Friday 25 June 2021 - Carn Liath

With rain and strong winds forecast, we chose an easy walk, starting up Glen Ey from Inverey. So it didn't rain, we had a pleasant walk, and we were back down at Inverey by 2pm, having seen not a soul on the hill. Apart from a few herds of deer.

On the way to Inverey we had stopped to chat with a TGO Challenger, Patrick Deane, on his 14th Challenge and still going strong at the age of 78. We spoke to Gayle at TGO Control a few minutes later, so Patrick may have been a little surprised if he called in and they already knew he was at Braemar!

As indicated by these pictures, we enjoyed a good track nearly all the way.

There were convenient trackside rocks on which to enjoy elevenses. 

Fine views of the high summits of the Cairngorms were obtained from our 818 metre summit, a 'Corbett Top'. But the weather in that direction and to our west was distinctly dubious. We were happy to be a bit lower down in cool but fair weather. Around 0°C with windchill.

Tramping back down to and then along the track, we enjoyed good views and admired a wide range of wild flowers. 

Some of the flowers seen today:

Alpine Bistort

Bell Heather

Birdsfoot Trefoil

Buttercup

Chickweed Wintergreen

Cloudberry

Common Butterwort

Common Milkwort (pictured below)

Common Rockrose

Common Spotted Orchid

Cottongrass

Cowberry

Crosswort

Cuckooflower

Dandelion

Eyebright

Foxglove

Hawkbit

Lady's Mantle 

Ling

Lousewort

Marsh Marigold

Spiniest Thistle

Starry Saxifrage

Sundew

Tormentil

White Clover

Wild Thyme (pictured above)

It was cool, about 10°C in the valley, much cooler, with windchill, higher up. We were glad to regain the shelter of the trees.

Near the end of the walk we decided to hop across the stream and take the bridge over the river in Glen Ey. Somehow Sue managed to get a boot full of water. It's now drying by the fire in the cottage.

Here's our, mostly there and back, route - 15.5km with about 480 metres ascent, taking less than 4 hours. (Click on the image for a better version.)

Here's the route description from a little 'Deeside Walks' booklet.

The fish and chip shop provided our tea tonight, after we had encountered a couple more Challengers - Alan Ross, who has given up due to a slipping injury, and Alan Crossey. Mick Hopkins arrived. He has also given up. Then we bumped into Steve O'Hara, ahead of schedule as he took a short cut due to injured knees.

The next distraction was the arrival of Ann and Ulrich on their bikes. A complete surprise. We spent the evening with them.

The locals are very wary of tourists here...

"You never know" asserted the lady outside the fish and chip shop, "they may have come from Manchester!"

(Historic note: Covid rates are quite high in parts of Greater Manchester; they are also high in parts of Scotland.)