Day 7
Thursday 12th May - Allt Bhran to Allt Sheicheachan bothy
It seemed that everyone I had seen recently was heading for Glen Feshie when, next morning, I branched off south over the Minigaig pass, an ancient drove road. What a magnificent walk on a sunny day! The north end of the track was hard to find, but once I reached the heights, not only was the path easily visible, but some kind soul(s) had marked it with small cairns at intervals. (Cameron McNeish, you didn't read that.) Not only were these actually quite beautiful, being built of the gleaming white marble-like rock that lies everywhere up there (geologists, what is it?), but in mist or snow they might be lifesavers, and I would personally sue anyone who removed them... Those drovers of old must have been hardy, sleeping up here in all weathers wrapped only in a plaid. Did they cuddle up to their dogs or cattle to keep warm, do you think?
One definite Corbett (912m) and one that probably wasn't but had two Corbett-height tops with a big stone cairn between (no writing - what is it?) tempted me to deposit my pack and have a quick run up each - isn't it amazing how fleet-footed one feels on removing that semi-permanent appendage? But such sun-induced extravagance meant insufficient time and energy later to take me to Old Blair; rather surprisingly, I found myself alone in Allt Sheicheachan bothy. Now, you know how imaginings can turn into keep-you-awake nightmares in the dark? Having climbed up and snuggled down in the windowless loft (ladder access only from the windowless byre, with separate outer door), I suddenly worried that another walker might fail to notice my pack in the living area, and bolt the doors on the outside...
Every creak in the night had me bolt upright calling out "I'm up here!" just in case...
