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Inspired by SunnyAdventure
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=92933, a couple of pals and I thought we'd give Beinn Heasgarnich a go this way round. It just looked more fun, less trudging up the glen and a fun bike ride!
Also with the last few weeks having been so dry, we thought crossing Allt Fionn a' Ghlinne would be possible without too much drama, and therefore give us the option of descending via Meall Tionail.
Setting off from Lubreoch dam on our bikes, it took us 30 mins to get to the start of the walk at NN39794 39635.
We took the direct ascent of the Stob Garbh-Leachtir, trying to avoid the midges with zero wind! Even though it was early it was hot! Where was the forecast wind?
After a hard pull we were up the Stom and at 830m. Ah, there's the wind! Much better! No more midges
Onwards to the summit of Beinn Heasgarnich, 1.5 hrs from the start. The hill looks great from this side, like 'proper' mountains, and we even managed to squeeze in a bit of scrambling. Who would of thought...
Although hazy, the summit was fantastic! And for me, brought up 150 Munro milestone
A quick snack and then onwards. Now we started to bump into a few folks doing the hills via the more traditional route. Although saying that the path seems to disappear with some folks heading towards us thinking we were on the path (nope!). My lack of hill fitness caught up with me hauling myself up Creag Mhor, slowing down the good progress so far. But got there I did and another great hill successfully ascended.
Now one of my pals is ticking off the tops, with not that many left. One of his targets being Stob nan Clach. So after finding the top (it was hiding for most of the walk!) off we set. Again, its another great walk round to the top and another great viewpoint, somewhere I presume not many folk go to, but being that close to Bridge of Orchy you really feel like you've almost walked all the way through.
For the route back to the bikes, we descended the top to the bealach, contoured round Creag Mhor and then to Meall Tionail, a great high level walk with great views. I wonder how many folks have been up Meall Tionail, with it not existing on any formal list (to my knowledge!).
Then off the end of Meall Tionail aiming directly for the river crossing by the bikes. Once we were down it was just an easy cross on stepping stones back to the bikes. Nothing like what SunnyAdventure encountered! And with the wind more present and the heat of the day no midges to contend with.
A cycle back along the loch to the dam, all done in 8 hrs. Great day out! I'd thoroughly recommend this route. I've not done the 'classic' route but with my pals having done both, we all agreed this was a much better route.
