Footprints Across Scotland
Why not make a few of your own!
14th October 2016
A quick daunder up the heathery slopes of Meall Dubh (Black hill).
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After my trip into Knoydart I enjoyed a relaxed day wandering the beaches at Arisaig and Morar before a trip into Mallaig for a fish supper. The forecast was not great leading into the weekend so I decided to head for home with the idea of checking conditions around Glen Garry, if they were ok I would do a short walk. Heading into Fort William things didn’t look to hopeful in the heavy rain but as I continued north things eased and it was just a gentle drizzle as I got to the start of my walk. One possible ascent was from the west but information at the gate suggested an alternative from the north to avoid the ongoing wind farm construction. After pulling in at the lay-by 2km east of Mackenzies cairn on the A887 (NH254116) I donned waterproofs before crossing the road to the gate giving access to the wind farm/forestry roads. Good tracks eased the initial ascent up to around 400m. At the point were the track dipped a short way to its end I picked a line up through the grass and heather. It was not the easiest going but I made steady progress onto the ridge on the edge of the extensive wind farm around 600m from the summit. Meall Dubh gives grandstand views out to the west although they were a little obscured today. The impressive cairn provided a good windbreak and I sat in its shelter to enjoy a leisurely lunch. I varied the return by heading north down to Beinn an Eoin before picking my way through the heather alongside the developing gorge. Deer tracks provided a peaty path which eased the way down the steepish slopes. It was then a case of making my way over to the were my outward track had ended and retrace steps down to the road.
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