Carn nan Clacha Garbha – This Tump was located on the west side of the B9007 Forres to Carrbridge Road. I parked at the side of the road at the junction with the unclassified road leading to Lochindorb, crossed the road, climbed through heather and onto its north ridge. The highest point wasn’t obvious so I visited a few areas before returning to the start by the upward route.
Carn na Leitre – I moved my car further south along the B9007 Forres to Carrbridge Road parking at the side of the road immediately to the south-east of Carn na Leitre where a rough vehicle track led onto the south ridge of this Tump. At the track’s high point I left it and crossed a mixture of heather and grass to reach the summit of Carn na Leitre although it wasn’t obvious so I visited a couple of points.
Thereafter I descended west, crossed some wet and tussocky ground and ascended the 475 knoll to its obvious summit. The descent south-west then south-east took me across more rough and wet terrain then I climbed to the vehicle track on the south side of Carn na Leitre and used it to return to the start.
Creag Coille na Maoile – I left my car on the west side of the B9007 Forres to Carrbridge Road beside an access road to a ruin, (grid ref. NH935288) crossed the road and climbed through long heather onto the north ridge of this Tump. I ascended its North Top visiting a couple of high points. I then continued south with a fairly steep descent before climbing its South Top again visiting a few high points. I couldn’t tell which of the two Tops was the actual summit of Creag Coille na Maoile. I then made a more direct return to my car through the long heather.
Tom a’ Thomaidh Mor and Carn Fhuarain – I parked on the north side of the A938 Carrbridge to Duthil Road at the entrance to Tolquhonie Wood and opposite Dalbuiack Farm as there was insufficient space left further east. I walked north-west along a vehicle track but this was taking me away from Tom a’ Thomaidh Mor. On coming across a path through the woods I followed it for a bit before leaving this path and commencing the ascent through the well spaced trees crossing a vehicle track as I gained height. The summit of Tom a’ Thomaidh Mor was reached but the highest point of this Tump wasn’t obvious. There were a couple of females nearby and I later learned that they were carrying out a wildlife survey in particular looking for evidence of Capercaillie.
I descended west to join the track I had crossed earlier and here met another wildlife surveyor. I then walked north to the end of the vehicle track and onto more open ground, a mixture of vegetation and young trees, before reaching the foot of Carn Fhuarain. The ascent of this hill was through heather and young trees although higher up they were a bit older and taller. I came across a small cairn then wandered around to an open area which appeared to be the highest point of Carn Fhuarain.
To the north there was a point shown on my map as one metre lower so I decided to include it. I descended through more trees and heather then climbed to the summit of the North Top which was on some rocks before returning to the South Top where I checked out the highest point again. Once satisfied that I had visited the summit of Carn Fhuarain I descended back to the track in Tolquhonie Wood and followed it and a path to my car.
- Total time – 4.75 hours.
- Total distance – 13.75 kilometres.
- Total height climbed – 580 metres.