Day 15(9) : Loch Ericht to Kinloch Rannoch

Saturday 19th May 27km 832m ascent 1 Corbett

At some point during the night I woke with the wind and rain battering the tent and the sound of the water rushing past and realised that yesterday's nightmare vision of lochans and hags was all draining into the river by the tent. I peered out by the light of my head torch to see the river leaping and roaring over the stones but it seemed safely below my vantage point so I went back to sleep and dreamt that I was at home, the roof had blown off, the rain was battering on the ceiling and running down the walls!

By morning the weather had improved and I crossed the swollen river, by bridge, and followed the 'path' through the swamps to the Ericht Dam where I considered taking my foul weather route to the Bridge of Ericht before optimism decided that the rain and wind was moderating and once again I headed for the hills.

The rain increased steadily as I walked up the well surfaced road before climbing towards what I thought was a radio mast but turned out to be an anemometer on Beinn Bhoidhech, not another b***** wind farm.

The cloud then descended with vicious rainsqualls and my trousers, recently repaired and reproofed by Paramo, were sodden with water running down my legs and filling my boots. Paramo were very apologetic when I contacted them on my return and sent me some waterproofer, it was a pity they didn't put it on the trousers earlier! On the hill I was seriously reconsidering my earlier decision not to take my FWA as I struggled through featureless peat hags to find the summit of Beinn Mholach, which I was nearly shot-blasted off..

Down to the Allt na Duinish which, when I could see it, was obviously uncrossable but a relatively small detour up river allowed a crossing and I then decided that I had had enough and headed for Kinloch Rannoch down a good track to Annat.