Having persuaded Lord Elpus to sample the delights of the colossal, teetering boulders in the glacial chasm of Dirc Mhor in 2005, the blighter has decided that for 2019 we should explore Dirc an Uillt Fhearna. This had been on our route sheet back in 2013 but foul weather (and mood, after walking north for six days) meant that it was missed for our FWA.


DIRC MHOR, 2005

Has anyone any experience of walking through Dirc an Uillt Fhearna? Is it a jumble of leg-breaking boulders or a wonderful grassy trod? The 1:25k map suggests it shouldn't be too tricky...

Looking for constructive help, here.

Thank you!

I can't help directly with this one Alan but the aerial imagery does rather suggest that it's a grassy passage and much less fearsome than the Dirc Mhor. Surely nothing could be quite as treacherous as the latter, quite the most ankle threatening balancing act which I've ever attempted with a heavy pack. The relief on emerging at the bottom was enormous, as I recall, a once only experience which I have no desire to repeat.I always warn folk off from this loose obstacle course of unstable boulders, though doubtless that'll be a gauntlet tossed down to the more devil may care participants in the Challenge.

Colin

Considered this one year, but the LR track which breaks on the E slope of the Dirc was a much easier option.

I'm with Colin on the Dirc Mhor, I don't think it should be attempted by a solo walker. If you had an accident, easily done, then you could lay there for a week or more: the crows would have a feast though!

Can you give a grid reference for this place Alan? I can't seem to find it by googling.

NN 521 930
...roughly...

I *do* like this place!

:grinning:

You ask a pretty obscure question in the morning and arrive home just in time for bed to find all the answers that you desire are laid out before you!

Thank you Colin. I still shudder at memories of Dirc Mhor; done on a scorcher of a day with the heat radiating from the cliff walls either side and the wobbling boulders the size of cars all around you. I've taken a good look at Google 3D view now and I think you're spot on.

Norm: Cheers fella - I had spotted the LRT on some photos from a Scottish walking website, but it's the Dirc we want to visit. There must be around a dozen of them in the Upper Spey Valley, all pointing down the line of the original huge glacier/ice sheet in its various formulations. Dirc an Uillt Fhearna also cuts across a pretty impressive Esker that runs down to Loch Crunachden, that we should be able to get a good look at on our way to the top entrance to the Dirc.

Peter: Spot on.

Paul: I see Louise has got there before me.

Louise: Thank you my lovely! You're a star.

Now all I need to do is plot Days 7-14. That'll be tomorrow's job. And perhaps Wednesday's too.


Thank you everyone!

Alan
xx

And the Dirc Beag is not for the faint-hearted either. Went into there from the east a couple of weeks ago and decided not to continue around Lochan na Doire-uaine under the crags on the south side but picked my way back again.

Yes, Kirsten, not for the faint hearted. We trotted down to Lochan na Doire-uaine to have a stab at the lesser Dirc after abandoning Dirc Mhor. We thought it looked OK from our 1:50 map, but it wasn't!

All in all it was a very trying day! :face_with_rolling_eyes:

Have you tried the Ca ma’ Choire? From the summit of A’ Bhuidheanach wander down the Allt a’ Chama Choire to end up at Sronphadruig Lodge. An interesting little excursion.

Peter, as soon as you use the word "interesting" I tend to substitute "knee wrenching" or "terrifying". :joy:

Oh Phil, you know me so well!:innocent:

Ah. The Cama' Choire.
:face_with_rolling_eyes:

I went that way with a much younger Mr Leyland in 1998 after A'Bhuidheanach Bheag on the way to the Lodge. Apparently Terry had left a bottle of whisky down there the year before and wanted to repatriate it. Quite why he had left a bottle of whisky to its fate I never understood. However, having taken one look at the hell hole beneath, (I had already unwittingly been Munro Bagging with the blighter) I put my foot down and instead we slithered our way round to Am Meadar and the plunge down to the Lodge.

And then, THEN, the b*st*rd cooked onions, garlic and chillies in olive oil in a pan only feet from my Akto as I was preparing dehydrated Rabbit's Droppings!

Pah! Rocky Gorges were nothing compared to that torture!