Mount Eagle & Hill of Nigg

[foggieclimber]

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Hill: Mount Eagle
Date: Friday 8th January 2010
Company: Just me
Time: 1Hr 40Mins


The drive to Inverness this morning was the coldest I have experienced. Just outside Keith was -20ºC.

A wee bit chilly:


The drive to the starting point of Mount Eagle was slow progress – lots of black ice on the roads and many cars moving incredibly slowly. On arriving, I parked at NH639579

At the start of the walk there is a really tall transmitter.

Mount Eagle transmitter:


The initial kilometre was unexpectedly along hard compacted snow.

View from tree clearing:


View from tree clearing:


View from tree clearing:


The next kilometre, leading to the summit, was also quite easy-going as someone had already broken trail and I followed in their footsteps. Thanks

Track through the trees:


Track through the trees:


Masts near summit:


The final walk from the summit transmitters to the trig point was hard work – knee to waist-deep snow.

Summit trig point:


I stopped for a while at the summit to take in the fine views before returning to the car via the same route.

View from summit:


View from summit:


View from summit:


Ben Wyvis from summit:


Next, I decided to head for Hill of Nigg. Although Mount Eagle and Hill of Nigg are quite close together as the crow flies I found there is quite a drive between them.


Hill: Hill of Nigg
Date: Friday 8th January 2010
Company: Just me
Time: 45Mins

I parked fifty metres or so along from the start NH814703, which is less than one kilometre from the summit.

Despite this hill being short in both distance and ascent, it is well worth a visit for the views down the Cromarty Firth.

Looking across to Mount Eagle:


Rigs:


Ben Wyvis:


Start of track from road:


The ascent up the track, as far as the reservoir, was up nice compacted snow.

View from track:


From just past the reservoir to the summit was through untouched snow.

Ascent of Hill of Nigg:


Untouched deep snow to summit:


Looking across Moray Firth:


I used my GPS to confirm that I was at the summit as there is no trig point and the few stones at the summit were covered with snow. Summit is at NH8206370532.

Looking North from summit:


I returned to the car via the same route.

Looking back to my tracks during descent:


Back to car not long before sunset:


Enjoyed these two small hills for the fine views from an area I have not previously visited
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[donaldshaw]

A really good little report for two little hills! I can hardly believe the amount of snow you have up there! And that temperature will take some beating. Glad you had a good day on the outside

[Squiz]

The snow on Mount Eagle doesn't half cover a load of rubbish. This was the view from the summit when we visited this April

These wee hills are OK when you can't get to better.

[foggieclimber]

That maybe explains why I tripped a few times as I was going through the snow at the top of Mount Eagle
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[RCFC]

Heres the track in August, just a bit different

Three reports now on Mounteagle, shows how much attention these hills are now attracting
Well done FC for getting out in the conditions we have just now and respect for driving a fair distance to do some marilyns. I did wonder if the summit trig would be under snow on mounteagle.
Hill of Nigg I have not been up but have been on the road leading up to it countless times. I wont make a special visit to do it as I know at some point next summer I will be passing and so will take the chance for a swift up and down job then.
I planned to do a marilyn today as the forecast seemed quite good. I woke up this morning to find misty drizzle and very low cloud but I hoped it might clear. Took all my gear with me to work but by the time I had finished conditions were just as bad if not worse so I came home and I went to Inverness instead to pick up a Paramo top I had ordered. As I write this a blanket of freezing fog has descended and conditions are pretty unpleasant.
Might try tomorrow.
Good pictures and report-well done.

[foggieclimber]

Thanks RCFC, your previous report was very useful.
I stayed in Daveness last night and drove down to Aviemore this morning.
I ended up not doing anything as weather was a bit pants and the roads were awful. Took 3 hours to get home, a journey that normally takes under 90 minutes.
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[Hils]

Stunning foggie, kinda worth the effort eh, correction, defo worth the effort, fantastic photos, you have some great sub2's near you.

Especially liked the tree avenue, i really like walking up these avenues when the trees are snow covered, nice!!

[peterb]

An interesting report on a couple of hills near me, in fact I can see the transmitter from our house at night when its lit up. Foggie that must be 3 hills in a row you've been up with a transmitter on top.
Great light for your day out and good pictures.

[RCFC]

[Cuillin]

What a fantastic day you had there Foggie and although all your pictures are great I particularly like the one looking back down the track to the Cromarty Firth as you're eye is drawn into it.

As for -20oC outside Keith I've always thought it was a caul place!!
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Being on the hills gives you a sense of where you are, where you've been, where you're going and why!

[fmck]

Nice shots there. Wish I could of got out during the week rather than the overcast day I ended up with yesterday.

[kinley]

Can put up with a lot in terms of underfoot conditions when the sun is out like that

Damn! Wish saturday had been like that

[fertg1234]

Two great Rossshire hills with great views of my old stomping ground. fantastic day for it.