Toll Creagach (20.05.2015)

arngeir (Arngeir Syversen)

Fra Arngeirs log:

"20. May 2015
Start measuring from the village Drumnadrochit, at the west side of Loch Ness. Drive road A831, signed for "Great Glen", 20.1 km (12.5 mi) to the village Cannich. Go straight ahead in the 4-way junction and drive another 14.0 km (8.7 mi), and then turn left in the junction below Loch Mullardoch. Drive the final 1.0 km (0.6 mi) up to the car park by the dam.
Start your walk by heading back 80 metres down the road and then turn right onto a private road. Follow this road 290 metres up to a "cabin", turn right, and then continue towards a stile. Climb the stile and follow the old path leading into the valley. When you get above the forest gradually start turning right and aim for the top Creag a' Bhaca on the north-east side of Toll Creagach. Find your best route uphill and then continue in path-less terrain all the way up to the Toll Creagach summit plateau.
From Toll Creagach continue directly east down to 830m and turn left in order to find your way back towards your trail head.

Erling, Håvard and I all met at Gardermoen airport and got the same flight to Aberdeen. After a short pit-stop we continued towards Drumnadrochit, where we installed ourselves at the Fiddler's. We then did a little bit of shopping before starting to discuss what hike to take on. I was in favour of doing the easier Meall h-Eilrig, just north of Drumnadrochit, but in particular Håvard was much more keen on having a shot at Toll Creagach from north. And after some discussions back-and-forth I eventually got more and more positive to Håvard's idea.
From the trail head at Loch Mullardoch we found a private road leading uphill but it ended after less than 300 metres. From here we found a wet and boggy old path which took us up above the forest, from where we had to make a decision; the direct route to Creag a' Bhaca and Toll Creagach or the maybe slightly longer hike into the valley. We decided to do both, ascend up to Creag a' Bhaca and Toll Creagach, and then descend via its east slopes and come back down through the valley. This turned out fairly well, and with a couple of stops along the way we had a fine walk, bar the boggy sections. And back down at the car it was hit-and-run in order to make it back to the Fiddler's in time for our pre-reserved dinner table, which we missed by a margin. But with flexibility amongst the Fiddler's staff and our keenness to have a pint before getting food we were well taken care of..."

Bilder:
http://www.haramfjell.com/Trip_photos/2015/TollCreagach_20150520/TollCreagach_20150520.htm http://www.haramfjell.com/Trip_photos/2015/TollCreagach_20150520/TollCreagach_20150520.htm