Caingorm Ramble: Meall a Bhuachaille

Monday morning certainly felt better knowing we had a hike planned rather than work! It was our second day in the Cairngorms and we decided to visit an old favourite, Meall a Bhuachaille. It was a hot, humid and cloudy day as we set off through the ancient forest. The dense woodland proved to be an obstacle course with tree roots and slippy conditions but it was beautiful all the same. Birdsong filled the air and the smell of heather was intoxicating.

With a slight detour to Loch Uaine to see the emerald green waters, we pottered along in the direction of the Ryvoan Bothy. The landscape opened up showcasing purple heather and moody moorland, while the imposing mountains loomed over us. Snow dusted the tops of the highest mountains and I was in awe of this magnificent landscape. With no one else around, we took a peek at the bothy through the window before moving on.

The ascent was tough going on the legs as the wind battered us along the way but the views looking back across to the mountains more than made up for it. I could see the rain coming in and this only added to the drama of the landscape. Once at the top, we took shelter in the cairn and soaked up the 360 degree views. By now the wind had really picked up, but we were content enough to pause and enjoy the moment.

Never do I feel more insignificant than when looking at the mountains, especially the Cairngorms, these mountains are some of the oldest in the world with many tales to tell. As the weather slowly got worse, we made our way back down into the shelter of the forest. It was another walk with no one else around, the birds singing and our boots on the path making the only noise.

I had found it tough going as I had a bit of a dodgy ankle but looking at the photos I had captured made me smile, it had been more than worth it. We headed back to our tent where a cup of tea was much needed alongside some food, before we settled down for the night, hiding from the ever constant rain.