Outdoor Adventures: Schiehallion & Cairn Gorm

Monday 4 August 2008

Schiehallion & Cairn Gorm

(2.08.2008) Schiehallion: 10 km, Ascent, 1083m/ 3553ft

Early start for me and Steve as we headed north for a weekend in the highlands. The plan was Schiehallion; therefore we started at the Braes of Foss car park and followed the obvious path up north, then west on its rocky slopes to the summit before returning the same way. Time taken was 3 hours, the day was cloudy with sunny spells and visibility was clear at the summit. We then drove to Pitlochry for a chippy and stocked up on lager before driving to the south side of Loch Tummel to set up camp and chill with a few beers.

Steve at the start of the walk

Looking NE to Loch Tummel

Steve nearing the summit

Schiehallion summit

Steve on the descent

Setting up camp

Beers in Loch Tummel

Camp fire

(3.8.2008) Cairn Gorm & The Northern Corries: 11km, Ascent,1244m/ 4081ft

In the morning we drove north to Aviemore and had breakfast before booking a hostel for the night. Then we set off towards The Cairngorm National park. From the ski car park we began the circular walk following the path south west up to the heather moorland, crossing the Allt Coire an t-Sneachda. We continued onto the path, up onto the wide ridge of Miadan Creag an Leth-choin and up the steep stony terrain to the summit ridge of Cairn Lochan. Headed NE as our route skirted around the plateau at the edge of cliffs overlooking Coire an Lochain, along to Coire an t-Sneachda and up to the side of Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. The path bypasses the top of the Fiacaill a' Choire Cas ridge, along to Cnap Coire na Spreodhe and East up onto the western stony slopes of Carn Gorm to the summit. Stopped for a couple of pics before descending North to the Ptarmigan restaurant and NE down the ski paraphernalia back to the car park. Our average time was roughly 4 hours and the weather was cloudy but dry until the summit when it started hailing sleet and rain. Visibility was clear at the summit. Drove back to the hostel for a few cans and then went out for food. Ended up in quite a few boozers in Aviemore and smashed. Good times!