Sunday 25 May 2008

Saturday. To Corrour Bothy

Linn of Dee to Corrour Bothy. Met George and his hiking buddy, Keith. I managed to hear THE football score. Rangers one by one goal, but at one point, Queen of the South scored 2 goals to bring them equal with the Wegies. Unbelievable.

--

IMG_0953s

Parked the car at the Linn of Dee at about 2pm, walking along in rolled up fleece sleeves, with sun-tan lotion on, and my boonie hat for eye shade. (maplink)

IMG_0957s

The target is the patch of trees in the distance.

IMG_0963s

Chewed the fat with Big Kev, who let me know that George and his trail buddy were about half an hour away. Unsurprisingly, in this weather, Kev was in no hurry to leave. he was looking for places where he and his lad could go wild camping. I think he's spoilt for choice.

IMG_0972s

I reached the White Bridge just after 3pm, and turned north up Glen Dee. I stuck to the west side, as I'd never been fully up that side (having walked part of it when walking off Beinn Bhrotain last summer.

IMG_0980s

From the west of the glen, the Bod stands guard, blocking the view of the Lairig.

IMG_0988s

Further up the glen, the Lairig Ghru becomes visible - the main pass through the Cairngorm plateau. indeed, a U-shaped valley.

IMG_1008s

After the path runs out, I follow the deer track across the sandy shore of the Geusachan Burn. The plan is simply to contour round and come in on the bothy. It's a hard life.

IMG_1009s

As it is now 6pm - had I been walking that long? - the sun starts to lower in the sky, allowing cracking views of the snow-lined side of Monadh Mór.

IMG_1012s

South back down Glen Dee - I walked up there. Approximate distances - Linn of Dee to White Bridge = 4.5km, White Bridge to Corrour = 9.5km. (tune in my head)

IMG_1014s

The bothy eventually becomes visible. (tune in my head)

IMG_1017s

As the sun starts to move behind the Bod of the Devil, was it worth the walk? In this weather, yes.

IMG_1025s

A chin-wag with George and Keith. They've been here a while (the path on the east of the valley allowed them to get to the bothy quicker than my saunter).

IMG_1033s

The bothy with its new toilet block - use it or lose it.

IMG_1032s

Dying sunlight picks out tomorrow's target - Carn a' Mhaim.

IMG_1035s

The mug and bowl is great (having arrived earlier that day). The cozy is 20cm wide x 24cm high. It fits a Wayfarer pouch perfectly. The cup kept the tea warm for between 15 and 30 minutes. The bowl holds 16 fluid ounces, and can fill most of the 18fl oz Aquagear filter bottle. Both are gradated with metric and imperial scales.

IMG_1027.sjpg

A group of phase-shifting red deer prance around the bothy.

IMG_1030s

And I discover an 'ole in the inner of my Akto. Jings.

6 comments:

Chris Cowell said...

Some fantastic weather up there! How did you hole your Akto?

Chris

AktoMan said...

Not sure, Chris. There's no matching hole on the outer. It is about opposite where the hook is for locking up the inner door. Maybe that had something to do with it?

Martin Rye said...

Found you’re Blog and it’s great. Looks like you had a good trip there, the Cairngorms are something special. My first Scottish backpacking trip was the 4000 summits, your report was good reading.

Thanks.

AktoMan said...

Thanks for the kind words, Martin. Did you do the 4,000's as one 'round'?

I've a few left to do (the Ben, Aonach Beag & Mor, and CMD, and Cairn Gorm). To be honest, I'm in no rush. With the price of fuel pushing up the cost of living, I'm looking at more cost-effective breaks.

Martin Rye said...

Done all 4000s twice from Aviemore to Fortwill, once for Charity and another time with a mate but he done his knee so we did not bag the Ben on that trip. Takes 6 days, It’s a good walk.

Have fun

Mark said...

Looks like you had a cracking day. Need to get up to that part of the country again. www.mark-corrour.blogspot.com Bring it all on home bud!