tidying up in the central highlands

After our summer week on Mull, Anne and I got away for a few days camping at the start of August.  The target was a few Munros in the southern central highlands - nothing spectacular, but 3 good hill days, taking my Munro tally from 184 to 188.  Into the last 100!


This blog is supposed to be about the last 50, so I'll press on and just give a very brief description of these hills.


5th August 2005  
Beinn Bhuidhe (Loch Fyne)


Cycled 5km up the glen from the head of Loch Fyne, then walked to Inverchaorachan.  Steep but well made path up the side of a series of waterfalls.  One rather dodgy exposed step required high above the ravine.  Boggy coire above, then steep scramble to the ridge.  Cloud was down on the summit, so only occasional glimpses of the view.

6th August 2005
Meall Glas and Sgiath Chuil (Glen Dochart)


Camped at Luib in Glen Dochart.  Again, started by bike - 3km along the main road to the Auchessan road-end.  Fairly easy tramp across rising moorland, then a short steep grassy ascent to the top of Meall Glas.  Wide and pleasant high level walk along to Beinn Cheathaich (top).  Then down and up (very steeply) to Meall a' Churain, the northern top of Sgiath Chuil (left).  

I had unfinished business here:  I had been on this top back in 1983 on a Mountain Leadership Training expedition, but, unbelievably, had not bothered to stroll along the 1km almost level "ridge" (above) to the summit.  Today that omission was rectified!  


And a good summit it was too;  a small crag overlooking Glen Dochart, with views across to Ben More and Stob Binnein (right).  A place to linger on a summer afternoon!






7th August 2005    
Beinn Mhanach


Another warm sunny summer day.  Time to seek out the shy and retiring Beinn Mhanach, lurking behind its better known neighbour Beinn Dorain, at the head of Auch Glen.  We chose to climb it from Achallader Farm.  


Followed the good (but rather boggy in places) path up the glen behind the farm into the strangely bumpy Coire Daingean, then on up to the col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Achaladair.  




From the col, we followed the narrow path leading round behind Beinn Achaladair, and finally on to the rounded hump of Beinn Mhanach , but taking in the top Beinn a'Chuirn (left) at its west end first.  Rolling hills. 

Sunbathed on the summit and admired the views over to Beinn a' Chreachain (right) and down Loch Lyon before reluctantly heading back by the same route.
















(written 17/02/10)