Carn Ealasaid GM/ES-030 is somewhat typical of the hills of Aberdeenshire. It’s roundy, heathery and a bit plain. Except, in a nice way. The heather is short, like it has been cut with the same lawn mower they use at Wimbledon and the roundy nature makes for easy walking, particularly when climbed from Cock Bridge. It’s position lends itself to excellent views, and on a nice day, it can feel like a walk along the top of the world.
Today was a nice day.
Mo and I set off from the small triangle junction and took the nice level vehicle track along the un-named glen. At Loinherry cottage and bothy, a few sheep showed the way to the vehicle track that eased and weaved up the hill. Short cuts were ignored, based on previous wet feet experience.
a more pleasant way than from the ski centre
The forecasted rain showers were all around us. Some came close and we were sprinkled with a few drops. A cool breeze kept us moving along.
Loinherry and distant Corgarff castle
Eventually we reached the prim and trim crunchy heather and the tiny cairn. Views to the west were best. Sometimes north reveals the Moray coast and beyond, but not today. Mo looked east to south, calling out recognisable summits - Bennachie, The Buck, Morven, Mount Keen, Lochnager - still holding on to snow.
easy walking to the summit
2m FM brought in notified friends and that was all. HF was always planned but was now a necessity. A bit breezy, so the usual cairn mast jam was abandoned for a more civilised spot back down the track, where a small cutting allowed for the only possible shelter.
the granite tors of Ben A’an
With the summit qualified on 40m SSB, or 40m QSB as it is now known, we grabbed a few photos, had a snack and headed back down the track.
MM0EFI and MM7MOQ, with Mo doing the job of the guy ropes
The showers moved away, the sun came out and the freshly flowering heather lit up in response.
the sky walk
Blaeberry (bilberry) mixed in with the heather. I wish I’d picked some! Sheep on the adjacent hill must have heard the dinner time bell. Without any prompt and with some haste, they trotted down various tracks into the glen, filing single file along the track, parallel to us and at the same pace. We all arrived back at Loinherry at the same time, the sheep all looking at one another, saying who’s idea was this.
mountain blaeberry
un-dramatic views and clearing skies
no trolls under this bridge
Our three and a half hour expedition was over too soon. I think Mo has the bug, so it won’t be too long before the next one.
