DSC04710.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Sgor Gaoith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dBrzs1Ni2W4/VCClueafc8I/AAAAAAAAh9M/LK8P9W1okpI/s1600/DSC04711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dBrzs1Ni2W4/VCClueafc8I/AAAAAAAAh9M/LK8P9W1okpI/s1600/DSC04711.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carn na Criche and Loch Einich from Sgor Gaoith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DZRG_JQ-slQ/VCClv9EGCGI/AAAAAAAAh9U/d5oFL13c688/s1600/DSC04712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DZRG_JQ-slQ/VCClv9EGCGI/AAAAAAAAh9U/d5oFL13c688/s1600/DSC04712.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gleann Einich, Braeriach and Loch Einich</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSXV9tiK6bc/VCClxVi6E2I/AAAAAAAAh9c/K5dojZUs9pA/s1600/DSC04713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSXV9tiK6bc/VCClxVi6E2I/AAAAAAAAh9c/K5dojZUs9pA/s1600/DSC04713.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking NNW from Sgor Gaoith</td></tr>
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We retraced our steps southwards towards Carn Ban Mor in strong winds, before heading SE after a kilometre and a half aiming for a faint track we could pick out traversing the northern slopes of Tom Dubh. We could pick out a handful of people in the distance across the Moine Mhor, who looked to be heading in a variety of directions towards Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Monadh Mor. In fact seeing these people in the distance helped demonstrate the huge scale of the Moine Mhor, or Great Moss. It was a fantastic day to out on the hills :-)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQZjo9L9esY/VCClzXRt0FI/AAAAAAAAh9k/WGyZga5Gnb8/s1600/DSC04714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IQZjo9L9esY/VCClzXRt0FI/AAAAAAAAh9k/WGyZga5Gnb8/s1600/DSC04714.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back down the south ridge of Sgor Gaoith</td></tr>
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At around 13:20, we stopped for lunch in the small amount of shelter afforded by a cairn on the northern slopes of Tom Dubh. I nipped off to the south to visit a couple of cairns on the summit of </span><a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=590" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Tom Dubh</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Munro Top)</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, before returning to our slightly sheltered spot for lunch. From here we could pick out what looked to be a sensible looking route onwards to our next objective: Monadh Mor.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAH-DSMyExw/VCCl02fypzI/AAAAAAAAh9s/ZftJlREyJWI/s1600/DSC04721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAH-DSMyExw/VCCl02fypzI/AAAAAAAAh9s/ZftJlREyJWI/s1600/DSC04721.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the several cairns on Tom Dubh, with Carn na Criche, Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Carn Toul beyond</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We descended slightly to reach the partially snow covered Allt Luineag, which looked to be surprisingly full today - I presume due to the ongoing melting of the large number of snow patches still remaining high up in the hills. To cross this without getting cold, wet feet </span>necessitated<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a detour of a few hundred metres upstream to where the burn was braided into two se</span>parate<span style="font-family: inherit;"> channels.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CwmDSJFPxBU/VCCl2s8T9EI/AAAAAAAAh90/YgtO8hmx3j8/s1600/DSC04722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CwmDSJFPxBU/VCCl2s8T9EI/AAAAAAAAh90/YgtO8hmx3j8/s1600/DSC04722.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Allt Luineag</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once safely across the Allt Luineag, we picked a route in a more or less south-easterly direction up Monadh Mor, following a burn for some of the first kilometre. As we ascended the ground became more bouldery, which </span>necessitated<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a slow down in our pace due to the combination of the rocky ground and today's strong winds. Nevertheless, we eventually reached the cairn on the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">summit of </span><a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=M&rf=549" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Monadh Mor</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Munro, HuMP</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) at around 3pm, where we stopped for a short while to admire the </span>truly<span style="font-family: inherit;"> fantastic views!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lLbegjSEUMg/VCCl4qIZakI/AAAAAAAAh98/3uocniVFu1Q/s1600/DSC04724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lLbegjSEUMg/VCCl4qIZakI/AAAAAAAAh98/3uocniVFu1Q/s1600/DSC04724.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monadh Mor summit cairn, with Beinn Bhrotain beyond</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3vAIRvhmmQ/VCCl6xPu8MI/AAAAAAAAh-E/dxxDpe5_wgw/s1600/20140516_145518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3vAIRvhmmQ/VCCl6xPu8MI/AAAAAAAAh-E/dxxDpe5_wgw/s1600/20140516_145518.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carn na Criche, Braeriach, Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Carn Toul from Monadh Mor summit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CONSg7XisQE/VCCl8sozA8I/AAAAAAAAh-M/W31S4K-1v1k/s1600/DSC04726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CONSg7XisQE/VCCl8sozA8I/AAAAAAAAh-M/W31S4K-1v1k/s1600/DSC04726.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Monadh Mor</td></tr>
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Not wanting to linger too long on the exposed summit, we soon continued towards our final hill of the day: Beinn Bhrotain. There were a fair number of snow patches still on the southern ridge of Monadh Mor, but we were able to easily avoid them all as we skirted the southern top to reach the top of the steep descent down to the 975m unnamed bealach.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6MMQ8m1xW4/VCCl-StmovI/AAAAAAAAh-U/sRg0ys0LAOU/s1600/DSC04728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6MMQ8m1xW4/VCCl-StmovI/AAAAAAAAh-U/sRg0ys0LAOU/s1600/DSC04728.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traversing the very windy southern slopes of Monadh Mor (hence the tilted camera angle!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-meGmiS_v9yY/VCCmAHGPP4I/AAAAAAAAh-c/2ktq7oyw0a8/s1600/DSC04729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-meGmiS_v9yY/VCCmAHGPP4I/AAAAAAAAh-c/2ktq7oyw0a8/s1600/DSC04729.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beinn Bhrotain from the SSE slopes of Monadh Mor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PCAfcapwuU/VCCmCLIYVHI/AAAAAAAAh-k/FVMxZBw4Ndg/s1600/DSC04730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1PCAfcapwuU/VCCmCLIYVHI/AAAAAAAAh-k/FVMxZBw4Ndg/s1600/DSC04730.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the 975m bealach to the steep climb ahead up Beinn Bhrotain</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaeTYSCE3aY/VCCmD_StfVI/AAAAAAAAh-s/BEbQSdAnyNo/s1600/DSC04736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CaeTYSCE3aY/VCCmD_StfVI/AAAAAAAAh-s/BEbQSdAnyNo/s1600/DSC04736.JPG" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow on the eastern slopes of Monadh Mor</td></tr>
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From the bealach there was a good view across to Beinn Bhrotain, where we could pick out a path up the first half of the ascent before it looked to become bouldery again. Picking our way carefully down the steep slope we reached the 975m bealach, where we stopped for a quick break in this marginally more sheltered spot! Continuing on, we ascended up the steep slopes on the eastern side of the bealach to reach the trigpoint on the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the summit of </span><a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=M&rf=538" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Beinn Bhrotain</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">(Munro, Marilyn</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) at</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> 4:15pm.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvryrrcDjFg/VCCmFW4Z6OI/AAAAAAAAh-0/8M76tAEM1Lw/s1600/DSC04743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FvryrrcDjFg/VCCmFW4Z6OI/AAAAAAAAh-0/8M76tAEM1Lw/s1600/DSC04743.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit of Beinn Bhrotain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-v6BRG1Oxc/VCCmHZ-MLfI/AAAAAAAAh-8/mWPBZXhhvOM/s1600/DSC04744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-v6BRG1Oxc/VCCmHZ-MLfI/AAAAAAAAh-8/mWPBZXhhvOM/s1600/DSC04744.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Beinn Bhrotain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKI723OKB9Q/VCCmJKts-AI/AAAAAAAAh_E/tsFnSjaGjFA/s1600/DSC04749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKI723OKB9Q/VCCmJKts-AI/AAAAAAAAh_E/tsFnSjaGjFA/s1600/DSC04749.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carn na Criche to Ben Macdui from Beinn Bhrotain summit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again the views were excellent from this vantage point, which was actually my highest point on my route for this year's TGO Challenge. I'm not sure I've ever had quite such expansive views when out walking in the Cairngorms before! My original plan had been to follow the SSE shoulder of Beinn Bhrotain down towards the Munro Top of Carn Cloich-mhuilinn. However as it appeared that the wind had </span>noticeably<span style="font-family: inherit;"> strengthened throughout the afternoon, Sue and I were both keen to get out off the wind as soon as possible. Therefore instead we opted to descend eastwards along the pleasant clear waters of the Allt Garbh.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2cUPLCh5MKk/VCCmLUtI_ZI/AAAAAAAAh_M/1F2Z1wpLD_A/s1600/DSC04752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2cUPLCh5MKk/VCCmLUtI_ZI/AAAAAAAAh_M/1F2Z1wpLD_A/s1600/DSC04752.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely clear waters of the Allt Garbh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCeNDELK0BY/VCCmMmZjhfI/AAAAAAAAh_U/v8f1SNt7td0/s1600/DSC04755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCeNDELK0BY/VCCmMmZjhfI/AAAAAAAAh_U/v8f1SNt7td0/s1600/DSC04755.JPG" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across Glen Dee to Sgor Mor</td></tr>
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</span>After much walking down through pathless heather we finally reached the floor of Glen Dee, and as it was now almost 6pm we started to look for somewhere to camp. We didn't have to look far as we found a pleasant spot to camp in Glen Dee a short distance to the south of the Allt Garbh. It had been a long day in the hills, but easily one of the best hill-walking days I've had this year :-).<br />
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During the early evening, the sky clouded over and there was light rain whilst I was cooked my dinner in the porch. I must have been tired that evening, as after eating dinner I managed to fall asleep without zipping up the inner tent! Not to worry, there'd be plenty of time for rest over the next couple of days as I only had half-day walks planned in and out of Braemar.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAc5Z7zX3tQ/VCCmOTg8NUI/AAAAAAAAh_c/yiGzFRJObFM/s1600/DSC04757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WAc5Z7zX3tQ/VCCmOTg8NUI/AAAAAAAAh_c/yiGzFRJObFM/s1600/DSC04757.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our pitch for the evening in Glen Dee</td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com2Cairngorms National Park57.001858813506715 -3.667716979980468856.993211813506711 -3.6878869799804685 57.010505813506718 -3.647546979980469tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-42234799556985104432014-09-29T22:35:00.003+01:002014-09-29T22:36:27.908+01:00Autumn Colours at Dunham Massey <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sunday 28th September 2014 </b></span> <br />
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Here's a couple of photos from this morning's trip to the wonderful gardens at Dunham Massey, showing that Autumn is now well and truly here!<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Rk42QDfIAn8/VCnJd263_sI/AAAAAAAAiQk/9Ou1TyL1Yxc/s2560/1412024635012.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Rk42QDfIAn8/VCnJd263_sI/AAAAAAAAiQk/9Ou1TyL1Yxc/s400/1412024635012.jpeg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a><br />
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Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Dunham Massey, Altrincham WA14, UK53.3920037 -2.413006099999961427.869969199999996 -43.721600099999961 78.9140382 38.895587900000038tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-78065357016585527032014-09-28T21:34:00.000+01:002014-09-28T21:34:45.141+01:00An Afternoon Walk up Thack Moor<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friday 26th September 2014 </b></span> <br />
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<i>An afternoon walk in the North Pennines up England's shortest 2000ft peak </i><br />
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Distance: 8km; Ascent: 390m; Dry, sunny and windy; Solo<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/20140926_ThackMoor.gpx"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/20140926_ThackMoor.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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After my <a href="http://blog.alistairpooler.co.uk/2014/09/a-lunchtime-ascent-of-cold-fell.html" target="_blank">lunchtime walk</a> up Cold Fell earlier, I drove around the western side of the Pennines to reach the village of Renwick, where I parked on the road near the church. I set off walking again at around twenty past three this afternoon, and headed up the steep little minor road towards Outhwaite.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DAdPt1kEGQw/VCgzoYr53zI/AAAAAAAAiPI/RETUG1Wc5-c/s1600/DSC05710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DAdPt1kEGQw/VCgzoYr53zI/AAAAAAAAiPI/RETUG1Wc5-c/s1600/DSC05710.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trees on way up from Renwick</td></tr>
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A few hundred metres up the road, where the road takes a sharp right, I continued straight on along a reasonable stony vehicle track heading straight for Thack Moor, with good views SE towards Melmerby Fell. The track allowed me to reach an altitude of around 500m pretty quickly, where the track ended. From here a faint path led onwards up the steep grassy slopes to reach the moorland ridge above.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Track heading for Thack Moor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXJk57tjKm8/VCgzr2ZROcI/AAAAAAAAiPY/vhqePHYMkzo/s1600/DSC05712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXJk57tjKm8/VCgzr2ZROcI/AAAAAAAAiPY/vhqePHYMkzo/s1600/DSC05712.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melmerby Fell from southern slopes of Thack Moor</td></tr>
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At twenty past four, around an hour after I set off walking, I reached the the <a href="http://trigpointing.uk/trig/6344" target="_blank">trigpoint</a> on summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=N&rf=2770" target="_blank">Thack Moor</a> <i>(Nuttall)</i>, where it was quite cold and exposed to the still bitter wind. I nipped over the wall to visit the true summit of the hill, which is an unmarked area of grass on the north side of the wall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P2jbP1ikks0/VCgztSncJ9I/AAAAAAAAiPg/ubuj0grI0wE/s1600/DSC05724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P2jbP1ikks0/VCgztSncJ9I/AAAAAAAAiPg/ubuj0grI0wE/s1600/DSC05724.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thack Moor trigpoint</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybRwCLdg9_g/VCgzvLTkABI/AAAAAAAAiPo/niaa0BeetmI/s1600/DSC05717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ybRwCLdg9_g/VCgzvLTkABI/AAAAAAAAiPo/niaa0BeetmI/s1600/DSC05717.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grassy summit of Thack Moor</td></tr>
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On this side of the wall I was able to shelter from the wind and hence stopped for a short break to admire the excellent expansive views out over the North Pennines and the Lake District, although the sky was pretty hazy in the direction of the latter so it was hard to pick much out. I also spotted what looked like a wooden nesting box in the base of the wall, which seemed like a strange spot for it - I wondered what it was for?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F1zjx0Ju0Ok/VCgzxVqtcfI/AAAAAAAAiPw/ntankVbVWts/s1600/DSC05716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F1zjx0Ju0Ok/VCgzxVqtcfI/AAAAAAAAiPw/ntankVbVWts/s1600/DSC05716.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nesting box? on Thack Moor</td></tr>
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Returning to the southern side of the wall, I headed SE along the wall with excellent views towards Watch Hill and Black Fell. The ridge onwards over these moorland hills looked quite enticing this afternoon, but it would have to wait for another day as it was now late in the afternoon and I doubted there would be enough daylight to complete the circuit! Plus I'd already arranged to give Andrew a lift from Penrith down to Stockport.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciz6asWybMc/VCgzzElkt0I/AAAAAAAAiP4/lFbmUEGGgzU/s1600/DSC05725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ciz6asWybMc/VCgzzElkt0I/AAAAAAAAiP4/lFbmUEGGgzU/s1600/DSC05725.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Fell from Thack Moor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BInrDKEJrTc/VCgz0-9RfxI/AAAAAAAAiQA/OpQPRaiJBK0/s1600/DSC05726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BInrDKEJrTc/VCgz0-9RfxI/AAAAAAAAiQA/OpQPRaiJBK0/s1600/DSC05726.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch Hill & Black Hill</td></tr>
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I followed a fence SSE down the slopes of Renwick Fell to pick up a wet and muddy footpath, which gradually improved as it headed SW back towards Renwick. Around two kilometres after joining this path, I rejoined my outward route and retraced my steps back towards Renwick. I arrived back at the car at around half past five, a little over two hours after I left it and headed for Penrith station to pick Andrew up. It had been a pleasant day's walking in the North Pennines, and I now had only 12 English 2000ft peaks left to climb!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWQUS3FtB2s/VCgz2gEi-CI/AAAAAAAAiQI/l5ZmtHrvkMo/s1600/DSC05728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWQUS3FtB2s/VCgz2gEi-CI/AAAAAAAAiQI/l5ZmtHrvkMo/s1600/DSC05728.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Fell</td></tr>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com2Renwick, Penrith, Cumbria CA10, UK54.783333 -2.627778000000034829.2612985 -43.936372000000034 80.3053675 38.680815999999965tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-28317864002674889532014-09-27T20:44:00.000+01:002014-09-27T20:44:01.211+01:00A Lunchtime Ascent of Cold Fell<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friday 26th September 2014 </b></span> <br />
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<i>A short circular walk up the most northerly 2000ft peak in the Pennines </i><br />
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Distance: 9km; Ascent: 430m; Dry, sunny and windy; Solo<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/20140926_ColdFell.gpx"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/20140926_ColdFell.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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I had booked the day off work today, with the intention of going out hill-walking so I was quite pleased to discover that the weather wasn't forecast to be too bad :-) I therefore decided to return to the North Pennines for the day to climb another couple of my outstanding 2000ft peaks in that area. This entailed a drive north up the M6, stopping at Tebay for coffee and a Cumberland sausage roll, to reach the RSPB's Geltsdale car park at Clesketts, from where I set off walking at around quarter to midday.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSI03ciVXbQ/VCcL4P54ZsI/AAAAAAAAiOM/8iAYernRVPY/s1600/DSC05678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSI03ciVXbQ/VCcL4P54ZsI/AAAAAAAAiOM/8iAYernRVPY/s1600/DSC05678.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track up through the bracken above Howgill Beck</td></tr>
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It was warm and sunny as I headed along the vehicle track towards the hills, and I soon reached Howgill from where the ascent proper began. A grassy track aided my progress up the bracken covered slopes of the NE side of the Howgill Beck valley, past the RSPB's Bruthwaite viewpoint and on towards the moorland above.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TffnIdxBom8/VCcL53wPu-I/AAAAAAAAiOU/oKI2ta5zgnI/s1600/DSC05682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TffnIdxBom8/VCcL53wPu-I/AAAAAAAAiOU/oKI2ta5zgnI/s1600/DSC05682.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruined building above the Howgill Beck valley</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The track became fainter and wetter as I ascended further, and soon I reached a broad col to the north of Cold Fell itself. From here I headed up the slopes to the south, whilst trying to avoid the worst of the peat hags! At 1pm I reached the the <a href="http://trigpointing.uk/trig/2337" target="_blank">trigpoint</a> on summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=N&rf=2761" target="_blank">Cold Fell</a> <i>(Nuttall, Marilyn)</i>, where it was lovely and sunny but quite cold in the biting wind.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HlfjfVN-Yy4/VCcL-ZWk3EI/AAAAAAAAiOc/mYc6XmBxy_U/s1600/DSC05684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HlfjfVN-Yy4/VCcL-ZWk3EI/AAAAAAAAiOc/mYc6XmBxy_U/s1600/DSC05684.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit of Cold Fell</td></tr>
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I stopped for lunch in the windshelter, whilst admiring the expansive views out over the northern Pennines, Northumberland and southern Scotland. I could also make out the Lakeland Fells to the SW, but they were quite hazy in the September sunshine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVy1zq15IOw/VCcMAA2q2LI/AAAAAAAAiOk/maZKAAHRp5E/s1600/DSC05696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVy1zq15IOw/VCcMAA2q2LI/AAAAAAAAiOk/maZKAAHRp5E/s1600/DSC05696.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Currick on Tindale Fell</td></tr>
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After ten or fifteen minutes on the summit, I decided that I'd better get a move on as I still had a second walk planned for today, up Thack Moor to the south of here. To vary my route I decided to head to the prominent tall currick on Tindale Fell that's pretty much due north from Cold Fell. From here I began to descend steeply northwards, with excellent views down to Tindale Tarn and on over Hadrian's Wall country.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HpH99VNR1k/VCcMB4MLegI/AAAAAAAAiOs/qaHncv2ST60/s1600/DSC05699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HpH99VNR1k/VCcMB4MLegI/AAAAAAAAiOs/qaHncv2ST60/s1600/DSC05699.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down to Tindale Tarn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwCMd5hETJg/VCcMDhOjfEI/AAAAAAAAiO0/q7ScEE4kRyQ/s1600/DSC05703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwCMd5hETJg/VCcMDhOjfEI/AAAAAAAAiO0/q7ScEE4kRyQ/s1600/DSC05703.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tindale Tarn from the northern slopes of Tindale Fell</td></tr>
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After a steep descent, in places through tall grass and bracken, I reached the valley floor at a vehicle track junction near the SW corner of Tindale Tarn. A short ascent NW along the track lead to Thorn and then back to the car at Clesketts, where I arrived shortly after half past two after a pleasant few hours walking.<br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Cumbria, UK54.919473017843139 -2.643128110131783654.914910017843141 -2.6532131101317837 54.924036017843136 -2.6330431101317835tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-81400590611389012202014-09-04T20:16:00.000+01:002014-09-04T20:16:16.535+01:00A Week on Holiday in Northumberland<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th August 2014</b></span><br />
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Last week we had an excellent family holiday in northern Northumberland visiting beaches, coast, castles and hills. Here are a few photos:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E0JMzesmqy4/VAYtZymhGZI/AAAAAAAAhvE/0UuKTPVo7Ng/s1600/20140824_115933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E0JMzesmqy4/VAYtZymhGZI/AAAAAAAAhvE/0UuKTPVo7Ng/s1600/20140824_115933.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamburgh Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYFnBALTDIg/VAYu1cIf2nI/AAAAAAAAhwg/tWUvhvfFr7Y/s1600/20140824_150858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nYFnBALTDIg/VAYu1cIf2nI/AAAAAAAAhwg/tWUvhvfFr7Y/s1600/20140824_150858.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamburgh Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_AI6-uIZNE/VAYu-iDWYkI/AAAAAAAAhwo/6czooixAlQA/s1600/20140824_160503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_AI6-uIZNE/VAYu-iDWYkI/AAAAAAAAhwo/6czooixAlQA/s1600/20140824_160503.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Bamburgh Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8Qe47Czaas/VAYvazeUiJI/AAAAAAAAhw4/3d4n5vgTDSE/s1600/20140824_163426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j8Qe47Czaas/VAYvazeUiJI/AAAAAAAAhw4/3d4n5vgTDSE/s1600/20140824_163426.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamburgh Castle and some of the Farne Islands</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTMF4zhXKPY/VAYvzOx34dI/AAAAAAAAhxI/1baOQvXbZKw/s1600/20140825_112959(0).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTMF4zhXKPY/VAYvzOx34dI/AAAAAAAAhxI/1baOQvXbZKw/s1600/20140825_112959%280%29.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flodden Field</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qT2XNZ8MStQ/VAYwh5jEBII/AAAAAAAAhxw/EIyNs3PAV7U/s1600/20140825_145034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qT2XNZ8MStQ/VAYwh5jEBII/AAAAAAAAhxw/EIyNs3PAV7U/s1600/20140825_145034.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the ramparts and walls in Berwick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNOcTOlKjiM/VAYwsZgIqOI/AAAAAAAAhx4/93vDOpdKIvY/s1600/20140825_145404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNOcTOlKjiM/VAYwsZgIqOI/AAAAAAAAhx4/93vDOpdKIvY/s1600/20140825_145404.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the ramparts and walls in Berwick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qSbinIDE4ds/VAYyTQGGI6I/AAAAAAAAhzY/PWOiycYKGps/s1600/20140827_145019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qSbinIDE4ds/VAYyTQGGI6I/AAAAAAAAhzY/PWOiycYKGps/s1600/20140827_145019.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock butterfly in Cragside gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgzkMqkWEgI/VAYyzh7QCzI/AAAAAAAAhz0/Y5kJly4AXeA/s1600/20140827_153624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PgzkMqkWEgI/VAYyzh7QCzI/AAAAAAAAhz0/Y5kJly4AXeA/s1600/20140827_153624.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cragside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7x1STUWLO74/VAYz1FCvfGI/AAAAAAAAh0o/OagRX8HZtL4/s1600/20140828_151159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7x1STUWLO74/VAYz1FCvfGI/AAAAAAAAh0o/OagRX8HZtL4/s1600/20140828_151159.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cheviot from Ros Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTStJnxfktc/VAY04SKfRSI/AAAAAAAAh1Y/O_HAfToGlNM/s1600/20140828_180831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vTStJnxfktc/VAY04SKfRSI/AAAAAAAAh1Y/O_HAfToGlNM/s1600/20140828_180831.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seahouses harbour</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64m6TXMNTp4/VAY1NXULvyI/AAAAAAAAh1o/Mta9CMtg-oo/s1600/20140829_113613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64m6TXMNTp4/VAY1NXULvyI/AAAAAAAAh1o/Mta9CMtg-oo/s1600/20140829_113613.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindisfarne Priory</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWlzAz2fIcE/VAY1dP0iTQI/AAAAAAAAh14/ElK_2RZo7Gw/s1600/20140829_130054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PWlzAz2fIcE/VAY1dP0iTQI/AAAAAAAAh14/ElK_2RZo7Gw/s1600/20140829_130054.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindisfarne Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVhr6CqetFQ/VAY1yhQyvZI/AAAAAAAAh2I/QY46lM8mdWM/s1600/20140829_152145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oVhr6CqetFQ/VAY1yhQyvZI/AAAAAAAAh2I/QY46lM8mdWM/s1600/20140829_152145.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindisfarne Causeway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rbf5TaJIWQE/VAY13XCCPGI/AAAAAAAAh2Q/8Sktz5nxTeY/s1600/20140830_113837~01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rbf5TaJIWQE/VAY13XCCPGI/AAAAAAAAh2Q/8Sktz5nxTeY/s1600/20140830_113837%7E01.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamburgh beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3venF2lIU7c/VAY1-I095qI/AAAAAAAAh2Y/uMo5jPhCC78/s1600/20140830_113944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3venF2lIU7c/VAY1-I095qI/AAAAAAAAh2Y/uMo5jPhCC78/s1600/20140830_113944.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamburgh beach</td></tr>
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<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Wooler, Northumberland NE71, UK55.540181810540552 -2.008547619580099355.535689310540555 -2.0186326195800994 55.54467431054055 -1.9984626195800994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-91917629187508746022014-08-20T22:56:00.000+01:002014-08-20T22:56:46.538+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 7: Newtonmore to Ruigh Aiteachain<b style="font-size: x-large;">Thursday 15th May 2014 </b><br />
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<i>A shorter low level day in Badenoch, linking the high peaks of the Monadhliath Mountains and the Cairngorms </i><br />
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Distance: 22.5km; Ascent: 450m; Dry, overcast and windy; Partly with Laura & Louise<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140515_TGOC_Day7.gpx"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140515_TGOC_Day7.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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Today was meant to consist of a long low-level walk followed by an approach to a high camp at the north end of the ridge between Glen Feshie and Gleann Eanaich, with a further high camp planned tomorrow night somewhere in the vicinity of Beinn Bhrotain. However the forecasted strong winds put pay to that plan, as I didn't fancy camping in high winds. Therefore I switched to a mixture of my FWA and main route, with the intention of heading to Ruigh Aiteachain bothy today followed by a high-level route over to another valley camp in Glen Dee tomorrow.<br />
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This change in route meant that I now had a relatively easy low-level day ahead of me today to Ruigh Aiteachain in Glen Feshie, as there was little point trying to push on any further than there today since I planned to head up Mullach Clach a Bhlair tomorrow morning. Therefore I had a leisurely first half of the morning in Newtonmore and sorted through my kit. My micro spikes were waiting for me in Newtonmore and I decided to carry them through to Braemar as I'd heard that there was still plenty of snow up high (although in the end I didn't actually need them!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNpB56ENnFQ/U_UVqfkGlKI/AAAAAAAAhrw/C5vHZIJPcck/s1600/DSC04653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNpB56ENnFQ/U_UVqfkGlKI/AAAAAAAAhrw/C5vHZIJPcck/s1600/DSC04653.JPG" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading along the cycle path with views of the hills beyond Glen Feshie</td></tr>
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Ali came to find me shortly before I left to see if I was heading to Ruigh Aiteachain today and if so could I please take Jamie's camera with me, which he had accidentally left behind in the hostel. As I was indeed heading that way, I was happy to oblige; so after saying goodbye to David, Ali & Neil, I set off walking at around 10am. My first stop was the post office, a short distance along the main street, to post a few things home. Shortly afterwards I bumped into Chris and Tony again, so I chatted to them for a while before heading to the Coop to re-supply with food. The tarmac cycle path provided pleasant enough off-road walking to Kingussie, where I stopped for a quick break in the Gynack Memorial Gardens.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhslAzVNVQ0/U_UVsK6MNGI/AAAAAAAAhr4/TRnM7xbYgbI/s1600/DSC04655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhslAzVNVQ0/U_UVsK6MNGI/AAAAAAAAhr4/TRnM7xbYgbI/s1600/DSC04655.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering Kingussie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r5cP_-vvyDY/U_UVuCZVZgI/AAAAAAAAhsA/XQoC01nQiSQ/s1600/DSC04656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r5cP_-vvyDY/U_UVuCZVZgI/AAAAAAAAhsA/XQoC01nQiSQ/s1600/DSC04656.JPG" height="257" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gynack Memorial Gardens in Kingussie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rb3mHc9UFzI/U_UVwZrGYrI/AAAAAAAAhsI/ZKgl9vWMqAQ/s1600/DSC04659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rb3mHc9UFzI/U_UVwZrGYrI/AAAAAAAAhsI/ZKgl9vWMqAQ/s1600/DSC04659.JPG" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers and lichen in the woods near Ruthven</td></tr>
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Around here I bumped into Laura & Louise, who were heading for the Cairngorm Club Footbridge today. As this meant that we'd all be walking the same way for the next five or six kilometres, I decided to join them for the road walk to Ruthven Barracks followed by a pleasant wander along the first section of the Badenoch Way through the RSPB's Insh Marshes National Nature Reserve. Even though this was longer than just following the road to Tromie Bridge, it made a very pleasant change from the road walking!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9AqA58hiQVo/U_UVyAyA2JI/AAAAAAAAhsQ/lANyZxRBkHg/s1600/DSC04661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9AqA58hiQVo/U_UVyAyA2JI/AAAAAAAAhsQ/lANyZxRBkHg/s1600/DSC04661.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruthven Barracks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iSgFnQAkSUA/U_UVznTM4NI/AAAAAAAAhsY/2lLForC2-Q0/s1600/DSC04664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iSgFnQAkSUA/U_UVznTM4NI/AAAAAAAAhsY/2lLForC2-Q0/s1600/DSC04664.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Ruthven Barracks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h1KiyYDLK5U/U_UV1jChZeI/AAAAAAAAhsg/SW9smgjDzNE/s1600/DSC04665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h1KiyYDLK5U/U_UV1jChZeI/AAAAAAAAhsg/SW9smgjDzNE/s1600/DSC04665.JPG" height="153" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of the Badenoch Way</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5tMwuDh2r0/U_UV3W1ejuI/AAAAAAAAhso/US76s1xwh8M/s1600/DSC04670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5tMwuDh2r0/U_UV3W1ejuI/AAAAAAAAhso/US76s1xwh8M/s1600/DSC04670.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading through the Insh Marshes Nature Reserve</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asoVQjx5qqE/U_UV5Xn_m5I/AAAAAAAAhsw/9HkI-xj08j0/s1600/DSC04673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-asoVQjx5qqE/U_UV5Xn_m5I/AAAAAAAAhsw/9HkI-xj08j0/s1600/DSC04673.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Insh Marshes</td></tr>
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We passed a few other people out for a stroll as we followed the waymarked route through the woods to reach the River Tromie, with its impressive looking rapids, stopping on route for a spot of lunch. Soon afterwards we reached Tromie Bridge, from where we headed up into Drumguish; this marked the parting of the ways as Laura & Louise continued straight on following the Badenoch Way, whilst I turned right and headed towards Glen Feshie, stopping for a second lunch quick break just before I entered the forest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhShaBP5Kbs/U_UV62tN2yI/AAAAAAAAhs4/k6KRiCxqwgQ/s1600/DSC04676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhShaBP5Kbs/U_UV62tN2yI/AAAAAAAAhs4/k6KRiCxqwgQ/s1600/DSC04676.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cairngorms from the Insh Marshes Nature Reserve</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mD1lnDrqDFM/U_UV96LzeGI/AAAAAAAAhtA/9R9J-WQzVGA/s1600/DSC04678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mD1lnDrqDFM/U_UV96LzeGI/AAAAAAAAhtA/9R9J-WQzVGA/s1600/DSC04678.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Tromie near Tromie Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFtzly1AbTI/U_UWAg_BnrI/AAAAAAAAhtI/ELzVU5-pggI/s1600/DSC04681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFtzly1AbTI/U_UWAg_BnrI/AAAAAAAAhtI/ELzVU5-pggI/s1600/DSC04681.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Tromie near Tromie Bridge</td></tr>
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It was quite warm as I followed the tracks and paths through the woods, across footbridges and open country before entering the Glen Feshie woods. Soon I reached the private road along the western edge of the glen, which I followed southwards for around a kilometre before stopping for a well earned break! I dropped down to the river to cross by way of the bridge, where I found a fellow challenger camped on the east bank, who I stopped to chat with for a while.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WaAK-WIWL38/U_UWC7imcvI/AAAAAAAAhtQ/Q3gc1RAhTz0/s1600/DSC04683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WaAK-WIWL38/U_UWC7imcvI/AAAAAAAAhtQ/Q3gc1RAhTz0/s1600/DSC04683.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading through the Inshriach Forest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0oyjsnG6L20/U_UWEWBvCFI/AAAAAAAAhtY/F7vwoIE3JoU/s1600/DSC04687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0oyjsnG6L20/U_UWEWBvCFI/AAAAAAAAhtY/F7vwoIE3JoU/s1600/DSC04687.JPG" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge over the Allt Mor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xcOYCYnKz3E/U_UWGWqctYI/AAAAAAAAhtg/SL-e1ZH3WXs/s1600/DSC04692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xcOYCYnKz3E/U_UWGWqctYI/AAAAAAAAhtg/SL-e1ZH3WXs/s1600/DSC04692.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Feshie ~500m south of Stonetoper</td></tr>
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As it was now around 4pm and I still had phone signal, I quickly downloaded the updated MWIS forecast to help me decide on tomorrow's route - it looked a bit windy, but otherwise fine so my Munro bagging plan was probably going to be possible :-) I continued southwards along a new looking path through the woods to reach a new looking land rover track, which led me all the way to Ruigh Aiteachain bothy. This was slightly confusing as lots of these tracks seem to have appeared in the six years since I'd last been here on my first TGO Challenge back in 2008, which seemed a very long time ago now!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e0EnDngoiRQ/U_UWIeJX3VI/AAAAAAAAhto/1OyY8x124CU/s1600/DSC04695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e0EnDngoiRQ/U_UWIeJX3VI/AAAAAAAAhto/1OyY8x124CU/s1600/DSC04695.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Feshie near the confluence with the Allt Garbhlach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHlavcMcRlg/U_UWKg33FmI/AAAAAAAAhtw/ddlskHFb4hk/s1600/DSC04696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHlavcMcRlg/U_UWKg33FmI/AAAAAAAAhtw/ddlskHFb4hk/s1600/DSC04696.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makeshift Bridge over the Allt Garbhlach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uBQSTs3fkvU/U_UWMJKmAyI/AAAAAAAAht4/i7GTPxscCrc/s1600/DSC04697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uBQSTs3fkvU/U_UWMJKmAyI/AAAAAAAAht4/i7GTPxscCrc/s1600/DSC04697.JPG" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruigh Aiteachain Bothy</td></tr>
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I arrived at the bothy at around 5:30pm, and headed inside to find two or three challengers and a few other backpackers here for the night. Peter and Jamie were amongst them, and Jamie was very happy to discover that I had brought his camera with me from Newtonmore today :-) I stayed inside and chatted for a while before heading outside to look for somewhere to pitch. About now Sue arrived after a long day in the hills between Glen Tromie and Glen Feshie; I chatted to her for a while and she decided to join me on my planned high-level route over to Glen Dee tomorrow - it would be nice to have some company for a change :-)<br />
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After pitching my tent on a pleasant spot near the river a couple of hundred metres away from the bothy, and cooking dinner, I headed back into the bothy to enjoy a wee dram whilst chatting to Jamie, Peter and a few other walkers. I was quite surprised that there weren't many more challengers here this evening, as previously in 2008 I'm sure there were 10-15 of us on the Thursday evening - perhaps they had pushed on further up the glen? Anyway, as tomorrow's walk would be quite long, with potentially 4 Munros to climb, I didn't stay up late and was soon heading back to my tent for a reasonably early night!<br />
<br />Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com0Cairngorms National Park PH26 3HG, UK57.011078005544171 -3.900725841522216857.00999750554417 -3.9032473415222166 57.012158505544171 -3.898204341522217tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115933671542867842.post-25911969339087249082014-08-14T20:07:00.000+01:002014-08-20T20:37:22.129+01:00TGOC 2014 - Day 6: Chalybeate Spring to Newtonmore<b style="font-size: x-large;">Wednesday 14th May 2014 </b><br />
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<i>An excellent high-level day over two Munros on the edge of the Monadhliath Mountains </i><br />
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Distance: 29.5km; Ascent: 680m; Dry and sunny, followed by showers; Mainly with John B<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" id="mapframe" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140514_TGOC_Day6.gpx"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://maps.alistairpooler.co.uk/osmap.html?f=2014/TGOC/20140514_TGOC_Day6.gpx" target="_"blank"">See tracked route in new window</a></span></div>
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I woke at around 5am this morning due to the cold - there was a heavy frost outside and ice on the inside on my flysheet! Therefore I added an extra layer and soon was back asleep for a couple of hours. The vast majority of the other challengers camped at Chalybeate Spring were heading east from here, whereas I was planning on detouring to bag a Munro: Geal Charn. This therefore meant that I set off walking alone at around 9am and followed the burn southwards to reach Loch na Lairige, which looked like it might be a pleasant spot to camp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgceykH4q38/U82Ip_n8JcI/AAAAAAAAhn4/kAYNXgIutho/s1600/DSC04608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgceykH4q38/U82Ip_n8JcI/AAAAAAAAhn4/kAYNXgIutho/s1600/DSC04608.JPG" height="253" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp by the Allt Mor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VFfJ-B_YbBc/U82IsfLqEjI/AAAAAAAAhoA/xg0TjqC1ZZU/s1600/DSC04611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VFfJ-B_YbBc/U82IsfLqEjI/AAAAAAAAhoA/xg0TjqC1ZZU/s1600/DSC04611.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crom Allt below Loch na Lairige</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzygYfLs0qQ/U82IuwbRDfI/AAAAAAAAhoI/2pXL9Xr4rjE/s1600/DSC04612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzygYfLs0qQ/U82IuwbRDfI/AAAAAAAAhoI/2pXL9Xr4rjE/s1600/DSC04612.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outflow of Loch na Lairige</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5lMZeMAgj2I/U82IwsFAFhI/AAAAAAAAhoQ/KTFfCyDXYcw/s1600/DSC04616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5lMZeMAgj2I/U82IwsFAFhI/AAAAAAAAhoQ/KTFfCyDXYcw/s1600/DSC04616.JPG" height="256" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch na Lairige</td></tr>
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From Loch na Lairige I followed the Allt an Iuit up past several large snowfields to eventually reach the NE shoulder of Geal Charn, where I picked up a faint path through the moorland. Around here I bumped into John Braide again! He had just come from the summit, but opted to turn around and retrace his steps with me to the large summit cairn of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=624" target="_blank">Geal Charn</a> <i>(Munro, HuMP)</i>, which we reached at around half past eleven.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDrtZ5EFUgA/U82IyhqQlCI/AAAAAAAAhoY/K4WTcTczseI/s1600/DSC04620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDrtZ5EFUgA/U82IyhqQlCI/AAAAAAAAhoY/K4WTcTczseI/s1600/DSC04620.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowfield SE of Loch na Lairige</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--fsoKJCVd7Q/U82I0aF5IrI/AAAAAAAAhog/ig3cv02wILY/s1600/DSC04622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--fsoKJCVd7Q/U82I0aF5IrI/AAAAAAAAhog/ig3cv02wILY/s1600/DSC04622.JPG" height="227" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to Loch na Lairige</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7VmVXm55t0/U82I2P0fDJI/AAAAAAAAhoo/XrHDvhRT9gI/s1600/DSC04624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7VmVXm55t0/U82I2P0fDJI/AAAAAAAAhoo/XrHDvhRT9gI/s1600/DSC04624.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowfields above the Allt an Iuil</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iHJjQyYb8ZI/U82I3SnwbCI/AAAAAAAAhow/PXDdGrWCuCs/s1600/DSC04626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iHJjQyYb8ZI/U82I3SnwbCI/AAAAAAAAhow/PXDdGrWCuCs/s1600/DSC04626.JPG" height="252" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Geal Charn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jOdpn6Hg87s/U82I5kHIgTI/AAAAAAAAho4/Kk4eeiafk3o/s1600/DSC04628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jOdpn6Hg87s/U82I5kHIgTI/AAAAAAAAho4/Kk4eeiafk3o/s1600/DSC04628.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geal Charn summit cairn</td></tr>
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John & I both had the same route planned for the next few hours, so after a short break we set off walking together in a north-easterly direction over the gentle rolling hills of the Monadhliath. There were excellent views in all directions as we passed over the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=6233" target="_blank">Carn na Criche</a> <i>(Corbett Top) </i>and the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=6232" target="_blank">Cairn Ewen</a> before reaching the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=3125" target="_blank">Carn Odhar na Criche</a> <i>(Corbett Top)</i>, where we picked up a line of fence posts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2pSqq3T1Dc/U82I7cM1_HI/AAAAAAAAhpA/FUUzgJRCftA/s1600/DSC04629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2pSqq3T1Dc/U82I7cM1_HI/AAAAAAAAhpA/FUUzgJRCftA/s1600/DSC04629.JPG" height="245" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking NE from Geal Charn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEAogibFkLg/U82I86-AIUI/AAAAAAAAhpI/cnAiiNwNemc/s1600/DSC04632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEAogibFkLg/U82I86-AIUI/AAAAAAAAhpI/cnAiiNwNemc/s1600/DSC04632.JPG" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carn Odhar na Criche</td></tr>
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From here we dropped ESE to seek some shelter from the brisk wind for a spot of lunch, before continuing on over <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=6234" target="_blank">Beinn Odhar</a> and the former Munro Top of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=628" target="_blank">Sneachdach Slinnean</a> before bumping into Chris Townsend and Tony Hobbs again. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgXj2u1L2R0/U82I-r03aoI/AAAAAAAAhpQ/iMzjRDgoelI/s1600/DSC04633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgXj2u1L2R0/U82I-r03aoI/AAAAAAAAhpQ/iMzjRDgoelI/s1600/DSC04633.JPG" height="248" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superfluous gate on the west slopes of Sneachdach Slinnean</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ej_1yDgs2CU/U82JAJpe1JI/AAAAAAAAhpY/7Ycvu4Hz_H8/s1600/DSC04634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ej_1yDgs2CU/U82JAJpe1JI/AAAAAAAAhpY/7Ycvu4Hz_H8/s1600/DSC04634.JPG" height="258" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Carn Dearg from Sneachdach Slinnean</td></tr>
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We walked together to the summit of <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=622" target="_blank">Carn Ban</a> <i>(Munro Top)</i>, before continuing on to my final hill of the day: <a href="http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=all&rf=621" target="_blank">Carn Dearg</a> <i>(Munro, Marilyn)</i>, whose summit we reached at around twenty past three this afternoon. As we reached the summit the threatening clouds finally started to rain, so we didn't linger long here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AamV0QmjHHI/U82JBsLlRbI/AAAAAAAAhpg/5m2E8bAOOrk/s1600/DSC04637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AamV0QmjHHI/U82JBsLlRbI/AAAAAAAAhpg/5m2E8bAOOrk/s1600/DSC04637.JPG" height="208" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John, Chris and Tony heading for Carn Dearg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixw8Oum9XAY/U82JDIbJKbI/AAAAAAAAhpo/P3eEFAWfefw/s1600/DSC04638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixw8Oum9XAY/U82JDIbJKbI/AAAAAAAAhpo/P3eEFAWfefw/s1600/DSC04638.JPG" height="251" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carn Dearg from the NNW</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v8lfHmDiU3Q/U82JFU0lZfI/AAAAAAAAhpw/I-r5k7szTsk/s1600/DSC04639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v8lfHmDiU3Q/U82JFU0lZfI/AAAAAAAAhpw/I-r5k7szTsk/s1600/DSC04639.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the remaining snow patches on Carn Dearg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxWkup4HEAk/U82JHHRqAKI/AAAAAAAAhp4/OfbyDW6d7S0/s1600/DSC04640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxWkup4HEAk/U82JHHRqAKI/AAAAAAAAhp4/OfbyDW6d7S0/s1600/DSC04640.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gleann Ballach from Carn Dearg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bzoRL0Maak/U82JImBql_I/AAAAAAAAhqA/jhHLx7rYzBs/s1600/DSC04642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bzoRL0Maak/U82JImBql_I/AAAAAAAAhqA/jhHLx7rYzBs/s1600/DSC04642.JPG" height="248" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit cairn of Carn Dearg</td></tr>
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We retraced our steps back to the bealach, where John left to continue on his high-level route through the Monadhliath for another day, whilst Chris, Tony & I descended NE into the coire at the head of Gleann Ballach. Here we bumped into a team of balloon herders, also known as Andy, Alan and Phil, whose cheese and wine party I had attended last night. After stopping for a chat, they continued down Gleann Ballach whilst Chris, Tony & I crossed over into the next glen to the east.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzTTUoHpNfo/U82JKkoa-7I/AAAAAAAAhqI/x0uUm4NfDRY/s1600/DSC04645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzTTUoHpNfo/U82JKkoa-7I/AAAAAAAAhqI/x0uUm4NfDRY/s1600/DSC04645.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alan, Andy & Phil in Gleann Ballach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hhWpOGXR9TA/U82JMt48HUI/AAAAAAAAhqQ/U0IersdnD3Y/s1600/DSC04646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hhWpOGXR9TA/U82JMt48HUI/AAAAAAAAhqQ/U0IersdnD3Y/s1600/DSC04646.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footbridge over the Allt Fionndrigh</td></tr>
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After missing the start of the path shown on the OS map, we had a steep descent down to the Allt Fionndrigh, which we boulder-hopped across before finding that there was a bridge a few hundred metres further downstream. By now it was around 5pm and as I was due to be meeting Martin in Newtonmore for a pub meal I picked up my pace and headed off down the vehicle track towards Glen Banchor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZujVRvEyYg/U82JOJ56jaI/AAAAAAAAhqY/7uAEXSJTocc/s1600/DSC04649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZujVRvEyYg/U82JOJ56jaI/AAAAAAAAhqY/7uAEXSJTocc/s1600/DSC04649.JPG" height="233" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up Glen Banchor</td></tr>
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Soon after joining the minor road, I came across a welcome sign tied to a nearby tree - free tea, coffee and cakes! :-) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jlmxFehN-qc/U82JP-v_G5I/AAAAAAAAhqg/Ppjgi9JuoYU/s1600/DSC04650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jlmxFehN-qc/U82JP-v_G5I/AAAAAAAAhqg/Ppjgi9JuoYU/s1600/DSC04650.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A welcome sign :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upIGFblhfBs/U82JRTgPX6I/AAAAAAAAhqo/pSnQYAqjwbA/s1600/DSC04652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upIGFblhfBs/U82JRTgPX6I/AAAAAAAAhqo/pSnQYAqjwbA/s1600/DSC04652.JPG" height="257" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Calder NW of Newtonmore</td></tr>
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Spurred on by the thought of this, I continued along the minor road into Newtonmore to reach the excellent Newtonmore Hostel, where I found Martin and I were sharing a room. Martin headed out to the pub shortly after I arrived, whilst I enjoyed tea and cake before unpacking, grabbing a shower and heading over to the pub to join him.<br />
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I enjoyed a most sociable evening in the Glen Hotel with Martin, Markus, Philipp, Laura, Louise, David, Ali & Sue amongst many others :-)<br />
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Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01813011804276191923noreply@blogger.com3