I left my car opposite the property at Balnagordonach, located on the minor road on the east side of Strathdearn and accessed from the old A9 south of Tomatin. I climbed over the gate in the deer fence as the metal lever to open the gate was frozen as was the case with the second gate a short distance further south-east where the vehicle track emerged from a small area of new forest plantings. I was then onto the open hillside with snow covering the track.
![Start of walk](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/01-Start-of-walk-2.jpg)
As I progressed along this track the mist engulfed the area and that was the end of any views for a while. I walked along vehicle tracks to below Carn a’ Gharbh-choire then it was through snow covered vegetation to reach the summit of this Tump, which appeared to be a clump of heather beside an old metal fence post.
I descended Carn a’ Gharbh-choire in a south-westerly direction but lower down the vegetation included rushes and juniper bushes making the walking a bit awkward. Beyond this area I commenced the ascent of Carn na Glaic Fhluich initially on a fairly steep gradient but it soon eased as I made my way to the cairn marking the summit of this Tump.
The continuation south-west led to a vehicle track which took me onto the north-west ridge of Carn na Lair and to a small knoll where there were some shooting butts and a new fence. This fence was followed west to the summit of this Tump where there was a cairn close to a radio mast powered by a solar panel.
![Fog Bow](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/02-Fog-Bow.jpg)
![Summit area, Carn na Lair](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/03-Summit-area-Carn-na-Lair.jpg)
I returned down Carn na Lair’s North-West Ridge as the mist began to lift and I could see the final hill of the day, Carn na Loinne.
![Mist lifting to reveal Carn na Loinne](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/04-Mist-lifting-to-reveal-Carn-na-Loinne.jpg)
![Grouse](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/05-Grouse.jpg)
However the underfoot conditions crossing to and climbing this Tump were quite rough and awkward. It was worthwhile though as the sun was out and I now had good views of snow covered hills.
![Strathdearn](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/06-Strathdearn.jpg)
![Carn a'Gharbh-choire from Carn na Loinne](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/07-Carn-aGharbh-choire-from-Carn-na-Loinne.jpg)
![Carn na Glaic Fhluich from Carn na Loinne](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/08-Carn-na-Glaic-Fhluich-from-Carn-na-Loinne.jpg)
![Carn na Lair from Carn na Loinne](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/09-Carn-na-Lair-from-Carn-na-Loinne.jpg)
![River Findhorn and Tomatin](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/10-River-Findhorn-and-Tomatin.jpg)
From Carn na Loinne I descended north-east, crossed the Allt Phris, and climbed onto the vehicle track which was followed north to the minor road at Press. It was then a short walk back to my car.
- Time taken – 4.75 hours.
- Distance – 10.75 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 410 metres.