17.3km, 770m + 3km cycle
Left the van at the parking area GR694997 7.30, and cycled along the track to Glenballoch and left the bike 8.00. Thoroughly enjoyed the walk in along Glen Banchor with its meadows and wild violas, to Dalballoch. Angled up the hill above the path to reach the col north of Carn Macoul and the ridge up to Carn Dearg 11.00. A small path led to Carn Ban 11.15 and the remains of the fence which wandered over to Carn Ballach 12.10. Reasonable ground dropped down to Meal na Ceardaich before the steep descent to the footbridge over Allt Fionndrigh 13.20. Fortunately the intermittent mist had lift and I could see the maze of peat hags around the 600m contour and dropped to the stream sooner than planned to avoid them. The track back to Glenballoch to pick up the bike was strait forward and got back to the van at 14.15.
Weather was mixed with some rain and mist but generally the visibility was good. Lots of ptarmigan with their fledglings which was lovely to see.
Area :
Monadhliath Mountains (Carn Dearg)
Monadhliath Mountains means "grey mountains". Running in a northeast to southwest direction, the mountains lie on the western side of Strathspey, to the west of the Cairngorms and to the south east of Loch Ness. The mountains are within the Highland council area, and the south and east fringes are within the Cairngorms National Park. The high point of the range is Càrn Dearg, at 945 m/3100ft, located 24 km south of Inverness.
