Just after 5am I arrived in the small car park at Invervar, in Glen Lyon, reached from the B846 at Coshieville, and not surprisingly the car park was empty. I set off in semi-darkness across the road to what on my previous visit in 2009 was the start for the ascent of the Carn Mairg Group of Munros. This route was closed off and it took me a few minutes to locate the new signposted route a few metres to the west, just beyond the houses.
This route, which was a bit rough underfoot, soon rejoined the original track that ran through the forest where several new fences and gates had been installed. There were also a few fallen trees. On emerging from the wood at another gate there were more signs regarding the hydro scheme which had been constructed nearby and the route to take for Carn Gorm. This led up the east side of the Invervar Burn to just beyond one of the new hydro dams where an old rickety bridge took me across the burn.
The path now ran between the burn and the forest then beyond the tree line I crossed over onto the west then north-west ridge of Carn Gorm disturbing some deer.
On this ascent the cloud lowered and I was soon engulfed by it. A steady climb with a couple of easier sections led to the cairn marking the summit of this Munro. A bit further on was the collapsed trig pillar.
I descended north then north-east on a path that by-passed An Sgorr to its north-west to reach the col with Meall Garbh. Here there were some old metal fence posts which marked the route to the summit of this Munro. In damp misty weather and a cool breeze I sheltered behind the cairn for breakfast. A young chap, who had set off after 6am, arrived, spoke briefly then headed off in my intended direction.
Despite old fence posts the mist meant a bit of navigation was required to reach the Munro Top, Meall a’ Bharr, then it was a fairly straight forward climb onto the Munro, Carn Mairg. I then located the rocky and fairly steep path, the gradient later easing as it crossed vegetation to reach the col with Meall na Aighean. The cloud began to lift although not totally clear of the tops. From this col the path led onto Meall na Aighean’s west ridge and to this Munro’s summit cairn.
I headed over to the 974 Knoll then crossed over to the west ridge before following a path which returned me to the track on the east side of the Invervar Burn.
I then retraced the route back to the car park which was full although I never spotted anyone else on these hills except the young chap who passed me on Meall Garbh.
- Time taken – 7.25 hours.
- Distance – 18.25 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 1400 metres.