It feels like ages ago I walked these hills a few weeks back, and a million miles away since I’m typing this in London. These two sit on the east of the A9, the road up to Aviemore and Inverness, and are part of what’s known as the Drumochter ‘Alps’. In and of themselves they’re not the most exciting hills, but they’re munros so they’re on my list, and they are shorter walks which comfortably fit within the December days. The weather was generally misty or cloudy pretty much everywhere, though the forecast suggested that the clouds might open up a bit on these hills, and I was hoping to get a glimpse of the views over to Ben Alder that Beinn Udlamain can offer.
The hike up this one was pretty uneventful, just a jeep track then a bit of a steady slog up a heathery slope. I was up to the top of Sgairneach Mhor first, and just as I was wandering over to the cairn, the winter sun came out to join me.
I toddled along towards Beinn Udlamain which involved a fair amount of descent before the schlep back up to the next top. The trudge up the slope took me fully into the mist which was hanging thickly, so no view for me, quelle surprise. Beinn Udlamain actually means ‘the gloomy hill’ and it was living up to its name.
I met a couple of walkers at the top of this one, who asked if I was doing all 4 munros, like they were. I felt slightly less pleased with my 2 munros for the day, but hey ho I’m not a morning person and I was having a leisurely amble rather than a full day march. Anyway, after the other walkers marched off, I snaffled my sandwich in the shelter of the cairn with some tea before starting my amble down.
Often I enjoy the way out more than the way back on my walks, but on this one I had an absolutely great time on the way down. My route was off-path down the moorland slopes covered in luscious, spongey heather and grasses. I put on a calm folk album – The Living Mountain by Jenny Sturgeon, which was inspired by the book of the same name by Nan Shepherd which is like a memoir or a love letter to the Cairngorm mountains. And as I sauntered along zigzagging my way down the slope like the slowest skier imaginable.. the blue sky showed up. Absolute bliss. No where I’d rather have been.
I was back to the van all too soon, but I drove on westwards towards Loch Laggan in hunt of a place to camp and the sky put on a stunning show. All in all a very good day.
Only Young Twice 