Lawers Range - The Western Munros

[MisterC]

It was a glorious sunny day when I arrived at the Ben Lawers car park at 9:30. I was planning to do Bheinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers and depending on how I felt, Meall Corranaich and Meall a' Choire Leith.

The walk started off well with the gradual climb up Beinn Ghlas and just slogging through the upper reaches until I made the cairn just before 11.

The views were absolutely stunning from the top, not least along the range to my next target

The descent down to the bealach below was easy enough and I made swift progress eastwards passing a small lochan.

The climb then began towards target number 2 and I made steady progress up some fairly steep territory. At the summit started to become visible it gave me hope of achieving my target of 4 in one day

I then made the summit at 11:40, 2 hours in and it was the second munro of the day. The views in all directions were superb. I'm sure I could see Dumgoyne Hill in the south and Ben Lui in the west. As for the ones north and east I'd have been guessing!

I spent a few minutes at the top taking photos and trying to find a sheltered spot to have some lunch but there wasn't anywhere decent so I decided to press on. It was a steep climb back down to the bealach and very busy with lots of people and dogs. I took the bypass path and enjoyed a good stroll along the flank of the hill with nice views of my next two targets and the Glen to the north east

I then got to the junction with the path up to Meall Corranaich and started my ascent up the steep path. I spoke to people who had been up and despite my concerns at the snow patches they assured me it was fine. Off I went up the unremitting climb and halfway up I found a nice spot to sit and have lunch. Suitably refreshed, I carried on up the path which contoured round the hill before it headed inwards and climbed gently up towards the summit. I made the summit just before 1:15. Not the finest of summit cairns but for me this was munro number 3, the most I'd done in a day since I started hiking last May.

I chatred at the top for a few minutes with some other hikers I'd encountered throughout the day who had assisted me with summit photos and enjoyed the great views around, not least towards what had been accomplished so far on the day. To the north was my final target for the day...

I headed off to the northern top and then struck off north eastish following the ridge and encountering some snow patches which were quite soft. It was a slow gradual descent down before the path curved round the bealach before the pull up Meall a choire Leith. Despite being quite tired I powered on up the hill

With much relief I made it to the final summit around 2:10 where I met some guys who were doing their very first munros. We enjoyed the views and chatted away all of us pleased at how the day had gone. The views to the north and west were superb especially towards Glen Lyon and towards what I think were some of the Glencoe mountains beyond.

Now a decision had to be made for the walk out. Back the way I'd came to the bypass path the down to the car park, or strike south west down the grass to the stream then find my way to the road then back down from there. In the end the latter plan won. I really didn't fancy another ascent and knew the descent down from Meall Corranaich would be steep and arduous.
Off I went and it wasn't long before I picked up the path. It was quite boggy at times and eventually I got to the first burn

I followed what remained of the path and headed further down down and round. Ny now I was getting g tired and grumpy with the bogginess and just wanting to get to my car. I was hoping to at least see the road to give me a wee boost bur it was still nowhere to be seen. As I looked across the second burn and saw more boggy ground and another hill morale was starting to flag but I knew I had to keep going.

I reached the road and off I headed south passing Lochan na Lairige with the majestic Meall nan Tarmachan towering above it

It felt like an endless walk back down towards the car park and by now i just wanted to get to my car but with the views as stunning as they were and with glorious weather I wasn't too grumpy! After the dam and a few bends in the road the end was near

I made it to the car just after 4 and was a relief it was to get my boots off.

It was certainly a grand day out and one that will live long in the memory.

[Fife Flyer]

Hi, great report and photo's, we (3 of us) were in the general vicinity our plan was traversing Beinn Ghlas & Ben Lawers to visit An Stuc and then returning.

The photo was taken just after Midday on the 7th April Meall Corranaich summit area zoomed.

[MisterC]

Thanks Fife Flyer, it was a truly glorious day up there, I enjoyed your report too. I ended up going back upon Sunday to do Meall nan Tarmachan but sadly weather conditions werent the best so we ditched the ridge walk and just did an out and back instead.