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OS Grid ref: NN 63228 75578
Lat/Long: 56.851613, -04.243000
There was a bit of clear sky first thing and I got a brief
view of the crescent moon. After breakfast I drove back down the
Schiehallion Road and stopped by the field where many large
vehicles were parked. They are connected with the filming going
on near Tullochroisk and as I stopped to take a photo a man came
out who was looking after the trucks. He said the main studio
was much bigger. I drove on over to Trinafour and the A9 to a
lay-by on the Pass of Drumochter below the Sow of Atholl. It was
gloomy and overcast weather as it set off down the old road and
under the railway to follow the stalkers' track heading up Coire
Dhomain.
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Under the railway. |
Sow of Athol to the left. |
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It was pleasant walking and I had no trouble hopping across the
first ford then onto the track again. It didn’t take long to
reach the left turn and substantial vehicle track across the
river. After the first zig zag the faint path leaves the track
and heads up across reasonable ground towards the mountain
summit which was lost in cloud. Below I could see a convoy of
vehicles heading up the valley and also a group of people and
dogs walking up the hillside. It looked like a large shooting
party with associated beaters and their dogs. |
Bridge over the river. |
Sgairneach Mhor summit trig post. 991m (3,251 ft) |
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It was steady going up towards a saddle then across levelling
ground to meet a rough vehicle track that headed straight
towards the summit. I plodded on as the temperature dropped to
5degC but there would be no views as I was soon in the cloud. I
could see the shape of the ridge on the map and it would have
been impressive if I could have seen it. The stony ground
levelled off then the summit trig post and surrounding low stone
wall appeared. |
Moss on the descent. |
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A few metres to the west was a nicely made low cairn.With no
view and being cold and windy I didn’t hang around but continued
SW for a while to leave the summit plateau. My plan was to find
a steady descent so when I got to the top of a descending river
gully heading north I started down on the east side of the
valley. I headed down across soft ground. |
Haircap Moss |
I was still in mist but eventually saw the valley bottom and the
end of the stalkers' vehicle track by the river. As I dropped
below the mist I could see a party of beaters waving sticks,
Presumably so they don’t get shot by those with guns. I could
hear a few shots but not many. I saw one grouse take off near me
so presumably there wouldn’t be much for them to shoot. I hopped
across the river without any problems and getting to the track
sat down for a while to have something to eat and drink.
I
set off down with the track snaking down the valley below. |
Hunt vehicle. |
Hunt vehicles. |
Hunt vehicles. |
Hunt vehicles. |
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Way ahead I could see several vehicles and at one side track
there were several parked up with many people about. What looked
like 2 army transporters passed down and later came back up the
track again. The vehicles I’d seen parked up later came down in
convoy. A I approached the railway a man came up behind who’d
descended the hills after climbing up from Balsporran cottage. |
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He was from Glasgow and was walking in the highlands for a week.
We walked together under the railway and up to the A9 where he
turned left to follow the bike track back to his car and I
turned right the short way back to my car. I then drove to the
car park by Balsporran Cottages for the night. |
Cartridge cases discarded on the track. |
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