Hill: Creag Ruadh (Drumochter)
Date: Saturday 6th March 2010
Company: Myself, Bob, Gregor
Dog friendly: Yes

Had a nice day out yesterday on a couple of Fionas. The first hill, Creag Ruadh, couldn't really be described as 'exciting' but did provide a useful warm-up before heading for Creag Dhubh which IS a great wee hill.

Creag Ruadh and Meall Chuaich from track:


Gregor ascending Creag Ruadh:


It didn't take long to reach the top where we stopped for a few photos.

Bob at summit of Creag Ruadh:


I got my photo taken to mark reaching the top of my 500th >2000ft Scottish hill:

Myself at summit of Creag Ruadh:


We chose to descend more steeply off the side of the hill to reach the track leading towards the Hydro-electric works.

Meall Chuaich and frozen Loch Cuaich:


Looking towards Carn na Caim:


During the walk back we passed quite a number of people heading for Meall Chuaich. They must have all had a long lie. Parked at the Hydro-works was the following snow-mobile.

Mmm, wouldn't mind a shot!:


Hydro-electric works:


From the works we walked back out along the track to the car. We then drove to the start of Creag Dhubh. opposite Auchmore farm.

Hill: Creag Dhubh (Newtonmore)
Date: Saturday 20th March 2010
Company: Myself, Bob, Gregor
Dog friendly: Yes

After spending a few minutes, ascending a vehicle track through a grassy field, we got our first views of Creag Dhubh. From a distance it looked a great wee hill. We weren't to be disappointed.

Creag Dhubh:


View from lower slopes of Creag Dhubh:


It didn't take long to gain height and we were soon above the wee hill Creag Bheag Uvie which has a monument on top of it.

Monument on Creag Bheag Uvie:


The crags of Creag Dhubh are only partially visible during the ascent but are really impressive when seen from the road-side. Lots of steep scary routes.

Creag Dhubh:


View of Newtonmore Munros:


Lots of hills below cloud:


Was good to reach the ridge and then traverse along it. What snow there was left on the ridge was very soft, wet and slippery.

On the ridge of Creag Dhubh:


Looking towards Cairngorms:


Gregor and Cairngorms:


Cairngorms:


Bob:


The ridge was much easier than it looked from a distance - just a walk.

Approaching summit cairns:


We spent some time at the summit admiring the views and trying to pick out some of the neighbouring hills.

Newtonmore from summit:


View from summit:


We returned pretty much the same way as our in-bound route.

Looking back along ridge:


Gregor descending Creag Dhubh:


Gregor and Bob descending:


On reaching a large patch of snow that wasn't quite so soft, we enjoyed a fantastic bum-slide

Gregor following my and Bob's glissade trail:


More views:


More views:


Haven't done that many Fionas to date but Creag Dhubh has to be up there with the best of them.