| Date | 06 May 2024 |
| Route | Link to Route |
| Enjoyable | |
| Difficulty | |
| Conditions | Misty, humid and dry! |
| Summits | ✔ (T) Creag a' Ghlas-uillt ✔ (T) Eagles Rock [Eagle's Rock] ✔ (T) Fafernie ✔ (M) Cairn Bannoch ✔ (T) Creag an Dubh-loch ✔ (T) Craig of Gowal ✔ (T) Crow Craigies |
Started a bit late this morning, 8:45, but headed up to the bothy before the easish ascent towards Carn an t-Sagairt Mor. Didn't bother with the Munro this time, contoured around the summit and headed up the main path past Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach.
Here I left the main path towards the old man which was hidden in mist today over the plateau to the first top of the day, Creag a' Ghlas-uillt, then a short trek over to Eagles Rock. Had my lunch here, unfortunately no eagles spotted, but mist was starting to clear and got some good views of Cairn Bannoch and Broadcairn.
After a bit more cross country I rejoined the main path and made my way back to Carn an t-Sagairt Mor and took the branch in the path towards Cairn Bannoch, but took in the third top Fafernie, before summitting Cairn Bannoch, probably the easiest Munro in this area.
From Cairn Bannoch I headed past Cairn of Gowal and nipped up Creag an Dubh-loch, getting a good view over to where I had my lunch at Eagles Rock.
Backtracking over the main path, I kept high around Craig of Gowal before dropping down through some boggy terrain before heading up to the fifth top of the day, Craig of Gowal.
From here it was clear that the trek over to the bellach just below Tolmount was a bit of a bog fest, but didn't fancy the long walk back in to mop up the last top left on the west side of the plateau, Crow Craigies. Thankfully since the mist had cleared a lot, I managed to plan out a route to avoid the worst of the bog fest, reaching the bealach was a relief, my legs getting a bit wabbit!
Craig of Gowal was a quick walk from the bealach, shame we didn't tick it off when we did Tolmount the month before! After a quick bite to eat, I headed down Jocks road. The path down from the bealach is steep and at times not very obvious, however there are a few small cairns and the odd old metal fence post to guide you. Once in the valley the next few miles is quite boggy and at this point quite energy sapping, once out of that the bothy is a very welcome sight indeed.
I perhaps overdid it for my first solo trek, but nice to clear the area, however I very much missed my usual walking partner, Ailidh, get better soon!!!
