Mystery surrounds disappearance of golden eagle
CONSERVATIONISTS are concerned about the safety of a young pair of eagles after news emerged that another satellite-tagged golden eagle has disappeared in the Monadhliath Mountains of Inverness-shire.
Data from the two-year-old male’s transmitter showed he had been living in an upland area, mainly managed for driven grouse shooting, north of Tomatin, since early last year. He had stayed almost exclusively in this area until mid-December, when his tag stopped transmitting. LOCHABER AND LORN RAMBLERS
The walk leader is to be contacted beforehand for meet-up and start times. Car sharing usually possible and people can try before they buy. Further information at www. lochaberandlorn-ramblers.org. uk. Lochaber and Lorn Ramblers Group can be contacted by email on info@lochaberandlorn-ramblers.org.uk.
Sunday March 25
Meall nam Maigheach and Creag nan Eildeag, Glen Lyon This walk offers a Corbett summit, grandstand views of the nearby
An investigation by Police Scotland has not yielded further clues as to the bird’s fate.
The bird, fitted with a tag sponsored by SSE, before it fledged from a nest in the Cairngorms National Park, was paired to a two-year-old female, coincidentally also fitted with a transmitter. Data from her tag shows she left the same area for several days following the male’s disappearance, possibly searching for her missing mate, before returning to the territory. She has subsequently been Munros and beautiful Glen Lyon, and finishes in a picturesque Highland village for refreshments at the PO cafe. Start at the hut by the CP, NN582417, on the Loch Tay to Glen Lyon road, 1.2Km W of the summit cairn. Head NNW to the wall running up the hillside of the Coire Buidhe. Follow a path by the wall N to the summit of Meall nam Maigheach, 779m. Head N for 800m to a cairn, turn NE and descend to a col 1Km distant at 566m alt. Continue NNE to the summit of Creag nan Eildeag, 642m, and on to its summit plateau at 637m. To avoid the steep and rocky N aspect, head E down joined there by another young male, also reinforcing the case that the two-year-old bird has disappeared.
The missing bird and its mate were occupying a traditional golden eagle territory, but one where the nest has not been successful for decades despite good habitat and prey.
Anyone who can provide information about this bird is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, or to phone the confidential RSPB raptor crime hotline on 0300 999 0101. easy terraces between crags. On reaching easier ground, head NE to the path beside the Allt Gleann Da-Eig and follow it down to Roroyere. Turn W on the track to Bridge of Balgie.
Grade: M; Distance: 11km; Height to climb: 383m; Map(s): LR51, EX378, OL48. Meet at Longsdale car park in Oban 8.35am or Glen Coe village car park at 8.45am. Leader: Toril Frantzen 07788 264007.
Thursday March 29 Eastern volcanic rim, Ardnamurchan
A circuit of the eastern rim of the great Ardnamurchan volcanic ring giving very fine views of the volcano and the Small Isles.
Start on the Kilchoan-Sanna road at NM472669. Climb the deer fence and ascend the obvious gully to the summit of Creag an Airgid, 257m. Follow the ridge E over several tops to reach Meall an Tarmachain, 405m.
Descend steeply NE and recross the deer fence. Keeping to the highest ground of the NW/SE watershed make for the summit of Meall nan Con, 437m, marked by a trig point 2.1Km distant. Descend steeply WNW past some lochans and climb to the summit of Meall Meadhoin, 388m. Follow the crest of the ridge NNW to an unnamed summit, 262m, 1.7Km distant. Turn W to reach Meall an Fhir-eoin, then descend a steep, narrow gully and head NW to Lochan Dobhrain.
Follow the burn issuing SW from the lochan to reach the path to Glendrian. Follow the path S to the road and back to the start.
Grade: M+; Distance: Height to climb: 800m; LR47, EX390. Meet at Ferry slip fort 8.50am Leader: Andrew Gilbert 924722. 12km; Map(s): Corran sailing. 07808 NEVIS HILLWALKING CLUB Please see full walk details at www.nevishillwalking.club. If anyone would like to go out on the walk please contact club secretary Suzanne Theobald on 01397 701783 or email enquiries@nevishillwalking.club.
Saturday March 24
Carn Liath and Stob Poite Coire Ardair, Loch Laggan Park at Aberarder farm and follow the path heading NW towards Coire Ardair.
Approaching the birch trees, a small cairn at NN473882 marks the path heading north up the slopes of Na Cnapanan, 623m. From here, continue N up the broad ridge to Carn Liath 1006m. The route heads W along a fine ridge, over a succession of small summits, 969m, 963m, 991m and 1051m, to Stob Poite Coire Ardair, 1053m.
Descend to The Window, NN 427885, avoiding the crags, then steeply down the path to Lochan a’ Choire.
From here a good path back to the car park.
Distance: 18km; Height to climb: 950m. Suggested by Robert Paterson and Fiona Wild, coordinated by Liz Stevenson. leads