KYQ4: Carn na Drochaide

Carn na Drochaide from Linn of Dee Road

Saturday, 8 August 2015
Ascent: 620 metres
Distance: 11 kilometres
Time: 2 hours 23 minutes
Creag na Chleirich 650m 1hr 7mins
Carn an Drochaide 818m 1hr 39mins

Gregor had phoned and suggested a day of Munro bashing. I hastily agreed and identified two or three trips, all in the north-west because that is where my remaining 50 Munros are located and most of Gregor's 120 are also there. We decided on Gairich and Sgurr a' Mhaoraich by Loch Quoich, a good 3-hour drive away but just about in scope for a day trip. Unfortunately, as so often this summer, the weather turned and wind, low cloud and rain were forecast in the north-west. The only Munros to escape were in Glenshee and I had completed all of these. The solution was to go there anyway and let Gregor do a round of Glas Tulaichean, Carn an Righ and Beinn Iutharn Mhor and for me to drive on to the Linn of Dee from where I could climb my last remaining Corbett in the eastern Cairngorms.

It seemed like a lazy day for me at least so we were in no rush to start and I finally dropped Gregor by the Dalmunzie Castle hotel above the Spittal of Glenshee at 10:30, arranging to pick him up at 4pm. I drove on to Braemar, stuck behind a pair of motorhomes and then along the mesmerising scenery along the road to Linn of Dee. I decided to take the shortcut by nipping across the Victoria Bridge to Marr Lodge and then heading along the road to Linn of Quoich. The National Trust parking at the end was already full so I squeezed into a muddy patch at the end of the road. The walk highlands website recommended a route up via Creag a' Chleirich and I decided that I would follow it on the ascent but make a more direct descent to the bridge at Linn of Quoich. I am not keen on out and back walks.

There was a little-used track heading eastwards along the Glen with two or three old houses and some fine Scots Pine trees decorating the heather and granite slopes to the north. I found the path described by the walk highlands route just after Allanmore cottage. Unfortunately, it petered out after climbing 60 or 70 metres so I just headed upwards through a jumble of granite boulders until I reached a ledge that provided a wonderful view of the river Dee, Braemar with distant summits of Cairngorm peaks to the west and Lochnagar to the east. The hard work had been done and after a pause to soak in the views I headed up the heather slopes to Creag a' Chleirich, which at 650 metres offers good views towards Beinn a' Bhuird and Ben Avon.

There was a stiff breeze as I dropped down to the head of a gully and then began the steady climb to Carn na Drochaide. There were a number of paths all of which seemed to lead to deep carpets of heather. I decided to head up to the easy walking across the summit plateau. The cairn was to the west and needed rebuilding but it would take at least a couple of hours. I resisted the temptation, had some lunch and took some photos. I headed off to the south-west finding an easy broad ridge to descend. Again the path kept disappearing but it was a direct route and I was back on the track in very little time and at the car by 2pm.

I drove back to Braemar, once again crossing the Victoria Bridge and allowed myself 45 minutes looking around the town. The Fife Arms hotel had closed and looked in need of some repair. I was pleasantly surprised that a refurbishment was planned to make it both a 5-star hotel and the centre of community life again by 2017. I am not sure that these two objectives are mutually compatible but nevertheless, the fine granite building will be preserved. I have fond memories of it in the 1970's and 1980's when it had the timeless elegance of a traditional Scottish hotel. I had a look round the Braemar Mountain Sports shop that had sprouted a very well used cafe. I had had lunch on the hill so I drove back to the Spittal of Glenshee and along the private road to Dalmunzie Castle. Although I was 30 minutes early Gregor was walking down the road having completed his round in 5 hours. It was with some amazement that we arrived home at 5:15pm, more than 2 hours ahead of our estimated time.