Hills: Creag Dubh and Carn nan Gobhar
Date: Saturday 24th August 2019
Company: Just myself
Distance: 14.6km, Ascent: 955m
Time: 5Hrs
On Friday evening, I drove from Inverness to the Loch
Mullardoch dam car park where I parked up for the night. On arrival, the
midge were horrendous; opening the van door for just seconds resulted in
lots of midge inside the van. After a good but brief night's sleep, I had
some breakfast and was suited and booted and ready to walk by 5.40am.
It was my intention from the outset to ascend Creag Dubh and Carn nan
Gobhar only. Creag Dubh was my main target of the day as it was my final
Munro to complete from the original 1891 Munro list. There are 32 original
Munros no longer on the current list.
I set off walking as quickly as possible but despite going quickly the
midge were keeping up with me! I therefore had to stop to get the midge net
from the rucksack. It was much more pleasureable walking once the midge net
was on.
Looking back to Mullardoch Dam car park:
I was soon following a good quality track running alongside the loch
which was a pleasant surprise as my map showed only a footpath.
Loch Mullardoch:
The good quality track continued alongside the Allt Mullardoch, I
therefore suspected it would lead to a new small hydro scheme.
Looking back to Loch Mullardoch from the track alongside the Allt
Mullardoch:
I was correct in my thinking. I do question how much power these small
schemes produce and is it really worth putting in so many unsightly tracks
and altering the natural flow of burns for such little gain! Energy
companies are ruining the beauty of Scotland with too many hydro schemes and
windfarms and this seems to be perfectly acceptable to the Scottish
Government.
New small hydro scheme on Allt Mullardoch:
Beyond the new hydro track it was back onto the old track that I
recalled from my previous ascent in 2005. Soon thereafter I left the track
and went trackless towards the summit of Creag Dubh.
Looking back towards Loch Mullardoch:
The trackless ascent was hard work and I was conscious of ticks as I
progressed through the grasses and heather.
Carn nan Gobhar:
Once the incline eased-off, it was a nice walk towards the summit of
Creag Dubh.
Nice early morning light:
Heading for Creag Dubh:
Final ascent of Creag Dubh:
View north:
It was nice to reach the summit of Creag Dubh, my final original Munro,
on the 100th anniversary year of Hugh Munro's death. I suspect not many
people go on to complete the 1891 list as it is not promoted in many places.
WalkHighlands doesn't even cover the Munro Tops. Both the Munro Tops and the
1891 Munro list are available on this site.
At the summit of Creag Dubh:
From the summit of Creag Dubh, I made my way across to Carn nan Gobhar,
a current Munro.
Heading from Creag Dubh towards Carn nan Gobhar:
Looking back to Creag Dubh during ascent of Carn nan Gobhar:
I initially visited the large cairn which marks the lower summit before
carrying on to the smaller cairn at the actual summit.
At the lower of Carn nan Gobhar's two summits:
Sgurr na Lapaich:
Heading towards the summit of Carn nan Gobhar:
On reaching the summit of Carn nan Gobhar it was seriously tempting to
carry on along the ridge to complete the remaining three Munros. It was
still very early and it was a lovely day but a current ankle injury and
pulled muscle in my back made me stick to my intended plan. The remaining
three Munros will be there for another day possibly for a return with my
tent. Injuries, and getting older, are a real pain!
At the summit of Carn nan Gobhar:
From Carn nan Gobhar, I returned via trackless terrain towards the small
hydro scheme track aiming for one of two new bridges crossing the Allt
Mullardoch. Once onto the good track, I followed it back to the van.
Mullardoch Dam:
As my walk was complete by 11am, I still had plenty time to make other
plans. On reaching Beauly on the way back to Inverness, I noticed that RSPB
Tollie was only ten miles away. I therefore visited RSPB Tollie to see the
Red Kites. They are a wonderful sight to see. A few photos follow.