Scotland Trip
Our night by Loch Morlich passed with no problems at all. There was another Campervan and a motor home overnighting in the main parking area, and two people slept in a normal car in one of the bays near us. We woke to blue skies, sunshine, and a lake like a mirror. It also seemed really cold.
We set off for our walk at about 10am, which is quite good for us. The start point was at the Cairngorm ski centre, which is at about 600m, so we were half way up already! Our route would take us round to the west side of the Cairngorm plateau and up via Cairn Lochan.
Within a couple of minutes of leaving the van, we'd spotted the entire herd of Cairngorm Reindeers that we'd been looking for on Tuesday. They were all just grazing on the slopes beneath the car park. We then spotted a pair of Ptarmigan a bit higher up, which we'd never seen before. They're a sort of grouse type bird, but probably slightly less stupid, and not as common. A bit later on we saw some Snow Buntings, which are quite cute, chubby looking small birds which live on snowy mountains.
We stopped for lunch at about 1,100m when the views had started to open up. All of the higher peaks still had quite a lot of snow on them although it was fairly patchy. Two men passed us as we were eating, who made us feel rather over dressed and over equipped. They were wearing very lightweight summer boots, carrying 20L daysacks with a couple of bottles of Lucozade shoved in the side pockets, and were only wearing T shirts. In contrast, we were wearing winter boots, at least 2 layers (going up to 4 at one point), and I was carrying a 40L rucksack containing crampons and ice axe amongst other things. Claire also had a survival shelter in hers. Although maybe we had just a smidgen too many layers with us, we think they were far more under prepared than we were over prepared. Unfortunately they did not need rescuing at any point so we were unable to make any smug or condescending remarks to them.
After lunch, it was a pretty easy hike to the top of Cairn Lochan, which was a lovely summit with some nice craggy cliffs with icicles hanging off them. Rather disappointingly, despite being 1,215m high, Cairn Lochan is not a Munro, I assume because there is an insufficient drop between it and Cairn Gorm.
We had a short break for photos (which are probably quite good as the weather was behaving itself nicely), and then continued along the plateau. There were a few patches of snow ahead, although we didn't need any of our winter equipment. We carried our ice axes across one steep patch just in case we slipped, but unfortunately we didn't.
The final bit up Cairn Gorm itself was a real slog. I was absolutely boiling, and was down to only two layers. I probably should have gone for just the one really. We eventually reached the summit after what seemed like a never ending trek up a boulder ridden hillside. The summit itself was not one of the prettiest we've been on to be honest, but the views more than made up for it. It seemed like we could see the whole of the Scottish Highlands.
There was a family (who I assume had walked from the train station near the top) who were doing some serious summit hogging.
Eventually the dad persuaded the girl to get off by bribing her with lunch. We took our own summit selfies (although my solo shot will not be uploaded because I look likely trying to stand like a cowboy) then made our way back down the same boulder ridden slope again for a cake and coffee break before our descent.
The route down looked fairly straightforward on the map and the route plan. And indeed it would of been were it not for the ski runs being in the way. It was a bit strange seeing the skiers, as they were skiing on strips of snow amongst a mainly snow free hillside.
We made it back to the van for about 4.30pm after several detours round the skiers. I immediately collapsed into George and ripped my boots off, which had been hurting the whole way down. Either I lace my winter boots up too tight or they're not a very good fit, because the whole of the front of my feet at the top was hurting. As they were an eBay bargain, either scenario could be true.
Whilst I was giving my feet some TLC (babywipes and moisturiser), Claire had wandered off and appeared to be gazing at the lower car park in wonder. It turned out that the entire reindeer herd had decided to come and check out someone's VW Golf, and then pose for photos. I couldn't help wishing we'd parked George on the lower car park instead. After a while, two women in an official reindeer truck arrived and bribed the reindeer back onto the hillside with some sacks of what must have been reindeer treats. We think they must have escaped from their usual area.
We're back at the campsite at Dalraddy again tonight, as showers were needed, and we also need to do some laundry and charge George's battery, otherwise the fridge will stop working.
Tomorrow we are planning a paddle along the river Spey from Loch Insh to Boat of Garten (which is a town, not a boat). Then we will hopefully be catching a train or bus back to George, or possibly be hitch hiking if it all goes wrong.
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