Carn na Drochaide

After a desperate attempt (by email and telephone) to re-create the Linn of Quoich bridge (washed-out in the December 2015 storm) failed, eleven Hikers and three dogs set off from Keiloch car park (just east of Braemar).

Ali, Susan, Anna, Peter, Chris, Linda, Paddy, James, Gordon, Eileen and Iain (plus dogs: Dylan, Isla and Harris) hiked in thick fog, by Invercauld House (newly re-decorated and adorned by artistic black sculptures).

First lunch was timed for 10.30am to co-incide with the fog lifting to reveal blue sky and some impressive Cairngorms with patchy snow-cover. The ascent of Corbett: Carn na Drochaide (818m) was warm and sunny, but during second lunch at the summit, the air temperature appeared to drop about 20C requiring gloves, hats and other warmies.

The group then headed north to Carn na Criche (737m)...

....before descending east into Gleann Slugain for a low-level return journey to reach the cars at Keiloch before dark. Some of the party went in search of the famous "secret howff" and after a false start were eventually rewarded by discovering this hidden shelter. Plenty of room for seven!