Hill: Cruban Beag
Date: Thursday 30th December 2010
Company: Just me
Time: 2Hrs 15Mins
Dog friendly: No, several fences
Yesterday, I ascended my 600th UK Marilyn.
Today, I ascended my 600th Scottish Marilyn.
I didn't have a map with me for Cruban Beag so I made up a route as I went
along.
I parked in a car park, just off the A9, at the turn-off marked Crubenbeg.
I stopped to take a few photos at the Falls of Truim.
Falls of Truim:
Falls of Truim:
From the bridge over the River Truim, I followed a tarmac track towards Crubenbeg House and B&B.
I then crossed a field heading towards Cruban Beag. I had to skirt round a bit to avoid an electric fence. It would be simpler to follow the sign marked Right of Way to Laggan.
Cruban Beag:
Cruban Beag:
Looking back towards A9:
I opted to ascend towards the large cairn at the North end of Cruban Beag. I followed a faint track towards this cairn, skirting below a crag.
Ascent towards crag:
Creag a'Chrubain crag:
As I approached the large cairn, I heard a strange noise below. Two men were
walking along scaring birds with what looked like large flags. Behind these two
men, another eight followed with shotguns. I think this estate must regularly
shoot birds as I found lots of bits of dead birds during the walk
.
I am not a fan of hunting, I prefer shooting with my camera.
Game hunting (full zoom):
Looking across A9 towards Meall Chuaich:
Large cairn (marked on map):
Creag a'Chrubain crag from large cairn:
The Creag a'Chrubain crag was easily skirted on the right. I next ascended to the top of Creag a'Chrubain.
View from Creag a'Chrubain:
Creag Dhubh:
The ascent of Cruban Beag was very steep. I had to use clumps of heather as handholds on the way up. I ascended directly up the middle in the next photo.
Cruben Beag from cairn at top of Creag a'Chrubain:
Was a bit relieved when the ground levelled-out. The remainder of the walk to the summit was easy.
Looking towards summit cairn and trig point:
Laggan hills:
Looking towards Creag Dhubh and Spey valley:
Trig point on Cruban Beag:
I took a few photos at the summit and then decided to try and get a photo of me sitting on the trig point.
Myself on trig point:
I was too slow on my first attempt to get on top
.
First attempt at getting onto trig point:
The descent towards Cruban Mor looked nice and easy, so I opted to carry on traversing the hill descending to the col between Cruban Beag and Cruban Mor.
Descending towards Cruban Mor and Am Binnein:
Looking back to Cruban Beag:
Descent:
Lichen-covered trees:
While this descent was easy enough today, I wouldn't fancy going this way in summer. There is lots of bracken which today had been flattened by the recent snow.
Lots of bracken:
Am Binnein and transmitter on 515m top:
This is a really good Marilyn, just 20m short of having Fiona status.
Would be nice to extend this walk by also including Cruban Mor and Am Binnein.