Above: looking west, with Loch Mullardoch visible and the knobbly top of the Corbett Sgorr na Diollaid prominent to the right.
Càrn Gorm
29 June 2026
I had read walk reports of people approaching from both Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Cannich. They always seem to mention bracken or it appears in their photographs. This tends to be less of an issue with the Munros as there is usually a wide path through the bracken. I have a dread of bracken as I usually pick up a lot of ticks. I believe that every creature has a right to its existence - except for ticks. Midges do not bother me much. Clegs are extremely annoying and give painful bites but I seem to only encounter them in certain places and to the best of my knowledge, they do not transmit debilitating diseases.
So I explored the map for other possibilities. In my early days of walking, I had a copy of Irvine Butterfield's THE HIGH MOUNTAINS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND, but as time went by, and I linked hills with wild camps and nights in bothies, I explored maps to pick out routes. Later, after I completed the Munros, I still had a number of remaining tops, so I would "create" routes that took in these tops, usually as part of circular routes. As my main objective was the top(s) and not the Munro, it led to different approaches. Also, as I like to visit bothies, the line of attack is different to those people setting off from a car park or lay-by.
In reality, I prefer reading maps to reading books. I feel that a map feeds my imagination more. Even from my school days, I was able to picture a place from the contour lines and other information on a map. This became even more true as I developed a familiarity with the Scottish landscapes and the different regions of the Highlands.
All of the above lead me to come up with this route. As is often the case with picking out a route with no written or online information, there were unknowns and the back-up plan would have been to cycle down Glen Strathfarrar and approach the hill from the north. I had no idea about access. I was aware of all the possibilities: locked gates, loose dogs, felling or overgrown forestry tracks.
So I explored the map for other possibilities. In my early days of walking, I had a copy of Irvine Butterfield's THE HIGH MOUNTAINS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND, but as time went by, and I linked hills with wild camps and nights in bothies, I explored maps to pick out routes. Later, after I completed the Munros, I still had a number of remaining tops, so I would "create" routes that took in these tops, usually as part of circular routes. As my main objective was the top(s) and not the Munro, it led to different approaches. Also, as I like to visit bothies, the line of attack is different to those people setting off from a car park or lay-by.
In reality, I prefer reading maps to reading books. I feel that a map feeds my imagination more. Even from my school days, I was able to picture a place from the contour lines and other information on a map. This became even more true as I developed a familiarity with the Scottish landscapes and the different regions of the Highlands.
All of the above lead me to come up with this route. As is often the case with picking out a route with no written or online information, there were unknowns and the back-up plan would have been to cycle down Glen Strathfarrar and approach the hill from the north. I had no idea about access. I was aware of all the possibilities: locked gates, loose dogs, felling or overgrown forestry tracks.
I parked at the Inchmore parking area near to the gated entrance to Glen Strathfarrar and cycled round to Struy Lodge, continuing between the farm buildings. Here the thing that catches the eye is the old concrete grain silo. I have not seen anything like this before. I assume that it is no longer in use, unless by a mating pair of barn owls. I followed the track to the right and then picked up a steep track heading up through the forest. As you may have guessed, it was overgrown with ferns growing up the middle of it. Walking, it would be fairly easy to avoid contact with the fonds. With a bike, that was a bit trickier. The track started with deep ruts and then turned to large stones that would require care cycling back down. It was hard work pushing my bike up the track
I followed the track to the right and then picked up a steep track heading up through the forest. As you may have guessed, it was overgrown with ferns growing up the middle of it. Walking, it would be fairly easy to avoid contact with the fronds. With a bike, that was a bit trickier. The track started with deep ruts and then turned to large stones that would require care cycling back down. It was hard work pushing my bike up the track and after a while, I abandoned my bike and continued on foot. That did not really turn out to be the right decision, as further up, the track levelled out and would have been much easier to bike and certainly conducive to a rapid descent. That said, it was also extremely pleasant walking. At one point, I briefly saw a hawk gliding between the trees. My research on Gemini has led me to believe that the most likely species is the goshawk, Accipiter gentilis. It seemed far too large to be an owl. I would expect a buzzard to be around the edges of the forest or over farm land. I see buzzards around my home on a daily basis and I do not think that it was a buzzard. I am also thinking a female as goshawks show sexual dimorphism, with the males being much smaller.
I was a little surprised by how quickly I reached the open moorland. The gate at the deer fencing had a chain and padlock on it, but there was a pedestrian gate to the right, the sort that not only make it difficult for red deer to get through but also people with bikes. Of course, if there are two of you, it is easier to pass it over the top of the gate or fence.
Needless to say, access to the side gate was blocked by tall ferns!
Beyond the forest, the track is good and would not be too difficult to cycle. It undulates with the overall gain in height being very gradual. On foot, it was delightful walking with good views. At one point a meadow pipit flew up from the side of the track. I inspected the heather and grass, and found its nest with a clutch of four eggs. This was the second time I found a meadow pipit nest within a week, having never seen one before! I believe that these are a favourite target of cuckoos, but these were all meadow pipit eggs.
Needless to say, access to the side gate was blocked by tall ferns!
Beyond the forest, the track is good and would not be too difficult to cycle. It undulates with the overall gain in height being very gradual. On foot, it was delightful walking with good views. At one point a meadow pipit flew up from the side of the track. I inspected the heather and grass, and found its nest with a clutch of four eggs. This was the second time I found a meadow pipit nest within a week, having never seen one before! I believe that these are a favourite target of cuckoos, but these were all meadow pipit eggs.
Further on, there is a raised area with a solitary tree. I really needed a telephoto lens to obtain the right shot with the misty mountains beyond, to add to the feeling of isolation.
Being impatient, I left the track too early which meant a bit more overall ascent than was necessary. Continuing along the undulating ridge, there were some tyre tracks at one point and further on, a depression in the peat that looked a bit like a stalker's path, but it soon fizzled out. As I approached the summit, it began to rain and while my Pertex smock offered some protection, I eventually donned a waterproof layer. The rain soon cleared, to be followed by sunshine. The photographs below were taken using a small tripod and a 12 second shutter delay.
Being impatient, I left the track too early which meant a bit more overall ascent than was necessary. Continuing along the undulating ridge, there were some tyre tracks at one point and further on, a depression in the peat that looked a bit like a stalker's path, but it soon fizzled out. As I approached the summit, it began to rain and while my Pertex smock offered some protection, I eventually donned a waterproof layer. The rain soon cleared, to be followed by sunshine. The photographs below were taken using a small tripod and a 12 second shutter delay.
I bought the Gore-tex smock above circa 1997 and it is still going strong. I do look after my kit!
I took a slightly better line on the return, contouring around the slopes. This put a bit more strain on my ankles but avoided additional ascent. After reaching the track and following it a little way, I headed off in search of the tree that I had seen earlier. It was a longer detour than expected. The weather had cleared and I could not quite get the photograph that I wanted. Mountains in the background distracted from the subject, so I got down low to the ground to take the photograph below. This was not quite what I had framed in my mind earlier, but the best I could do.
On reaching the forest and passing through the gate I headed down the forestry track. After a short distance, there was a junction with a track heading left. I could not remember this! My instincts said turn left as it seemed to follow the ridge but I continued straight ahead. This was more like modern forest track with drainage ditches and a hardcore surface. While the going was easy, there were fallen branches to negotiate and it definitely lacked the aesthetics of the upward route. By this time I had realised that I should have taken the other track, but rather than retracing my steps, I continued. The track reached the glen some distance from my bike. I tried to head across pathless terrain, which was quite hard going and required climbing an old deer fence that sagged under my weight. Beyond this, there was of course more bracken! I reached a point where I decided that it was best to drop down to a track a short way below. I came out very close to the concrete grain silo and walked between the farm buildings, before heading back up the track I had used for the outward route - I needed to retrieve my bike!
I looked at this when I passed it in the morning, but decided to push on. Is this structure for fishing from or for mooring boats?
I looked at this when I passed it in the morning, but decided to push on. Is this structure for fishing from or for mooring boats?
Writing this a day later, I have only found one small tick, but I have some other itchy bits, where I cannot see anything.