Comments on: Days Like This, No 6: Ciste Dhubh ??? a Highland Jewel

By: McEff

McEff — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 18:58:15 +0000

And if you’d sat in the car for another three hours or headed off into the rain, it would have only got worse. There must be a law ??? along the lines of Newton’s, Boyle’s and Ohm’s laws ??? that determines the outcomes of situations like that.
Gnarly’s a great word. I have no idea what it means but it sounds like a word that has attitude.
Cheers, Alen

By: Scott Blair

Scott Blair — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 18:43:13 +0000

Marvellous. It has however brought back embarrassing memories of the day me and my hillwalking buddy who shall remain nameless – Andy – drove all the way to the Cluanie Inn from Airdrie; sat in our car with our windows steaming up looking at the rain; didn’t fancy it at all so bravely repaired to Fort Augustus for lunch. By which time the sun was splitting the trees.

Gnarly – is that the phrase? ;)

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 08:59:26 +0000

Thank you ever so much.
Alen

By: dabawenyo life

dabawenyo life — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 01:37:24 +0000

What a wonderful view, especially the first photo. ;)

By: McEff

McEff — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 17:59:17 +0000

Hi Jo. I think I’m going to have to go back because I don’t recall any scary bits. It was just before I got some new glasses, so perhaps I didn’t see them.
But it’s a great mountain and just the job for a not-too-hard day on the tops. I can thoroughly recommend it if you’re in the area. The Cluanie Inn is very handy too.
Cheers, Alen

By: Jo Woolf

Jo Woolf — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 17:36:31 +0000

Hi Alen, Wow, that first photo is stunning by anyone’s standards, however long ago it was taken. What a view! Certainly well worth that decision – but it sounds like a gruelling climb, from the comments! I’m haven’t done many of the Munros but I know the feeling when you are up on the tops is just amazing, worth the sunburn and the aching limbs. Fantastic!

By: McEff

McEff — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 15:03:22 +0000

I think Norway must have more berries in its uplands than Scotland, Hanna. perhaps the sheep and deer eat them all over here.
I have not heard of that book but I shall keep my eyes open for it. It sounds like my sort of read. If I come across a copy I’ll mail it to you.
Cheers, Alen

By: Hanna

Hanna — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 14:32:02 +0000

Thanks for all the information, Alen. I was just curious regarding the vegetation. It may contribute to ensure a pleasant hiking. When we pause, we always spot the berries. It is easy to see if people have kept many breaks, they are all blue lips :-)
I have no plan follow the footsteps of you or Carol. I haven’t got that much glue to go with my boots. Normally I travel lightly.
Have you read: “Three in Norway by Two of Them” it is the party of Englishmen described in JA Lee and W. J. Clutterbuck’s classic 19th century travelogue. I would love to read it but I have not come across it yet. The places they travel is in my beloved mountains…

By: McEff

McEff — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 13:21:50 +0000

Hanna, if I recall correctly the vegetation mainly consists of heather and bog plants. The walk along the valley is very boggy, and there is a plateau below the summit of Ciste Dhubh which is crisscrossed with peaty streams and is very wet underfoot. It is a typical Scottish upland peat bog.
The summit ridge is pleasant and grassy, with areas of tougher vegetation that might well support bilberries ??? or blueberries as they are otherwise known. Over the ridge in Glen Affric there are ancient forests of Scots pine. And that’s about the total of my plant knowledge. If I said any more then I would be making it up. Oh, but there is a bannock forest at Auchtertyre just up the way on the side of Loch Duich.
Cheers, Alen

By: Hanna

Hanna — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 12:02:35 +0000

Lovely story, Alen. I enjoyed it very much. I looked in Google topographic terrain. It reminds me of the west coast of Norway, with long fjord arms and steep mountains.
It must be a great place to be. Isolated and very far away from residential areas.
What kind of vegetation is the there on the mountain? The highest point is 979 meters above sea level.
In Norway there are birch trees in 800-900 meters altitude when we are talking ‘my mountain’ <3 :-). Higher up there is the low-growing vegetation mixed with cranberries and blueberries that grow and colors the landscape beautiful green yellow and red disturbed by small streams there are always filled up with the last rain :-)
Do they grow where you walk the berries?

All the best,
Hanna

By: McEff

McEff — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 11:22:27 +0000

Ha ha. My mate got an electric bike when he was made redundant about five years ago and sold me his tailor-made Young’s racer for ??50. But he got fed up with it and got another racer instead.

By: mountaincoward

mountaincoward — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 00:54:56 +0000

Nope – from the Cluanie. I’d been warned I might not like it and I think I took that comment too much to heart and so decided upfront I wouldn’t! The ridge was just too airy for me at that time. I would like to try it again though and may well this June :-)

Don’t fancy a quad bike but you can get electric bicycles now – might fancy one of those :-)
Carol.
P.S. and you’re keeping as late hours as me now!