Off to Braemar to another rented cottage from which I went with Andy and Sabiene, Arthur, Fraser and Sarah (no not that Sarah, nor The Other Sarah, but Sarah3) for a 15 mile walk in the “soft” – i.e., wet – Scottish weather.
We started from Glen Muick and took the route via Allt na-guibhsaich up Lochnagar. Whilst on the still huge path we were approached by a bedraggled walker wearing shorts and steel-toe-capped workboots who asked us for directions to get back to Glen Muick.
My feet were squelching (should have put my gaiters on at the car park) so I was tempted to turn back with Fraser and Sarah3 but instead carried on in order to tick off another two Munros, neither of which I can pronounce.
On the way up we met a couple who said there was no summit cairn. Unusual for a Munro. Well, of course there was a summit cairn – they had missed the summit in the mist.
We continued to Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, and then a long descent which, happily, included views, back to a point just 2 miles from Braemar. Here Fraser collected us; I was pleased about that as I was just beginning to get footsore.
We rewarded ourselves with a delicious meal at a bistro discovered by Arthur’s selfless research during the previous week, The Gathering Place – definitely recommended; I can’t wait to go back.
Thanks to Arthur for his hospitality, and to Andy and Sabiene for the lift.
Unfortunately, I reminded Anna that she’d already done these Munros, so maybe didn’t really deserve the celebratory meal!! π π
Despite the wet and cold, it actually looks like you all enjoyed yourselves. You’re mad!!!!
Oh yeah, and I’m glad to hear Arthur is taking pre-trip planning very seriously. π