Monday 3 April 2017

HIGH & WILD SWIMMING ON BRAERIACH

High and remote, Loch Coire an Lochain, Braeriach

Fine spot for camping

The walk into the coire

Braeriach smmit

Sun going down on Braeriach

Ben Macdui, Lairig Ghru, Cairn Toul from Breariach

Ice, Loch Coire an Lochain

Loch Coire an Lochain from Braeriach plateau

Karen, her highest swim, so far!

Sunrise on Sgor Gaoithe

Lenticular clouds on Braeriach

The fab bike out of Glen Einich
Loch Coire an Lochain nestled in Braeriachs' Northern Corries is one of the highest named stretches of water in the British Isles and lies in a remote and beautiful setting. It's a fine spot for camping with magnificent views of the snowy corries and northward to Strathspey. Karen was keen to get a wild swim in one of the wildest, highest (over 900m) spots you could wish for. We biked up the wonderful Glen Einich on Sunday morning as the clouds gradually lifted off the tops and the sun shone merrily all afternoon. The temperature up at the loch isn't quite so warm this time of year, most of the loch is still with it's winter ice sheet intact. We set up camp mid afternoon for Karen to take a dip. There is now sunlight in the corrie until 7pm in the evening, even so you wouldn't catch me swimming in ice cold water! It was a glorious evening up on the summit of Braeriach, only 30 minutes walking from the lochside with those 'golden hour' views for photography. Overnight the wind picked up at tad but a glorious sunrise and the sweetest bike ride out, all downhill in time for breakfast at home. Brilliant!
I was testing out the Glowworm 800 sleeping bag again from Summiteer Equipment, a new company producing top quality goose down sleeping bags. So far I am really pleased and a great product.  Nice and cosy and full marks to them for producing a quality bag at affordable prices.

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