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NORTHUMBRIA BACKPACKERS
The web site of the
Northumbrian members of the  Backpackers Club

Friday 1st May 1pm. Finish work, head home to pick up the gear and the dog and bomb up to the Linn of Dee yet again to round off a few outlying munros in the Cairngorms. Managed to get to Braemar by 7.45pm; not bad from Durham on a bank holiday weekend Friday afternoon and with a good delay at the Forth Road Bridge.

Alfie (the dog) and I set off about 8.15pm for Derry Lodge after leaving the car at Linn of Dee car park. Met the ranger on the way up and had a bit of a chat about our Easter troubles, see the previous report. Got pitched around 9ish still with plenty of light and got the stove on and a nice brew to watch the light disappear.

Saturday morning arrived with a few showers but these soon died out and the dog and I broke camp about 8.45am. We had a long day ahead and set off towards the first munro of Carn a Mhaim. We managed to get tangled in a bus load of charity walkers doing the Lairig Ghru, but we soon outpaced these and peeled off upwards towards the munro. Weather was kind again and the tops were clear with a cool wind. Munro no.1 bagged we headed for the next which meant climbing virtually to the summit of Macdui. We had a few showers on the way sleet, rain and snow upon passing Loch Etchachan across the ford and up the steep slopes to climb the granite tor of Beinn Mheadhoin and off the NE flanks avoiding the cliffs to the fords of Avon.

Across the fords with dry feet, the water only managed half way up the gaiters, had a quick look in the shelter and then headed east towards the bothy  Fairndouran Lodge. Up till now after the initial rush at Derry Lodge we had seen only a handful of people mostly around the Lock and the fords, but form here on nobody.

We took 5 in the bothy, neat and tidy and not as well used as others a bit more off the beaten track I suppose, then set off again to look for a pitch which was found after about another mile perched above the river Avon in a pleasant spot; 17 mile & around 6000ft under our feet and paws it was time to relax and refuel.

The usual few showers of icy snow through the sun then the light left us to recuperate. Sunday arrived with more frequent showers so I decided to take it slowly getting the kit together and sure enough the weather improved. Breaking camp we headed for the footbridge over the Avon and bashed through the heather onto the top of shoulder towards Spion Rocks and onto the high top of Beinn a Bhuird. It snowed most of the way but not heavy enough to don waterproofs and visibility was excellent with bursts of bright sunshine. Three down one to go.

Next was Ben Avon. Bearing East to avoid the cliffs then drop down and climb back up to the top of Ben Avon, more granite tors to climb to bag this one. Then return the way we came back to The Sneck then dropped  down through the woods to Dubh Ghleann where we planned to pitch. It was 4pm a bit early I thought to pitch so I consulted the map. We were only an hour or so from the car and feeling good so decided to keep going rather than hit the traffic back on the Monday. Back at the car just after 5pm we had covered about 4500 ft of climbing and 20 mile; this called for fish and chips in Braemar and a steady drive back to Durham.

Another superb weekend with brilliant sun and snowy weather.

Alfie slept for the week when we got home, alright for some!

Report and pictures by Graeme Tutin