Beinn 'a Chaisteil from Black Bridge

[malky_c]

Corbetts: Beinn a' Chaisteil.
Date: 30/07/2023.
Distance: 15.5km.
Ascent: 760m.
Time taken: 6 hours, 30 minutes.
Weather: Warm and sunny with a bit of breeze high up.
Plus 9km / 80m ascent on the bike.

Another weekend, another selection of plans on the table. Saturday might have been good for hills as it turned out but we decided to cycle from the house instead. There was the possibility of some higher hills on Sunday but banks of cloud sitting on the Fannaichs kept us slightly further east on Beinn a' Chaisteil. On my last time up, I had simply cycled up to the closest point to the summit and crashed up the heather from the shores of Loch Vaich - not really the best way. This time we discovered a stalkers path which wasn't shown on the OS map which climbed up in a much more sensible manner from Lubachlaggan.

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We decided to use our mountain bikes to go up the lower reaches of Strathvaich even though it was mostly tarmac - there was a good half mile of rougher track at the end before our outward and returning routes split which was worth having more rugged bikes for. I still hadn't really repaired mine after a malfunction in Fisherfield the week before so the gears jumped all over the place....

Strathvaich

Jackie cycling up Strathvaich

We dumped the bikes where the track forked to go over to Strathrannoch and began walking. Despite nominally following the side of Loch Vaich, the track climbs up and down quite a bit especially just after passing the dam.

Loch Vaich and Meall a Ghrianain

Loch Vaich

Loch Vaich

We decided to walk as far as Lubachlaggan before having lunch, stopping at the foot of the stalkers path we intended to go up. Loch Vaich was low enough today that it would have been easy to cross the burn on the floor of the loch to pick up the Carn Gorm-loch path.

Across Lubachlaggan to Carn Gorm-loch

Coir a Chlaiginn

Then it was time to climb - the path is reasonably obvious as it follows the side of the Allt Luib a' Chlaiginn, overlooking some pleasant falls. A series of zigzags took us up the steepest section of the nose before disappearing into the heather. At this point we were clear of the worst undergrowth so carrying on up to the plateau was straightforward.

Across Loch Vaich to Carn Gorm-loch

Loch Vaich

Am Faochagach and Carn Gorm-loch

Carn Gorm-loch and Seana Bhraigh

A bit of a stroll over alternately stony and springy ground brought us to the summit shelter and trig point. The closer hills to the west and NW looked great - Seana Bhraigh and Cona Mheall in particular; and to the north Ben Loyal and Ben Klibreck stood out clearly.

The summit

Ben Klibreck

Ben Wyvis

Towards Beinn Dearg an Cona Mheall

The way ahead onto Meall a' Ghrianain looked like pleasant walking. Last time up I had liked the look of this but instead returned directly to my bike the way I had come. So this time I was looking forward to the ridge walk.

Coire a Chundrain

Strath Rannoch

Back to Beinn a Chaisteil

There is quite a descent between these two hills - not far off enough to make them separate Corbetts...but they are not. The slopes of Meall a' Ghrianain were studded with boulders to add interest.

Meall a Ghrianain from Bein a Chaisteil

Beinn a Chaisteil

Towards Meall Mor

The summits of Glas Leathad Beag, Ben Wyvis and Little Wyvis looked quite intricate from this angle with the lower Grahams in front of them adding extra layers. We dropped down the southern nose of Meall a' Ghrianain on surprisingly easy ground, picking up some unexpected stalkers path zigzags halfway down.

Down Strath Rannoch

The Wyvises

Meall a Ghrianan

The path we had found promptly disappeared again at the foot of the steep slopes leaving us with a line of fenceposts to follow through the heather and long grass. While there were the odd traces of this route being used it was quite hard going - Jackie was less of a fan of this bit! We eventually picked up the Strath Rannoch track which led us back to the bikes for an easy return to Black Bridge and the car.

Looking back to Meall a Ghrianan

Somehow we had missed any swimming opportunities in this route so we took a quick detour via Loch Achilty on the way home for a plunge. A lovely end to a pleasant day.

Swimming in Loch Achilty