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There was room for one more big walk in 2014. I got some cheap train tickets to Blair Atholl (back when Advance Singles were actually seen on occasion) and planned to finally climb one (or rather, three) of the big beasts - Beinn a' Ghlo. I'd never climbed an 1100m Munro before, but winter was coming, so now was the time.


It was Ryder Cup time at Gleneagles, so there was quite a security presence.

The normal plan for Beinn a' Ghlo is to drive through Old Bridge of Tilt and park up at Loch Moraig. But car-less me was starting all the way back at Blair Atholl station. This could be a long day!

Meeting time.


Eventually Càrn Liath appeared, with its massive eroded path. There were some dark clouds behind, but hopefully they wouldn't come to anything.

Just after rounding the forest a car pulled up, and the window wound down. From living in Glasgow I half-expected some light-hearted but edgy "banter" about something (namely, the fact I was walking up a road everyone seems to drive up). In a split second I wondered if it was an angry land-owner. This is the normal trade route up a popular Munro, but then, it's also deer-stalking season. Had I done any checks on access? Probably not...
"Would you like a lift?"
They knew where I was going. Maybe nobody walks up this road for any other reason.
"...Hi! Erm...no it's ok, it's only a mile to go."
"Are you sure? It's a long day, a mile less would save you a bit of walking."
This was pre-Covid, so I said yes.

Five minutes later I was at the car park. I said my profuse thanks and scuttled away up the track while they got their stuff ready. I don't know if that sort of thing happens anymore (if I ever climb the South Glen Shiel ridge I'm surely going to need to hitch a lift at the end?), but it was a great help at the start of a *very* long day.

The OS map says there are two Loch Moraigs right next to each other. Bit of an oversight: that must cause confusion?

Random. Must be something to do with grouse (or deer?)

The route up Càrn Liath was very obvious, since you can see the path for erm miles.

Killiecrankie caught some rays of sunshine.


A cairn appeared at around 920m.

The summit has a trig point and another cairn / shelter, this time the size of a small house.

This took just over 1hr 30mins from the car park. I don't know how? Was I still young in 2014?


1/3.

The route was still obvious round to Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain (or BCC Bhalgain, as it's called on the di Ferranti viewfinders).




This was a zoom to something but I'm not sure what. Maybe Lomond Hills?


Phew! The summit of BCC Bhalgain revealed a view of the main event, Càrn nan Gabhar. This was 12.30pm, so not much more than an hour from Càrn Liath and 2hrs 45mins from the car park. I think this was my Proper Lunch Stop, because I was here a while.

Some sunshine in front of Ben Vrackie(?)

2/3. Ok I look a lot older than I did one-and-a-bit hours ago.

The paths are less eroded here but still obvious enough to follow, up towards Càrn nan Gabhar.

Here we are: the final ridge. Very Cairngorm-esque.

The first cairn, but definitely not the real summit.

The trig point is 1120m, but the true summit is the last big cairn beyond at 1121m.

This one, that's the rough shape of a lion, for some reason.


Beinn a' Ghlo is quite an isolated mountain compared to some Munros, so it really feels like the top of the world up here.

3/3!

I don't understand the timestamps, because it suggests I spent nearly 40 minutes at the summit (and nearly an hour on the summit ridge). How did I get in less than 10 hours including five miles on a road from Blair Atholl? Does being 27 give you magical super-powers?

I don't think I'd have a chance of doing that now, but some of my times are a bit weird now: Beinn Fhionnlaidh was quite quick but Beinn a' Creachain and Beinn Achaladair ended up being a nine-hour slog that took me past sunset. Hills are weird.

There's a decent path down from the bealach at first. I don't think it lasted, from memory.


There's a Top after Beinn a' Ghlo (Airgiod Bheinn), but I wasn't too focussed on Tops at the time so I just bypassed now. Now it's got its own bit on WalkHighlands I might be tempted...but maybe not at the end of such a long day.

A herd of deer, guarding the horizon.

From memory the path petered out somewhere (or maybe I just lost it...?) So I don't remember if this is the start of the next path, or just before I lost the old path. Anyway, what a great path. Admire its quality.

The mighty Beinn a' Ghlo.

Reaching the proper track (with Schiehallion in the background) was a great relief. This was almost 7hrs after leaving the car park.

Wait...where you going mate? Up the hill? It's almost 5pm???

There's a ford marked on the map when you're almost back at the huts, and wow, they didn't lie.


This was about 7hrs 45mins after leaving the car park, and included a long stop on BCC Bhalgain and a massive stop at Càrn nan Gabhar. I don't have a clue how. Oh to be young...


Never been happier to see a cafe.

It doesn't look that big but I can confirm that it was "tasty" and "necessary".
It was an amazing experience to finally climb Beinn a' Ghlo, and the weather stayed good for the whole day too. It doesn't quite fall into the Bridge of Orchy category of 'Munros right next to train stations', but it's definitely doable in a day from Blair Atholl. But I should thank the couple who gave me a one-mile lift on the way up (although this was eight years ago so they might not even remember it). You need all the help you can get with these Munros...
