Bridge of Orchy

Beinn na Lap Above Loch Ossian

This 3-day excursion followed on directly from Matt’s Atholl trip and involved some interesting logistics and remote hills.  It was a trip that needed doing before the days got much shorter with the onset of winter.

Stob Ghabhar & Stob a’ Choire Odhair

Stob Ghabhar From Near Forest Lodge

Starting from the walker’s car park ½ Km short of Forest Lodge on the old road out of Bridge of Orchy, we crossed Victoria Bridge and headed W alongside the Abhainn Shira.  We saw our cloud-enshrouded hills soon after leaving the pinewoods and followed the track to the world’s smallest climbing hut before turning N and taking the stalker’s path up into the higher ground.

Stob a’ Choire Odhair

Crossing a burn at about 450m, we climbed its W bank up a broad ridge on an excellent stalker’s path that lead, in time, into cloud past a family of ptarmigan and on to our first summit of the day: Stob a’ Choire Odhair (945m; peak of the dun-coloured corrie).  On a clear day this summit gives expansive views across Rannoch Moor to the E and closer to hand, the peaks of the Blackmount to the N.  But alas, not today!

Aonach Eagach & Stob Ghabhar

Descending the mountain’s W ridge (on a compass bearing), we soon emerged from the cloud and continued to the intervening bealach at the head of Coire Toaig.  Continuing W a short way, the path then turns S and climbs steep slopes to the rocky ridge of Aonach Eagach, emerging by a small cairn.  The ridge, narrow in places, continues W climbing the remaining 100m to the summit perched high above the abyss of Coirein Lochain.  Stob Ghabhar (1090m; peak of goats) is one very fine mountain.

Unfortunately, the cloud denied us any view and Matt & Jenn missed out on seeing the mountain at its best.  We descended the SE ridge, crossing the Allt Toaig at about 250m and regained the inbound stalker’s path.  Do not be tempted to cut the corner when descending - the hidden crags of Creag an Steallaire will catch you out! 

Beinn Achaladair & Beinn a’ Chreachain

Beinn a’ Chreachain

Joined by Doctor Jon for Day 2, we parked near the entrance of the Achallader Farm track and followed the sign-posted path up into Coire Achaladair.  The path was in pretty good shape for the time of year but it can get quite boggy in wet weather.  It took us almost 2hrs to reach the skyline at the head of Coire Daingean where we entered cloud and turned N up the gently-sloping S ridge of our mountain.  The going is easy and you pass a subsidiary top at 1002m before a diminutive cairn marks the flat summit of Beinn Achaladair (1038m; hill of the field by the hard water).  Still no view!

Coire Achaladair

A short way beyond the summit, yet another cairn marks a key navigation point as you need to turn sharp right and descend SE to avoid the steep cliffs that guard the NE face of Beinn Achaladair.  A short while later the path trends NE and descends steeply over a series of rocky steps to a bealach at 813m.

Beinn Achaladair

From here, the climbing resumes up and over a minor top, Meall Buidhe (978m), after which you pick up a path that seems to appear out of nowhere to the right.  This cuts across the S slope of the ridge to the bealach above the steep cliffs of Coire an Lochain.  This impressive spot is well worth a few minutes of your time as the view N down into the corrie and blue Lochan a’ Chreachain deserves a look - as does the wide open view across the wilderness of Rannoch Moor.  It was our first - and best - view of the day!

Coire an Lochain

Above the bealach, a straightforward climb of 150m leads to the large cairn that crowns the remote summit of Beinn a’ Chreachain (1081m; scallop-shaped hill).  All the low cloud had now gone and we were treated to great views in all directions.

Beinn Mhanach

We retraced our steps back to the bealach beyond Meall Buidhe before turning S across open ground past a big herd of deer towards the wide grassy bealach at the head of Gleann Cailliche.  Originally, we had planned to climb Beinn Mhanach as well but time was running out so we headed home.   From just above the bealach, we followed the 750m contour around the S flank of Beinn Achaladair to return to the head of Coire Daingean last seen several hours previously.  Then it was just a matter of retracing that morning’s route down into Coire Achaladair and back to the car.  Beinn Mhanach awaits another day.

The Corrour Hills

Loch Ossian

Our final day saw us boarding the morning sleeper service from Bridge of Orchy station to Corrour Halt.  We had the 3 Corrour Munros that surround Loch Ossian to do before the evening train.  Most reasonably fit hillwalker’s should achieve this with time to spare.  We did.

Beinn na Lap

The 400m start from Corrour helps a lot and you should get to the top of Beinn na Lap in less than 2hrs.  We followed the track around the W end of Loch Ossian to where a cairn marks the start of a path that climbs the open hillside to the skyline.  The summit cairn lies just past a tiny lochan and overlooks the steep E corrie of the mountain:  Beinn na Lap (935m; dappled hill).

The Mamores From Beinn na Lap

In clear conditions, like we had today, you can see just how near you are to Lochaber with the Mamores, Grey Corries and Ben Nevis all appearing surprisingly close looking NW.

Corrour Lodge & Loch Ossian

If descending to Corrour Lodge, the trick is to head S from the cairn a short distance before picking up gentler slops that descend to the featureless bog-land that holds Loch na Lap.  Assuming you can see it, aim for a patch of bright green grass just beyond the Allt Loch na Lap where a simple wooden bridge crosses the burn and connects with a welcome path that leads down through the woods to Loch Ossian.

Sgor Gaibhre & Carn Dearg Above Loch Ossian

Once around the E end of the Loch, follow the track S beside the Allt a’ Choire Chreagaich.  Soon after emerging from the woods, turn L and strike out across open ground and up the steepening nose of Meall Nathrach Mor.  From here, the ground levels out and you follow the 820m contour around the S flank of Sgor Choinnich to the Bealach nan Sgor.  From here, we got a fine view of the shapely cone of Schiehallion away to the SE.  A steep but steady climb of 150m brought us to the top of our 2^nd Munro of the day: Sgor Gaibhre (955m; peak of the goat).

Schiehallion & Loch Ericht From Sgor Gaibhre

We descended W from the top down easy grassy slopes to a slightly boggy bealach (Mam Ban) before beginning our final climb of the day up the NE ridge to our final peak: Carn Dearg (941m; red hill).  A short sharp shower had us reaching for the waterproofs but it soon blew through.

Beinn na Lap & Loch Ossian Youth Hostel

With the station in sight and plenty of time before the train arrived, we descended W down the N flank of Gualainn Chlachach before picking up the old ‘Road to the Isles’ track .  This lead us past Peter’s Rock before turning W down to the shore of Loch Ossian.  There were crowds around the youth hostel as we passed and by the time we reached the station, there must have been almost 50 people waiting for the train.  It was a busy end to a quiet day made all the more interesting by the enforced logistics.  And all the more fun because of the train ride!

Check out my plans for this winter at:  http://www.hillways.co.uk/  

The Atholl Hills

Glen Tilt

Matt’s last week in Scotland this year began with a few days making a start on clearing up the easternmost Munros.  He almost got there as well - just 2 hill-days to go and he won’t need to venture east of the A9 for a while!

Beinn Dearg

Beinn Dearg

Day 1 began with a half cycle/half walk from Blair Atholl up into Glen Banvie to the Allt Sheicheachan bothy.  We left the bikes 2 Km past the bothy and headed up the excellent stalker’s path on foot.  We didn’t enter cloud until above 900m which was good enough for today.  In less than an hour from the bikes, we reached the summit granite boulder field and trig point on top of Beinn Dearg (1008m; red hill).

Approaching the Summit

Returning to the bikes, we opted for the alternative way back descending beside the Allt Slanaidh, down into Glen Tilt and back to Blair Atholl.

 

The Long Way Home (But Not On a Bike)!

Beinn Dearg is an isolated hill and this is a long circuit - almost 30 Km.  It is well worth taking a bike - we were away for 6hrs and were on our feet for less than 2!  

Carn a’ Chlamain

Carn a' Chlamain

Cycling up beautiful Glen Tilt always reminds me of that line from A Bridge Too Far - “it’s all a matter of bridges’.  Starting from Bridge of Tilt, the route winds its way up the Glen over Old Bridge of Tilt and Cumhann-leum Bridge, past Gilbert’s Bridge, and on over Gaw’s Bridge and the Allt Craoinidh Bridge.  I told you it was all a matter of bridges!

Autumn Colours in Glen Tilt

We left the bikes beside the Allt Craoinidh and climbed up the broad SW shoulder of our hill .  The path soon intercepts a vehicle track that climbs all the way to the summit (and beyond).  However, it is better to leave the track (left) at a small cairn at about the 700m contour and cut the corner.  The summit plateau (and track) are intercepted just below the summit where a quartzite boulder field covers the top of the mountain:  Carn a’ Chlamain (963m; hill of the kite). 

Beech Avenue, Glen Tilt

We didn’t see much wildlife but the sight of a shepherd on a quad bike working his dogs and a lone pick-up truck parked on top of the mountain probably helped explain the lack of fauna!

Beinn a' Ghlo From Carn a' Chlamain

Light, wispy cloud covered the top 100m of the mountain and a light shower heralded the start of our descent.  But it takes more than a little rain to spoil the enjoyment of cruising back down Glen Tilt on a freewheeling bike!

The Western Drumochter Hills   

The Pass of Drumochter

Day 3 saw us driving up the A9 to the Pass of Drumochter.  Leaving one car at Balsporran Cottages, we returned to the top of the Pass and headed W up Coire Dhomhain.  Leaving the track at the new wooden bridge about one Km up the glen, we picked up a sketchy path that climbs to the skyline from where the wide ridge is followed around the broad sweep of Coire Creagach to the summit of Sgairneach Mhor (991m; big scree).

Sgairneach Mhor

From the twin cairns and trig point that crown the summit, we headed W down (ultimately, quite steeply) into the glacial trough at the head of Coire Dhomhain passing our only fellow hill-walker of the day!  After lunch, a 20-min steep climb up grassy slopes took us to the summit of Beinn Udlamain (1011m; jointed hill).

Coire Dhomhain

From here, in warm sunshine, we traversed the long wide-open ridge northwards descending gradually to the bealach above Fraoch-choire where a herd of 60 red deer ran across our path.  Yet another quad bike parked on the ridge suggested the presence of a stalker - who may have had something to do with the urgency of the deer.  Sure enough, stalker, rifle and quad bike appeared reunited as they sped past us a few minutes later.

A’ Mharconaich

From the bealach, 20 mins of easy walking brought us to the summit cairn of A’ Mharconaich (975m; the place of horses).   Do make the effort to walk 200m past the cairn to enjoy the mountain’s defining feature: the steep-sided NE corrie that falls abruptly towards the A9 and gives great views to the N.

Ben Alder Across Loch Ericht

We retraced our steps a short way before commencing a descending traverse into Coire Fhar surrounded by over 20 mountain hares, several ptarmigan and the odd red grouse.  The clear conditions allowed us extensive views W across Loch Ericht to Ben Alder and, immediately below, the ostentatious pile of Ben Alder Lodge complete with helicopter pad and subterranean hanger!

Ben Alder Lodge

A final climb from the 739m bealach took us to our last summit of the day and Munro No 5:  Geal-charn (917m; white hill).  A day that had remained largely warm and sunny stayed that way for the final 45mins of descent down the NE ridge of the mountain and across the railway at the Cottages to the waiting car.  If you do opt to climb all 4 of these Munros in one go, the strategic positioning of 2 cars will save you 4 Km of steady walking on the cycle path beside the very busy - and noisy - A9!

   

Schiehallion From Drumochter

Check out my plans for this winter at:  http://www.hillways.co.uk/