Meall a' Bhuachaille - 810m
Saturday 11th October 2008

Weather/Conditions: More good weather. Lots of sun but a helluva wind up top. Some amazing showers on the Cairngorms.
Accompanying: Solo


In the light of this walk, I could safely conclude that the Cairngorms are an amazing place. The main focus of this trip turned out not to be about hill I was on, but the views I could see from it. We were en-route to Fiona's and taking a break from the roads, I shot up this hill quickly. I was back where I started after only 1 hour and 55 minutes, although started at over 300m.

Ascent


Mum dropped me at Glenmore Lodge and I set of with the advice in mind that careful navigation would be needed through the forests. I don't know what that was all about, it was pretty obvious provided you match the ground to the map, as you do. I was on my toes concerning my location as I didn't want to make a mistake and veer off course. I didn't even know exactly what top above Meall a' Bhuachaille was, but it would all work itself out easily enough. I ended up by An Lochain Uaine (The little green lake), a simply beautiful place and while it conformed my position on the map, I went to the waterside looking in on the oddly green water, realising that based upon first impressions, the Cairngorms are superb. Additionally, I've heard they're like this elsewhere too and I knew that you wouldn't find places like this around Arrochar. They're it's all bare hills rising above thick plantations, which I love in it's own right, but An Lochain Uaine had it's own unique qualities. However I didn't have long to climb and was edgy about the prospect of only having an hour to get from bottom to top! I headed onwards to the top of the Ryvoan Pass, where I came across the bothy - it's a funny looking thing. I turned left and charged up the path. I found myself on the worst part of this trip as this was simply a broad path over featureless heather. A walk along the Ryvoan Pass would do me nicely but now I was at 400 metres, I was on my way to the top and definitely not stopping. I felt annoyed at having to compete with time, and bombing it up and down this hill didn't feel I was doing it justice. On the upside, the Cairngorms were outstanding - that being a correct description because they turned out to be so much more vast than I may have appreciated - large and flat but with so much character. To the east lay Ben Avon and if there's any odd looking hill then that's it. I always found it a bit odd. I was on top of Meall a' Bhuachaille at quarter past two. I'd started out only an hour before and now I was left with an hour or so to be back at Glenmore Lodge. It was a fast pace but one I'd never recommend. I could have done with some minutes to sit at the top however wind blasted it was. On an otherwise sunny late-afternoon, bits of rain were spitting and sheets falling around about turned the Cairngorms atmospheric.

Descent


The descent was exceedingly quick and I belted it down to the bothy, turning and not quite stopping till An Lochain Uaine. There I sat for five minutes, knowing I was ahead of schedule and from there I had an easy jaunt back to Glenmore Lodge. Mum wasn't about but I met her after five minutes walking by the roadside. From there we headed onwards for one more hour in the car. It was a nice walk to break up journey time, although not a hill to fly up and down. But when I'm back, Meall a' Bhuachaille will have my time.

Times (Time relative to 0.00)
(0.00) 1.15pm Glenmore
(0.55) 2.10pm Meall a' Bhuachaille
(1.55) 3.10pm Glenmore


Written: 2008-10-16