A wintry Creag nan Gabhar!

After Knockfarrel yesterday I wasn't too keen on a long or hard day and my right soleus was a bit nippy. After a couple of short/fast races I usually end up with injuries so I erred on the side of caution and chose the Corbett - Creah nan Gabhar just south of Braemar on the A93 starting at the Bridge of Callater car park.

Climbing up onto Sron nan Gabhar

Loch Callater from Sron nan Gabhar with Cairn Bannoch and Broadcairn behind

I know this area quite well having done all the munros near here several times plus I had a great swim/run here earlier this year taking in Cairn Bannoch, Broadcairn and Loch Callater but I hadn't been to this side of the Glen before.

Looking North towards Braemar

Starting out on the Glen Callater landy track following the Callater Burn up for a few kms (incidentally the Callater Burn is a great spate kayaking Burn in high water!) before a track leads off to the right and winds it's way up onto Sron nan Gabhar.

It's a good track all the way but we had a couple of inches of snow and some iced up troughs so it was hard going in places but mostly good running a long the undulating top from Sron nan Gabhar to Creag an Gabhar (Corbett 834mtrs). 

Morrone to the left and Ben Avon and Ben a Bhuird at the back

Pano right into the heart of the Gorms 

Money shot!

The views looking NW over into the heart of the Gorms was spectacular! All the tops having a wee dump of snow over the last few days always makes it a special scene!

The route was short and sweet at 13kms/853mtrs. We could've done a loop which would've dropped us down onto the Glen Callater track but we couldn't face flat landy track so we just U turned and did an out and back.

Absolutely gorgeous day out in the first of the snow this year. Time to start wrapping up though and maybe dig the Arctic Talons out!

Oh, and the usual visit to Rocksalt and Snails in Ballater after the run for our 3rd coffee stop of the day just in time to watch a dog vomit all over the floor which was nice, especially for the folk sitting down tucking into their meals! Nom nom..