I decided to climb the Marilyn, Creag nam Mial, from the east so I drove north on the A924 Bridge of Cally to Kirkmichael Road parking opposite the entrance to Pitcarmick House. I then headed towards this property descending to cross the bridge over the River Ardle then south towards the Sawmill. There were a few signs indicating the route to the Cateran Trail which avoided the house, the Sawmill, and another property beyond it.
![Road to Pitcarmick House](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/01-Road-to-Pitcarmick-House.jpg)
This vehicle track took me up the side of some trees, across the Cateran Trail then wound its way west towards Pitcarmick Loch over 3 kilometres away. En-route a hail shower turned to snow, began to lie and lasted for around an hour. The snow wasn’t that heavy so the route ahead was always visible.
![Snowing approaching Pitcarmick Loch](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/02-Snowing-approaching-Pitcarmick-Loch.jpg)
On reaching the loch a rough track ran below the dam then continued south gaining height. My plan was to climb the Marilyn first then head to its North-West Top but on leaving the vehicle track and following a wet and boggy quad vehicle trail I was now closer to the North-West Top. The quad vehicle trail came to an end at a broken crow trap so I crossed some burnt heather then as the gradient steepened long thick heather. An old stone dyke, an old stock fence and a deer fence all close together was reached but unfortunately the summit of Creag nam Mial North-West Top was on the other side of the deer fence. I crossed it and as the snow was now quite light I took a break at the highest point of this Tump.
![Loch na Brae and Lochan Oisinneach Mor](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/03-Loch-na-Brae-and-Lochan-Oisinneach-Mor.jpg)
![Route to Creag nam Mial](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/04-Route-to-Creag-nam-Mial.jpg)
Afterwards I descended south to discover that the fence had collapsed in places. It was a steep drop to the col with Creag nam Mial then I followed the fences and old stone dyke as I ascended this Marilyn. It was hard going through the long heather but a bit easier if I kept close to the dyke. Before the summit the fences turned south-west but the dyke continued to just below the summit cairn which was situated on top of a rock.
![Meall Dubh](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/05-Meall-Dubh.jpg)
![Loch Benachally](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/06-Loch-Benachally.jpg)
![Deuchary Hill](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/07-Deuchary-Hill.jpg)
![Capel Hill](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/08-Capel-Hill.jpg)
![Creag nam Mial North-West Top](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/09-Creag-nam-Mial-North-West-Top.jpg)
![Creag na h-Iolaire and Pitcarmick Loch](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10-Creag-na-h-Iolaire-and-Pitcarmick-Loch.jpg)
![Strath Ardle](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/11-Strath-Ardle.jpg)
With cloud in the west thickening I didn’t remain long at the summit and descended north through long heather, some burnt, then wet and boggy ground to reach the quad vehicle trail used earlier. I returned to Loch Pitcarmick and from there followed vehicle tracks through some burnt heather and towards Creag na h-Iolaire as it started to snow again. On reaching the cairn marking the summit of this Tump I found some shelter from the snow and took another break.
![Ben Vrackie and Blath Bhalg](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/12-Ben-Vrackie-and-Blath-Bhalg.jpg)
![Pitcarmick Loch and Creag nam Mial](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/13-Pitcarmick-Loch-and-Creag-nam-Mial.jpg)
Once the snow ceased I descended back to the loch then followed the outward route to my car.
- Time taken – 6.5 hours.
- Distance – 17 kilometres.
- Height climbed 610 metres.