Christine's walking & birds blog

Yesterday: Curious about the other route into the Fannichs from the weather station, we set off on a round walk: up through Altan Wood as far as the footbridge (as suggested by the wooden signpost in the car park and as followed by us on two hill-walks), and then returning along the alternative route by the side of the river. It seems a no-brainer as the track through the plantation rises steeply and then descends again to the footbridge, while the path along the river is almost level, with just a gentle rise.


As we walked up through the plantation we heard the bubbling call of black grouse, but failed to see any. A couple of wheatears were still around. After coffee and cake at the footbridge we set off along the river path. Along the slabby stretch of the river a grey wagtail made a splash of colour against the peaty bank and dead heather stems.


Another splash of colour in the otherwise drab moorland surroundings was a tiny wildflower which I've identified as lousewort - quite common, but a new one for me.


Across the Abhainn an Torrain can be seen the Corbett we walked up a couple of weeks ago.


So what's the verdict? From Greger's record of the walk it appears that there's little difference in length between the two routes. Obviously, for an ascent of the Corbett alone, the plantation track is better as the trees are on the flank of this hill. But when striking out for the more distant Fannichs, the main thing against the plantation is the unnecessary climb and descent before you even get near your hills; and the main thing for it is the cheering birdsong from the trees and the chance of seeing black grouse. The path along the river was fine now, but will get more overgrown as the summer wears on, and wetter and muddier in several places when the present dryish spell ends. Both routes have a stream crossing - with the river-path crossing possibly posing more problems after wet weather. It was quite pleasing to take note of all this and know we didn't have to feel too stupid for not having taken what seems at first to be an easier route!