Local hills

This lockdown has been quite a challenge for one and all I'm sure. In phase 1, about to enter phase 2 there are lots of different shades of grey in the rules. I can cycle to some hills to walk in them, but I'm not supposed to drive to the same ones.. really it makes no sense.

Jack the lad

 I met Jack (travelling separately) in Glen Affric for a socially distanced hill walk. I was a little nervous going, but on seeing 4-5 cars and other walkers in the car park I felt happier with the plan.

On the ridge

looking back to the hydro/route in

We headed North on a new path (well maybe a year or so old) from the new walkers carpark near Chisholme Bridge. The weather was interesting, warm and foggy, but with the 50/50 chance that it would clear. Immediately it felt great to be out again in the hills.

misty snow patches

Following the hydro track we diligently used hand gel after opening/closing the 2 gates before arriving at the hydro intake. We saw a grumpy man heading out at this point...

down to the bealach we go. Loch Mullardoch behind

It was atmospheric and as the mist/cloud started to occasionally clear and give glimpses of far off hills I thought 'yep it's going to work out'.

Golden Plover

We picked up the path heading NW up the Allt Toll Easa and again got great glimpses of views always changing as the path split and we ended up on the SE ridge of Tom a' Choinnich. What a great path, not even a scramble, but dramatic with big drops to the left, and big snow slopes to the right coming into view through the cloud.

Onto the 2nd hill and it clears!

On the top we saw two walkers from Nairn and had a nice socially distanced chat before heading down to the bealach. I was tempted to head back at this point because the second hill was fully enclosed in cloud, but Jack was keen so we pressed on.

Looking back at the ridge we went up and the snow patches we passed

And I'm glad we did as we saw and heard quite a few Golden Plovers on the grassy rounded ground heading to the top of Toll Creagach the second munro of the day. Chatting on top the cloud cleared and we were treated to great views (that I forgot to photograph) as we headed down.

On the path out an adder sunning itself started us, and we saw lots of stone chats. A tonic of a day for me!