A Bike and Hike from Glen Lyon

[Andy Milne]

Having initially looked at these from the A82, Backpacker suggested going from Glen Lyon instead. So using dhowie5's walk report (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=116454) as a solid basis of what to do, the plan became set.

I was parked up at Pubil at 7:45

Parked on the verge at the start

, and set off on the e-bike. Straight off there was a problem, the gate I needed to pass through (with 'No vehicles beyond this point' sign on it) to access the track along Loch Lyon was padlocked. In fact it had 2 padlocks!. With a (more than slight) muttering to myself I lifted the bike over the fence and set off. I cycled slightly beyond the shrine at Tigh nam Bodach, leaving the bike at 8:50 to head along the Gleann Cailliache along the base of Beinn a'Chreachain

view up Beinn a'Chreachain from Gleann Cailliache

Following the water course up seemed to go for a long time, but previous comments on this route had all mentioned this. but it didn't make the going any easier!. Finally making it up, and joining the track, it was then a straight forward walk up to the summit of Beinn a'Chreachain. With clear skies, wonderful views were had, even though the wind was picking up (it had been sheltered all the way up)

Summit views

Heading back down, I took to the ridge to take in Meall Buidhe

Meall Buidhe looking at Beinn Achaladair

Dropping down,

The drop form Meall Buidhe looking at Beinn Achaladair

and before the steep slog up towards Beinn Achaladair, I had a quick chat with one guy who was heading the opposite way to me, and straight after met a guy with 2 dogs coming down the steep section, and then 2 other guys once the steep section was past.
Heading to the large cairn. for a quick photo

Ben Nevis in the distance

before continuing along to the actual summit

The actual summit cairn

and heading along to the South East top

South East top

Dropping down, to the South of the snow that was still laying, I was heading in an Eastwards direction, so as to hit the valley at its highest point, so as to lose as little height as possible before heading up Beinn Mhanach, and heading towards it's top of Beinn a'Chuirn

Beinn a'Chuirn loving back to Beinn Achaladair

before heading up to the summit of Beinn Mhanach which I had reached by 14:45

Beinn Mhanach summit view

Summit selfie

Descending in a North West direction, to skirt the crags, and head back towards the bike, gave a great view of the way I had gone up to Beinn a'Chreachain

My route up Beinn a'Chreachain

Once back to the bike, it was 45 minutes to get back to the padlocked gate.
At this point (and yes, finally at this point!) I noticed another large gate slightly further up the farm track, which on examination wasn't locked, so I could just open it and wheel the bike through. If only I had seen this on the way out, so anyone else going this way, check the second gate isn't locked!
It had been a day of brilliant blue skies and gorgeous views. The wind was picking up as the day went on, but I was glad I had chosen to do these hills this way

[dhowie5]

Brilliant, glad my post inspired you - mines was based on other reports on here as well

[Andy Milne]

That’s what I like about other folks walk reports.
They give you good ideas of other routes (rather than just a ‘standard’ route) with usually some helpful advice. So thanks to everyone who puts up a detailed walk report.