Day 11 - Monday 16th May
Lochcallater Lodge - Shielin of Mark
(21km / 1000m ascent)
We woke up quite late feeling remarkably perky and Stan & Bill were already up & about with the big black kettles singing away on the stove and fireplace. Coffee is always good and so is my 'Oatsosimple' to bed everything down. Then nip back upstairs and pack while downstairs S&B were cooking bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms and baked beans. This was a feast and we all piled in and then helped with the washing up. It was past ten o'clock when we left, but hey, this wasn't a huge day after all. Our plan for the day was to nip over Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Cairn Bannoch, Cairn of Gowal, Sandy Hillock, Broom Hill, Ferrowie, The Witter and camp at the Water of Unich. Sounds a lot - but it is only 22km with 900m.
All went well until we were on top of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, then huge black clouds started to roll in with hail behind them.
We took our pictures at the top and turned our backs to the wind to walk along the ridge towards Cairn Bannoch. It was easy walking, but getting quite blustery & very cold and then hail & snow started to come in. I took a look back towards Braemar - where it was all coming from - but it didn't look great.
Was it a good decision or a wimpy decision - I am not sure - but I persuaded Phil that we should take our FWA (foul weather alternative) and head on down to Glass allt Shiel. A little further down we met up with Morpeth & Mick, after herding a flock of dotterel about, and they provided a brew in the snow.
The trip down past Dubh Loch is quite spectacular, with wonderful water-slides and wild scenery and big black cliffs all around. It was a day to linger over, and so Phil & I plodded slowly down playing tag with Mick & Morpeth. There are a few boulders to clamber over and then a bit of a boggy bit along the loch side, but then a lovely path all the way to Glas-allt-Shiel bothy.
Apparently Charles & Camilla like this spot too - I can see why - it's a haven in tall, dark, soft trees with a wild Loch Muick alongside. The bothy itself is a bit of a gloomy affair downstairs and after a couple of brews Mick & Morpeth and Phil & I stepped out on our way to the Shielin of Mark. It was a lovely evening again and we felt like a walk.
At the Spittal of Glenmuick, Phil & I sauntered down to the visitor centre for a sit down on a chair and to check out some birds we had seen on the trip (they always have pictures of all the birds on the walls). Then we daundered up the Allt Darrarie on the excellent path and hopped over the top to land smack on the chimney of the Shielin. You sort of 'feel' your way there.
It was only ten past eight when we got there and the weather was still fine if a little chilly, so we bundled into the bothy looking for a bit of a social, only to find three bodies in sleeping bags all fast asleep!
We shut the door again a bit disappointed by this lack of camaraderie, and looked about for someone to chat to. There was a tiny little tarp job barely a foot high off the ground (must have been Bob Cartwright!) who said 'Hi' at least, but then only Mick & Morpeth who were out & about. The rest of the tents (about another ten) were all zipped up and snoring like blazes, so Phil & I splashed over the stream and put our tents up in splendid isolation to cook our dinners and share the last of the flasks.
All in all, an excellent day!
