Cairngorms National Park

This is one of my favourite walks out to a small loch with a well placed bench for a brew.

Before setting off I texted a friend with the NGR of where my car was parked, an outline of my route, the NGR of the loch and my estimated time back to the car – just in case. It was lightly snowing and -3c when I left the car.

It was cold enough that I was glad of the gadget gloves I was wearing. The the ends of the fingers are treated so I can use my iPhone 6S camera screen controls without having to take my gloves off. For extra warm though the gloves are thin enough that I can wear them inside the Norwegian wool mittens my Mother bought me on her visit to Norway last spring. These mittens have a wind proof pre-shrunk wool outer with a softer wool inner and they are incredibly warm. They were not cheap but they are worth every penny.

Several sections of the path I used were flooded, with one length of about 150m looking more like a stream than a path, where the banks of a small river, the path forded, had been washed away.

The flooding did however make for some interesting ice over the running water.

An Lochan Uaine – completely frozen

The loch was nearly completely silent, except for a very occasional quiet bird song and the few minutes roar of my gas stove.

Heinz tomato soup, tuna, crackers and a chocolate bar – at one of the best outdoor restaurants I know!

shot through the snow

Of course once back at the car I let my safety contact know I was back OK.