33: Weird rock formations on Ben Avon

Ben Avon (Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe)   25th June 2010


Despite many weekends and trips to the Eastern Cairngorms, often camping at Braemar or sleeping in the back of the Espace, Ben Avon had remained unexplored.

The obvious route is to approach from the south, but following perusal of the maps and various books, I decided that an approach from the north would be more interesting - giving a good cycle run in, and a chance to explore some of its more interesting granite tors, and include a couple of extra tops on the way.


And so it was that Anne and I headed up the A9 (once again, but first time this year!) and then off to Grantown-on-Spey.  We arrived on a pleasant summer evening, and pitched our tent at the (deserted) campsite just on the edge of the village.


Next morning looked fine, so we made an early start for the drive up to Tomintoul (the highest village in the Scottish Highlands).  We parked the car in the car park at the south end of the village, on the minor road to Delnabo, at about 9.15am, and unloaded the bikes.

approaching Inchrory

Initially the track was a little rough, but improved where the main "road" joined us across the river at Delavorar.  The next hour or so was a delightful cycle run up the wooded glen, gaining height gradually, until we reached the shooting lodge at Inchrory.  Shortly beyond Inchrory, we abandoned the bikes at a bridge where the track turns sharply west to follow the River Avon.


It was now 10.30am, and a beautiful warm (but lightly overcast) morning, and already we were above the 400m contour.  A fine stalker's path took us steadily up on to Carn Fiaclach - good walking, dry underfoot.  Following the (sometimes intermittent) path, we passed to the west of Meall Gaineimh (1m short of being a Munro top).

approaching Clach Bhan (right) - East Meur Gorm Craig in the distance

I made a detour to explore the massive granite tors of Clach Bhan (below) - and had some fun exploring around and over them, including finding the hollows on top which were reputed to ease childbirth for any pregnant women who sat in them! 

Clach Bhan

The Great Sphinx of Ben Avon?

the hollows on top of Clach Bhan

After some clambering around on the (very rough) granite, I hurried on to rejoin Anne on the main path, and we continued another mile or so to reach the summit of East Meur Gorm Craig at 12.30.  This was our first Munro top, and the cloud was breaking up to give some fine blue patches, so we stopped here for lunch.  To the east, the high heather-clad moorland rolled away endlessly.  To the west, rocky cliffs fell away dramatically, with some snow lingering in sheltered north-facing gullies.

on East Meur Gorm Craig

From East Meur Gorm Craig, we dropped down to rejoin the path as it continued on towards Big Brae (below). 

heading towards Big Brae (with its own rocky tor)

Our presence sent a large herd of deer running away over the moorland (above).  

Once beyond the head of the coire, we struck across to the west, and up easy grassy slopes to reach the top of West Meur Gorm Craig (left), our second Munro Top of the day.  A fine little rocky top, perched above steep drops to the north, and looking across the coire to the previous top.

It was now 13.25, so we stopped here for a second lunch, and to admire the view, especially to the north.

From here, it was an hour's walk across the deserted plateau to reach the maim summit.

Initially, the route was across a flat stony area, then  we threaded our way up a short steeper section covered in boulders, Mullach Lochan na Gabhar.  A large tor ahead looked like it might be the summit, but as we reached the next skyline we realised that it was actually Clach Choursaich.  Up here in mist could be confusing - bad enough on a clear day! 

After visiting Clach Choursaich, we contoured around a wide depression, then up the final slopes to Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe (which might mean "the bed of the yellow stag" or "the hill of the bright one").

summit tor, Ben Avon

Impressive rocks!  Very similar to the summit of Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor that we visited later on in the year.   

Anne on the summit - a good spot for a cup of coffee!

Beinn a' Bhuird seen through a "window" of Ben Avon's summit tor

scrambling around on the summit rocks

What a fantastic place - and we had it all to ourselves!


A worthy Munro number 250!


We spent 40 minutes scrambling around and over the summit rocks, and admiring the views across to Beinn a Bhuird.


However, time was marching on, so at 15.20 we began our descent.   To begin with, we headed back NE along the highest part of the plateau towards Mullach Lochan na Ghabhar - easy going over short grass and small stones - then headed off NW toward Stob Bac an Fhurain.

East and West Meur Gorm Craigs from Stob Bac an Fhuarain (Lochan Gabhar just visible)

looking down the ridge towards Clach Bun Rubhtain

weird face on Clach Bun Rubhtain

There was time on Stob Bac an Fhurain for a 5 minute stop to spy out the route ahead, before heading off down the ridge towards the next point of interest - the dramatic rocks of Clach Bun Rudhtair ("stone of the needles"), Ben Avon's highest tor.


Beyond and below, we could see or descent route along the broad grassy ridge of An Druim Lom and back to the valley of the River Avon.


It didn't take long to get down to the rocky tor, where we marvelled at its weird shapes:  one part like a huge face, another like a small dog scrambling up the rocks, and another looking like a bird perched high up on the rocks! 


The 2 km stroll along the gently descending grassy ridge was a pleasure - with only the final slither down a steep sandy path to the river giving the knees any pain!


Debris entangled in the deer fence told a story of huge Spring floods, but today the river was in its bed and no danger to anyone.  


We followed the deer fence for a few hundred metres, until we could join the land rover track where it crossed by a plank bridge.


From here, it was only a 2km walk, on now weary legs, down past the Linn of Avon to our bikes by the bridge above Inchrory.


It was good to have a seat by the burn for 15 minutes or so, before heading off down the track/road on our bikes.


Although only gently downhill, gravity assisted our run down the valley, and we were back at the car at 7.30pm, exactly an hour from Inchrory.

the Linn of Avon

Summary:

1 Munro

2 Tops

24 km by bike

18 km walk

820 m climb

10 hours 15 minutes

(written 13/02/2011)