Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Munro 2007 - Day 11: 26th April
Thursday 26th April
A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag 936m (Munro 12) (Naked Munro 3)
Glas Mheall Mor 928m (Munro Top 3)
Carn na Caim 941m (Munro 13) (Naked Munro 4)
Distance: 22.1 km
Ascent: 1004 m
Time: 5:50 hours
Mountain name: A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag Pronounced: Uh Vooyernoch Vayk
Translated: The Little Yellow Hill
Mountain name: Carn na Caim Pronounced: Karn na Kyme Translated: Cairn of
the Curve
Weather: It was mainly clear over the valleys with cloud over the mountains. Cloud was
well above the hill tops and probably about 50% cloud cover. There was a light breeze.
Nature notes: The guidebook mentioned that there I a healthy population of Mountain
Hares in his region and many have been fitted with radio collars as part of a study of their
movements and life-cycle. Mountains Hares were very much in evidence and as well as the
live ones I did pass the skeletal remains of three hares during the day.
There were quite a few Red Grouse. Among the smaller birds Wheatears were common
and I did see one Stonechat. There weren’t many birds on the plateau but I did disturb a
flock of about ten Golden Plover just below the summit of A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag and I
got within about 5 metres of a Dotterel on the summit of Carn na Caim. The Dotterel is
fairly rare and it favours mountain tops and Tundra for breeding. It winters in North
Africa. The Golden Plover is a fairly drab bird in winter but in its breeding plumage it has
yellowish brown upperparts, a pure white band on the side of the breast contrasting with its
black breast and throat. Golden Plover and Dotterel are called Waders (or Shore-birds by
the Americans) but like most waders they congregate in big flocks on mud flats and
marshes in the winter but move into the moors to breed in the summer.
Environmental note: There are a number of big signs along the main road saying “No
Pylons”. This is because of a proposal to put 30 miles of 400,000V pylons through the
Cairngorms National Park from Corrieyairick Pass in the north, through Lagan and over
Drumochter Pass. These pylons will be 46-67m high which is massive compared to the 30m
pylons which already despoil Drumochter Pass. Doubling the height may mot sound drastic
but it will mean the pylons are 8 times as big as the present pylons as all the dimensions
will be bigger.
The Route: From just south of lay-by 88 on the A9 I followed the old quarry track up the
heather-clad to the ridge. The extensive summit plateau was grassy with occasional patches
of peat bog. A rough track followed the broad ridge for a bit then I followed faint paths to
the summit of A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag. There were no paths as I made my way to Glas
Mheall Mor. I had intended to retrace my steps but I decided to take a direct route to Carn
na Caim. There were no paths as I dropped down to Allt a' Chama' Choire with its
waterfalls and climbed Meall Odhar Mor and on to Carn na Caim. From here the remains
of a fence and then a track took me back to the quarry track which I followed back to the
A9.
Navigation could be difficult on this route in misty conditions.
Personal notes: It was nice to have good weather for the first time. I would call these
peaks hills rather than mountains. Once I reached the summit plateau I was on short
grass and even the peat hags were easy to cross. I carried tea making equipment with me
and had a mug of tea at my only break beside the Allt a' Chama' Choire which had cut
deeply into the plateau and had quite a good flow of water dropping down its waterfalls. It
was warm in the sun, but the breeze was enough to make it feel a little cool when the sun
was hidden by clouds. There were extensive views in all directions, particularly towards the
Cairngorms to the east.
I managed to take naked photos at the summit of the two Munros road and didn’t bother
to put my bottoms back on for the final section from Carn na Caim to the road.
Overnight: In a lay-by on the old route of the A9 and General Wade’s Military Road, south
of Dalwhinnie.
A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag 936m (Munro 12) (Naked Munro 3)
Glas Mheall Mor 928m (Munro Top 3)
Carn na Caim 941m (Munro 13) (Naked Munro 4)
Distance: 22.1 km
Ascent: 1004 m
Time: 5:50 hours
Mountain name: A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag Pronounced: Uh Vooyernoch Vayk
Translated: The Little Yellow Hill
Mountain name: Carn na Caim Pronounced: Karn na Kyme Translated: Cairn of
the Curve
Weather: It was mainly clear over the valleys with cloud over the mountains. Cloud was
well above the hill tops and probably about 50% cloud cover. There was a light breeze.
Nature notes: The guidebook mentioned that there I a healthy population of Mountain
Hares in his region and many have been fitted with radio collars as part of a study of their
movements and life-cycle. Mountains Hares were very much in evidence and as well as the
live ones I did pass the skeletal remains of three hares during the day.
There were quite a few Red Grouse. Among the smaller birds Wheatears were common
and I did see one Stonechat. There weren’t many birds on the plateau but I did disturb a
flock of about ten Golden Plover just below the summit of A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag and I
got within about 5 metres of a Dotterel on the summit of Carn na Caim. The Dotterel is
fairly rare and it favours mountain tops and Tundra for breeding. It winters in North
Africa. The Golden Plover is a fairly drab bird in winter but in its breeding plumage it has
yellowish brown upperparts, a pure white band on the side of the breast contrasting with its
black breast and throat. Golden Plover and Dotterel are called Waders (or Shore-birds by
the Americans) but like most waders they congregate in big flocks on mud flats and
marshes in the winter but move into the moors to breed in the summer.
Environmental note: There are a number of big signs along the main road saying “No
Pylons”. This is because of a proposal to put 30 miles of 400,000V pylons through the
Cairngorms National Park from Corrieyairick Pass in the north, through Lagan and over
Drumochter Pass. These pylons will be 46-67m high which is massive compared to the 30m
pylons which already despoil Drumochter Pass. Doubling the height may mot sound drastic
but it will mean the pylons are 8 times as big as the present pylons as all the dimensions
will be bigger.
The Route: From just south of lay-by 88 on the A9 I followed the old quarry track up the
heather-clad to the ridge. The extensive summit plateau was grassy with occasional patches
of peat bog. A rough track followed the broad ridge for a bit then I followed faint paths to
the summit of A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag. There were no paths as I made my way to Glas
Mheall Mor. I had intended to retrace my steps but I decided to take a direct route to Carn
na Caim. There were no paths as I dropped down to Allt a' Chama' Choire with its
waterfalls and climbed Meall Odhar Mor and on to Carn na Caim. From here the remains
of a fence and then a track took me back to the quarry track which I followed back to the
A9.
Navigation could be difficult on this route in misty conditions.
Personal notes: It was nice to have good weather for the first time. I would call these
peaks hills rather than mountains. Once I reached the summit plateau I was on short
grass and even the peat hags were easy to cross. I carried tea making equipment with me
and had a mug of tea at my only break beside the Allt a' Chama' Choire which had cut
deeply into the plateau and had quite a good flow of water dropping down its waterfalls. It
was warm in the sun, but the breeze was enough to make it feel a little cool when the sun
was hidden by clouds. There were extensive views in all directions, particularly towards the
Cairngorms to the east.
I managed to take naked photos at the summit of the two Munros road and didn’t bother
to put my bottoms back on for the final section from Carn na Caim to the road.
Overnight: In a lay-by on the old route of the A9 and General Wade’s Military Road, south
of Dalwhinnie.
Summit, A’
Bhuidheanach Bheag
Bhuidheanach Bheag
Summit ridge,
Carn na Caim
Carn na Caim
Summit, Carn
na Caim
na Caim
Allt a' Carma' Choire
A' Mharconaich
from the A9
from the A9
Ben Alder Range
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Summit, A’
Bhuidheanach Bheag
Bhuidheanach Bheag
Summit, Carn na
Caim
Caim