Straightforward circuit of 4 Munros situated mostly on a spacious plateau with excellent views over Glen Lyon, Ben Lawers and Loch Rannoch on a clear day.
Summary
Track and then mountain path, fence posts aid navigation in poor weather or snow.
Terrain
NN666482
Grid ref
18km/11.25 miles
Distance
Grade
Safety warning: Hillwalking when there is snow or ice lying requires ice-axe, crampons and the ability to use them. Some featured routes can become technical ice climbs. Check out our Winter Skills information provided by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
Users'
rating
Public transport
1. Start the walk from Invervar, there is a small car park just below the phone box. Go through the gate opposite the phone box and follow the track past the houses on the left and the wood on the right. Pass through a gate and then another gate shortly after and follow the track through the woods. Continue as the track follows the Invervar Burn upstream. After 1.5 km cross a rickety metal bridge and follow the path up the bank on the other side and around the edge of the forestry. The route now bears West across moorland to follow the easy flank up Carn Gorm. The route steepens and then reaches a small plateau before the final pull to the summit at 1029 metres.
2. From the small cairn descend North and then head North East down a broad ridge. The Top of An Sgorr can be avoided, which the main path does, by staying on the left side of the small peak and continuing to a wide col where there is a cairn. From the col head North East until you reach a line of rusted fence posts which lead in an easterly direction to the summit of Meall Garbh. The summit is marked by a cairn topped with many fence posts. Continue East following a fainter line of fence posts (this cuts of the corner which is made if you follow the more distinct line of fence posts which is useful to do in very poor weather conditions when the path and other features cannot be made out) to a wide col and follow the fence posts to the summit of Meal a' Bharr (1004m).
3. The route still follows the fence posts in a South Easterly direction. The ridge narrows and becomes stony and the rocky side of Carn Mairg comes into view on the right. There is a line of small cairns on the first part of the ridge. Eventually the summit of Carn Mairg (1041) is reached. It is worth exploring the small tor which has good views down Glen Lyon and across to the Ben Lawers range. When leaving the summit care is needed to avoid the crags and steep section by heading east and then south east to descend to the col.
4. From the col climb steadily South to the summit ridge of Creag Mhor (named Meall na Aighean on OS maps). The actual summit is a small tor about 0.5 km along the summit plateau which has good views, with Schiehallion towering to the northeast.
5. On leaving the summit retrace your steps for a short while, ignoring the clear path to the nearby top. Before you reach the col turn West to begin the descent down the long ridge on the south side of the Allt Coire a'Chearcaill. There is a clear path down this ridge which has pleasant views of Glen Lyon and is not so steep that your feet are battered all the way down. Just before the ground steepens, cross a stalker's path and continue straight ahead down the crest of the ridge. Eventually this path joins the outward track near the entrance to the wood. Retrace your steps the short distance down the track to Invervar, passing Invervar Lodge on the right.
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