Surprise stairway

[bobbyjim]

Started out in dry weather at about 9:00am from quiet car park. Used easy to follow WH guide much of the way. Weather variously changed quickly from mild sun to light snow and stinging hail and round again a few times. A very attractive walk because of the wide open views all round, with superb views from the two tops. Hills mountains lochs. No cloud at top of Gael Charn so time to open the flask. Started down to the Bealach and hail re-started and cloud rolled in. Tempted to turn back but it cleared and A' Mharconaich did not look too intimidating. Not mentioned though in WH route is a simpler way up than trailing through the heather. At the Bealach follow the landrover track North a short distance and you find obviously on the left, a clear track heading up for some distance. This leads to a surprise rock stepped lengthy staircase, and on flatter areas rock slabs. This is repeated further on. Certainly felt this made life easier. The very few other walkers this day also had not been previously aware of it. So a pleasant surprise for us all. At the shoulder a clear path is reached so a left turn leads straightforwardly to the second summit of the day. After enjoying the views the hail returned and was too persistent for a sandwich and the flask. Looking north you can see the car park so not easy to get lost. Could be dangerous though if the mist / cloud persists. But it cleared again further down at a suitable sitting point. Overall the tracks vary from clear to less defined, Some stony areas have to be covered, and general bogginess at times means the path gets ever wider in the search for firmer ground. The worst of the squelching was on the final descent but I failed to notice any bridge to cross the burn, so ended up stepping stone it beside.the railway crossing. Pictures not as bright due to the weather but give some idea and it really is a worthwhile relatively simple walk. No hurrying and several breather stops and tea stops - Five hours.

[KatTai]

I'll have to remember about this when I do these two again with Zena. Though I did find a path up when I did these ones. Wondering if the steps are a relatively new addition because a lot of people do the round of 4 there and would surely have stumbled across the nice steps going up!

[bobbyjim]

great views and I was surprised so few folk about. Steps and slabs more extensive than pictured - and yes they did look as if they could be freshly laid.

[denfinella]

Those steps do look like a nice surprise! I'm a bit confused about where on the route they are - do you think you might be able to estimate a grid reference for where they start / end?

[bobbyjim]

sorry no reference, but looking at the slopes from the bealach the path is fairly obvious, like a dark line. Aim for it and you will find the path.

[Simmy]

Did the four a few weeks back. Would say if you follow the land rover track for maybe 50m or so the path that leads to the stairs is very obvious.

[denfinella]

Thanks!

[jmarkb]

I wonder if these folk were involved: https://themountainsandthepeople.org.uk/path/a-mharconaich-to-geal-charn/ ?