Hi,

We remember having the same problem when we were planning our route last year. I think our FWA headed up the B851 then round to Tomatin, we then would have cut through using tracks such as General Wades Military Road to Aviemore. To be honest though, it would have had to have been pretty awful weather for us to have used it. We weren't at all enthused by that FWA, and we had sleet, wind, hail & rain over the Monadhliaths and it was all fine. I agree with Alan's advice.

Alan is absolutely correct in his assessment of the going in the Monadhliath watercourses, but there's another trick to guide you. If you consider the worst possible conditions - thick mist, heavy rain, winds - then clearly you want to spend as little time as possible at a high elevation and make navigation as straightforward as you can. Look for handrails in the form of deep glens and watercourses. There are several places where these almost converge on either side of the high ground and a single bearing from the end of one declivity will get you over the col and into the corresponding one quickly and safely. Quite a few of the watercourses can be seen to act as funnels and once you're in an identified basin, following the burn will lead down in a fool-proof way to where you wish to go.

Would all Challengers please read the revised Challenge route planning notes. The requirements for FWAs have been re-worded this year and there is no mention of 500 metres (and never was) for a FWA. Also look at the check list which clearly states that a FWA is required for any route which may become impassable due to bad weather, by implication this includes low level routes.
While on the FWA subject please do read the route planning notes. As a vetter I am still having to return routes which don't have a FWA for Jock's Road, such a route will not get past the vetting stage so do yourselves a favour and include a FWA if your route is likely to include Jock's Road.
Also I have received several high level routes which include Munros and Corbetts. Challengers are required to indicate any Munros and Corbetts they intend to climb, easily done by including a C or M in brackets after the hill. Any route I receive lacking this information indicates to me that the Challenger may have little knowledge the Scottish Highlands and be unaware of the severity of the terrain they are planning to walk across. All these routes will be returned for revision so save yourselves extra work and do it right in the first time.
.......And finally.
Happy Christmas to you all!