Wednesday 26 April 2023 - Craiganour (4) - Carn Dearg

Carn Dearg summit

After another hearty breakfast, 16 of us drove to Rannoch Station Tea Room and indulged in tea, coffee, cake and postcards before catching the 11.09 train to Mallaig. Except we weren't going to Mallaig,  we were just going to the next stop - Corrour. The conductor chose not to charge us for the short journey.

We all walked up past stonechats to Peter's Rock - a memorial to a young life lost nearby. Then Graham, Phil and Sue took the low level route back past the remans of the Old Lodge sanatorium, to the Rannoch road. The rest of us went up and over Carn Dearg.

The air was clear and mostly warm, the clouds high, - superb conditions for an excellent walk.

Fighter jet pilots were ripping through the sky just above us and were clearly enjoying themselves as well.

Lunch on the summit, then an amble down to the road, where Richard's car had been left to ferry the drivers back to their motors at Rannoch Station. Thus we all got back to base soon after 6pm, in plenty of time for our 7:30 dinner.

Still sunny outside, but a gloomy forecast for tomorrow.

Today's walk was about 17km, with 600 metres ascent, taking 6 hours or so. 

Later - More pictures from today:

Rannoch Station

Group photo, with Leum Uilleim.

Chaffinches hoover up the crumbs.

It's a popular Tea Room and Visitor Centre.

Looking back to Rannoch Station and Leum Uilleim.

Looking ahead to Loch Ossian and Ben Alder.

View towards Ben Nevis.

Loch Ossian Youth Hostel.

Loch Ossian.

Peter's Stone.

The view from Peter's Stone.

Time to climb Carn Dearg, whilst Sue, Phil and Graham take the track past the Old Lodge.

A break on the way to the summit.

View to Blackwater Reservoir.

Carn Dearg summit - 941 metres.

Summit views.

A small lochan on the ridge.

It's a long ridge to come down. Rests were needed.

17km, 600 metres ascent, 6 hours.