Three days in the Cairngorms

[Shewie]

I've not posted here for a while but thought I share last weekends trip ....



I got back late last night from a lovely wee trip north to the Cairngorms. It was to be my first visit to this area and I was told in good faith that it was gonna be hammock nirvana.

It was nice to leave the maps at home and join up with a pal who knew the area, this is one of his favourite stomping grounds so he knew it inside out.



My camera was still on macro setting for the first day until I grew a brain and realised, lots of iffy piccies and a camera that's on it's last trip.


Heading up the first glen in the last of the weekends drizzle
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We found a nice looking camp site in no time and got set up, we spent the rest of the evening catching up and generally relaxing. I was knackered after an early start and didn't see much past 10pm. Some piccies around camp 1 ..

Warbonnet Superfly and Teepee DIY
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Clean water only a few yards away
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My Superfly tarp and Blackbird hammock, Unsponsored 3/4 underblanket and Pipedream 400 as a quilt
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Pete's brew kit on the right, my one pot solution on the left :)
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This was our soundtrack for the night
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Packing up around mid morning we set off up the glen to explore the hills, looking back to camp ..
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A well deserved break, we must have done at least half a mile:)
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Stunning vistas
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Up the hill and into a mini Lairig Ghru
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Back down the other side and a glimpse of the next glen
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We're heading this way
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Bypassing the likely spot for the cold weather hang this winter
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Disused victorian lodge
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[Shewie]

continued ....


We mooched through the woods for a while, passing a tent we pushed on further up, another hammock nirvana
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Another night was spent huddled round various stoves consuming food and a fine malt, the next morning blessed us with a sunrise to remember
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All too soon it was time to pack up
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A better look at Pete's mothership
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Time to make tracks again, looking back to camp
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A rest in the sun
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At this point Pete announced he couldn't find his camera, out came the contents of his pack but it wasn't there. I had to be home at a decent hour or she'd go mental, with 7.5hrs of driving ahead we decided to split, Pete stashed his pack under a dead tree and I headed off for the car.

The trail back down the glen
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The last couple of miles were on tarmac and my feet were shot, I managed to make it back though, I brewed up, changed my feet and sat down for five in the car. By the time I'd loaded my car and sorted my head out, I'd driven up the road to meet Pete coming the other way. He jumped in and we headed for his van for caramel coffees and butter wafers, om nom nom.


Gear List:


ULA CDT pack
Warbonnet Superfly
Warbonnet 1.1SL Blackbird
Unsponsored 3/4 underblanket
Alpkit Pipedream 400 sleeping bag
Ripstop Weather shield
Thermarest sit mat/foot insulation
Terra Nova ti 900ml pot
Mini Bull Design Mini Atomic stove
Bushbuddy Ultra
8oz meths
Kenco 3-in-1 sachets x10
Cherry Koolaid
FAK
Wash kit
Poop pack
Dehydrated meals x4 breakies x2
Petzl e+lite
Meraklon wrist warmers
Berghaus Powerstretch gloves
Army wool headover
Trek Mates Polartec beanie
Outdoor Research Ninjaclava
Outdoor Research Transcendent down hoody
Outdoor Research goretex gaiters
Berghaus Paclite rain pants
OMM Kamlieka Race smock
Paramo Velez Adventure
Gsi hip flask containing Jura
Neck knife
Pacer Poles

[Ben Casey]

It looks like you both had a great time

[GwersyllaCnau]

Great Photos

[Roadkillphil]

Some amazing photos and a great location. :D

[bigzee]

Fantastic photos, and in one of the last genuine wildernesses in Britain (with proper pines). I've really enjoyed looking at those, so thanks for sharing mate!

[Martin]

Wonderful journal. Thanks for sharing. Very jealous; we must get a trip to Scotland sorted sometime sooner rather than later.

Martin

[cuppa joe]

Inspiring tale ,thanbs for sharing I love the pics.
Just out of curiosity do you know how much your pack weighed ?...

[Shewie]

Great Photos


Some amazing photos and a great location. :D


Fantastic photos, and in one of the last genuine wildernesses in Britain (with proper pines). I've really enjoyed looking at those, so thanks for sharing mate!


Wonderful journal. Thanks for sharing. Very jealous; we must get a trip to Scotland sorted sometime sooner rather than later.

Martin

Thanks for looking guys, glad you like the piccies


Inspiring tale ,thanbs for sharing I love the pics.
Just out of curiosity do you know how much your pack weighed ?...

I'm not too sure with that load, I'm guessing around 9kg, I'll be putting stuff away later so I'll try to remember to weigh it beforehand.

[comanighttrain]

Very nice! Will be heading up there shortly to tick off a few more munros

[cuppa joe]

thanks for sharing.
Thanks for looking guys, glad you like the piccies



I'm not too sure with that load, I'm guessing around 9kg, I'll be putting stuff away later so I'll try to remember to weigh it beforehand.

[andy202wr]

We went up there last year. Great views and great pictures.

[JEEP]

Beautiful pictures!

[freedom]

excellent pictures guys enjoyed looking at them and the weather look great for this time of year.
cheers

[Shewie]

Very nice! Will be heading up there shortly to tick off a few more munros


thanks for sharing.


We went up there last year. Great views and great pictures.


Beautiful pictures!


excellent pictures guys enjoyed looking at them and the weather look great for this time of year.
cheers


Cheers guys, I can't wait to visit there again soon

[markal17]

looks like a great place

[treefrog]

First I had to Google Cairngorms; what a great place. Thanks for sharing your trip with us. If I ever get to the UK, this is a place I want to see.

Jack.

[klause]

Scotland's fantastic, not been there since i was a young un.....Great pics.

[rossbird]

Had to miss a trip to the Cairngorms several years ago.
Your pics show just what I missed.
Thanks for sharing.

[wescobts]

Wow !! that was simply amazing, i so long for a trip as such. cheers

[Wham666]

It's fantastic up there, we went up in early October but we were woosy camping in the campervan! Just as well, the weather was awful but it didn't stop us. :)

[SJT]

Great journal!! Photos were excellent - seeing some of UKs green & pleasant land is a real tonic.
SJT - Abu Dhabi:cool