Date: Friday 27th September 2024
Company: Myself and Ann-Marie
Distance: 9.3km, Ascent: 562m
Time: 3Hrs 35Mins
Despite being my closest to home unascended Marilyn, I have put off an ascent of Burach for a number of years as every report I have read has advised of rough terrain. The Gaelic word Burach means "a right mess".
This morning, I decided to give it a go. Burach is one of twelve hills promoted a few years back to Graham status even though it's below 2000ft. Since the Graham list was created, Grahams have been hills between 2000ft and 2500ft. In my view Burach is a Sub2000ft Marilyn, not a Graham.
I parked in the Foresty Commission Allt Na Criche car park and then set off up the fantastic Allt na Criche track.
Route:
Allt na Criche information board:
The track allowed us to progress quickly up the hill.
Allt na Criche:
The excellent track continued to just beyond the edge of the forest. The terrain beyond was bloody awful.
Exiting the forest:
We made our way through long tussocks, bog and heather taking care not to snap an ankle. If you want to introduce someone to hillwalking with a view to them hating it and never wanting to ascend another hill, this is the ideal hill.
Loch Ness:
We followed the Allt na Criche towards Carn-nan Dubh Lochan.
Ascent alongside the Allt na Criche:
As we approached Carn-nan Dubh Lochan, we changed direction to head directly towards the summit of Burach.
Carn-nan Dubh Lochan:
With some relief we reached the large cairn at the summit of Burach. We were however only half-way and now had to return to the car.
Loch Ness from the summit of Burach:
Summit cairn:
At the summit of Burach:
After several kilometres of awful terrain, we reached the fantastic forestry track which we followed back to the car.
If you want to ascend this hill, I would strongly recommend doing so in winter when there is a good covering of hard snow to freeze the terrain and bury the long vegetation.
Several WalkHighlands reports suggest 5hrs to ascend and descend. We managed it in 3Hrs 35Mins, not bad for a couple of oldies. I suspect Ann-Marie will be sticking to Munros from now on
.