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Having had quite a few short days out I felt it was time for a rather longer walk taking in a couple of Munros. It proved to be a rather longer day than I had anticipated in the end! I'd had my eye on Beinn a Chreachain and Beinn Acaladair ever since Mrs R and I had climbed Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh on a brillaint day in the autumn. Now it was time for us to tackle these other two Bridge of Orchy giants.
- Beinn Achaladair from Achallader farm
We set off to follow the Walkhighlands route from Achallader Farm heading northeast along The Water of Tulla.
- Crossing the Water of Tulla
We stayed on the track and made good time crossing the rickety bridge at Barravourich and were soon crossing back over the river by the footbridge about 2km up the road heading for the hills.
- The footbridge over the Water of Tulla
The ground was boggy and the path was poor until we had (almost) crawled
under the railway. The walk up Allt Coire an Loachain was pleasant with the burn tumbling over layers of rock in stepped waterfalls and great views of Beinn Achaladair to the south-west.
- Allt Coire an Lochain
- Beinn Achaladair from the northeast - looking impressive
After a while we reached the corrie and crossed the burn heading southeast up the steepening ridge towards the northeast ridge of Beinn a' Chreachain.
- Stob Ghabhar and Meall a'Bhuiridih from Coire an Lochain
This proved to be one of the toughest parts of the day with rough ground and no path for most of the way. We did find a path higher up as we approached the ridge but we didn't see any sign of it lower down.
- A path at last! - Beinn a'Chreachain in the background
It was great to finally reach the ridge and Munro level and see the summit of our first Munro of the day shining in the sun above its rim of corniced snow. We could see two people up there with a dog but they were gone by the time we reached the summit.
- The ridge to Beinn a'Chreachain
Ascending the narrow ridge up to the summit was a delight, with great views of Lochan a'Chreachain to our right.
- Ascending the summit ridge
- Lochan a'Chreachain
Soon we were at the summit cairn taking in the view. This was literally the high point of our day at 1081 metres but with the weather still fine and with us feeling good it was the high point in every way!
- Summit cairn - Beinn a'Chreachain
But we had, of course, to move on and we made our way westwards off the summit dome - warily at first as the ground seemed to curve away very steeply in front of us.
- Over the edge and Beinn Achaladair
But soon we could see the slope ahead and we found our way through the rocky ground on useful paths and then to the grassy slopes below. The descent to the beallach and then the walk up onto Meall Buidhe was straightforward and soon we were descending down to 813 metres point where the climb onto the east ridge of Beinn Achaladair would begin.
- Beinn Achaladair from Meall Buidhe
I have to confess that from a distance the first part of that climb looked impossibly steep
but I took confidence from the Walkhighlands description which said there was a path all the way - and there was! After some food and refreshments we headed off up the slope and were soon making height very quickly up the winding "goat path". It took different routes at times and there were a few bits of scrambling - but it was good fun and Mrs R did great for someone who hasn't always been that keen on scrambling. The great thing was we were soon 150 metres higher without it seeming that great an effort!
- A steep slope up!
The ridge beyond that was really more a wide slope up to the summit ridge and we were soon up there taking in the view. I wasn't as impressed with Beinn Achaladair's summit as with Beinn a Chreachain. It it a long hummochy ridge with a few high points along the way - but the view of Loch Tulla was great.
- From the summit of Beinn Achaladair
By now, however, the wind was rising and a heavy, almost thundery, rain shower was falling over Loch Tulla and we felt it was time to press on, heading down.
The descent from Beinn Achaladair over the south summit and down to the beallach was straightforward and on a good path.
- South from Beinn Achaladair
I wish I could say the same about the route north beside the Allt Coire Achaladair. The path is heavily eroded and very boggy in places and progress was slow.
- The boggy path home!
Then I slid awkwardly on wet slippery ground and pulled a muscle in my leg and that hurt!
Progress was even slower after that! Eventually we arrived back at the car - the last car in the car park - with still some daylight to spare. It was a great day out but with injury time (both for me and for and old injury of Mrs R) it took us a lot longer than we had anticipated. The GPS said we had been on the move for 6 hours. Can we count that as our time? I don't remember being stopped for 4 hours of so - maybe we were going so slow it thought we were stationary!
The injured muscle seems to be settling down a few days afterwards you'll be pleased to know (well I certainly am!
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