Creag Gharbh
GrahamsCreag Garbh
|
Other hillsNone
|
BothiesNone
|
Distance/Ascent14km 495m
|
Estimated time4h 00min
|
NotesWarning: Do not confuse Ardeonaig with Ardtalnaig!
|
20 July 2023
Driving along the A84, I noticed that my driver's side wing mirror was missing. I believe that I use my mirrors a lot so I deduced that it had dropped off either on the campsite or during my drive north. The photograph was taken later, when I went back to look for it. I say my wing mirror; I should have said my wife's wing mirror as it is her car and I was preparing myself to have to 'face the music'.
Now my intention had been to climb the SHEE OF ARDTALNAIG. I parked up just past the phone box and headed off up the track. The walls on the hillside opposite seemed to match up with the map but I had walked down Gleanne a' Chilleine when doing Creagan na Beinne, which I had done almost five years earlier and nothing seemed familiar! On reaching a farmer rounding up the sheep with his son skilfully manoeuvring a quad bike, I asked about where the track headed around the hill and he told me that I needed to be three miles down the road. I had intended to park at Ardtalnaig but arriving from the east, arrived at Ardeonaig first! I was looking for a phone box as a landmark. Both have old telephone boxes! I said that maybe I would do Creag Gharbh instead. He said "It'll be nice up there today. Have a nice time". I had been concerned that I had got in the way of him rounding up his sheep but she was extremely friendly and welcoming.
As I had already walked almost a mile and gained some height, I thought that rather than going back down to the car, I should just change my objective. The problem was that I was carrying just an A4 printout of my intended hill and not the full 1981 Landranger First (metric) Series Sheet 51 Loch Tay map, which was back in the car. I knew that much of the route was on good tracks and visibility was excellent so while breaking the rules, I would be able to complete the walk safely. Furthermore, I did not did not want waste time as I needed to sort out the mirror and return the car to my wife as she needed it for a hospital appointment the next day.
As I had already walked almost a mile and gained some height, I thought that rather than going back down to the car, I should just change my objective. The problem was that I was carrying just an A4 printout of my intended hill and not the full 1981 Landranger First (metric) Series Sheet 51 Loch Tay map, which was back in the car. I knew that much of the route was on good tracks and visibility was excellent so while breaking the rules, I would be able to complete the walk safely. Furthermore, I did not did not want waste time as I needed to sort out the mirror and return the car to my wife as she needed it for a hospital appointment the next day.
I then turned over the map to see what was on the other side.
I was not in so much of a hurry that I did not stop to take photographs of the 'toffee coos'.
I even assembled my tripod for this one. Really, I could nave done with my 100mm lens but I did not take it with me on this trip.
I had not realised that I was on the Rob Roy Way. I first came across a young woman while walking the track that runs next to the pipeline. We chatted for a while. She had found the West Highland Way busy and had been kept awake by people snoring in the hostels so this time she had chosen a quieter route and was using B&Bs.
I continued around to the location of the communications aerial, which has now been removed, leaving just a concrete base. Then I headed up to Meall Odhar. The photograph below looks across to the trig. point of Creag Gharbh with the Tarmachan Ridge beyond.
I continued around to the location of the communications aerial, which has now been removed, leaving just a concrete base. Then I headed up to Meall Odhar. The photograph below looks across to the trig. point of Creag Gharbh with the Tarmachan Ridge beyond.
The dip between the two tops was a bit swampy but it was not difficult to find a way across and the slopes up to the summit were easy.
Looking towards Ben Vorlich and Stùc a' Chròin. This was the last photograph that I took.
As I approached the upward route, I saw another walker. He had gone the wrong way by continuing along the pipeline track towards Ruadh Mheall and had retraced his steps. He was a 66 year old man from Wisconsin, called Tom. He seemed to be a bit overdressed for the weather and looked clumsy over the terrain but he kept on going and was good company on the way down. I gave him a lift the three miles down to Ardtalnaig before driving slowly back to Strathyre to look for the mirror off the car - without success. I did get a temporary fix at the garage on the A85/A827 junction near Killin. My wife WAS NOT happy!
A few days later, I had both mirrors fixed as the passenger mirror had a chip out of it and the mechanic told me that the passenger mirror was about to drop off too. Now everything is as good as new.
A few days later, I had both mirrors fixed as the passenger mirror had a chip out of it and the mechanic told me that the passenger mirror was about to drop off too. Now everything is as good as new.