Creag Ruadh

Prior to my annual bothy trip with Graeme, I had some urgent family business to attend to in Elgin. I wanted a wee walk on the way up, which wouldn't be taxing considering I had a 10-mile walk into Culra later that evening. I chose this little yin and parked near Cuaich. I strode along the aqueduct and came to a suitable point, where I could take to the hill proper. It involved a direct approach really, down across the burn and up the heathery slopes. There isn't much to occupy the mind except for the irritated ptarmigan, the irritated bunnies and the odd little feeding hole - I presume that is what photo no.1 is? I was at the top within 90 minutes and it did have lovely views over to Meall Cuaich. I stopped and attempted a yoga pose i.e. headstand on the 10-second timer. Not wise. I fell on top of the cairn and felt a right f*d. I'll stick with downward dog asana next time. The return down the heathery slopes was nothing more than a run and a terrific find of a denuded sheep head with horns - my wife was enraptured when I gave it to her. Don't ask.

Meall nan Eagan and the Dircs

What is he on about? Meall nan Eagan - hill of the possible. The Fara and the Dircs - they all meet on this route. When I told C that we'd be Dirc-hunting, he said 'for Diggler?' Hence the inane title for another walk report. We were lucky, we got as far as the summit of the Fara before the heavens opened. This little walk has been written about a few times before and it intrigued me. Meall nan Eagan is a lovely little hill with cracking views over to the Dirc Mhor - we were keen on walking through the Dirc Bheag however as an alternative to the skirting of the loch. A word of warning - do not attempt in snow conditions - you are likely to break your leg or fall into the loch itself. The pass through is awkward in places although it is a place of great solitude and I had a nice shot of the loch itself from the Dirc. Once around it, we walked passed the big Diggler and onwards and upwards to the Fara. C hadn't been out in the hills much before and near sharted when a ptarmigan flew out of nowhere with its guttural warning. On the topic of birds, I asked how his budgie was that had broken its leg - he had managed to splint it with a couple of Swan Vesta and said I should have seen its wee face until he realised he had forgotten to take the sandpaper out of its cage. At the summit, we lunched, had fleeting views down to Loch Ericht, before a rapid retreat off the hill and on to a new land rover track NE of the hill. A cracking wee day stolen before the weather gods unleashed their aqueous deluge.