‘It is a badge of honour among hikers to have ‘bagged’ all 284 Munros, which to the uninitiated, might sound like a joyless mountain slog. But even for non-committed trekkers, a spot of Munro bagging is an infinitely exhilarating experience in the wildest corners of the British Isles.’ The Lonely Planet
This walk of sixty-five-plus miles is a Hielan’ Ways Safari, composed of animal related places, gathered together in the spirit of Munro bagging. Darker realities force themselves upon our attention, in habitat erosion, traps, wildlife crime and ‘factory’ shooting of ‘game’. Most of the place-names are taken from Gaelic – indicative of use and animals of cultural or cultic significance – while a few have been invented, to reflect contemporary fauna and human interventions, themselves representative of forms of ‘cultish’ behaviour.
In May 2014, a black water-vole, a protected species, was found in a mink trap in Glen Ernan. This spot marks the start of the walk.
Burn of the Black Water-vole (NJ 270 127) to The Dovecote (NJ 357 204)
The walk can be extended 30-40 miles, by way of The Deer Trap, and The Devil’s Park, giving a total of 29 animals ‘bagged’.
Distance: 65 miles, extension 36 miles
Ascent/Descent: 5500m, extension 2700m
Accommodation: camping
Transport: car to Glen Ernan, then cycle to start
Ascent/Descent: 5500m, extension 2700m
Accommodation: camping
Transport: car to Glen Ernan, then cycle to start
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| Hielan' Safari: CLICK TO ENLARGE |
Walkers should devise a route by way of:
Dog’s Craig
Cairn of the Eagle
Carn na h-Iolaire
Wee Burn of the Den
Little Allt na Saobhaidhe
Big Burn of the Den
Muckle Allt na Saobhaidhe
Blind Burn of the Pig
Caochan nam Muc
Dark Fairy
Shean Dhu
Hawking Knock
Cnoc na Sealg
Birdies Hill
Tom nan Eun
Roe-deer Hollow
Hill of Clais nan Earb
Fox-bit
Todholes
Birdies Burn
Allt an Eòin
Salmon Burn
Allt na bradon
Carn Daimh
Deer Cairn
Deerbone Glen
The Dovecote
Cow Hollow
Clais nam Bò
Hinds Crag
Creag na Gamhna
Birdies Crag
Craig an Eunan
The Deer Trap
Deer Stanes
Corbies Nest
Boar Stone
Craw Stane
Devils Park
Lambs well
Raven Hill
Cats Craig
Oxen Well
place-name translations: Alec Finlay
