Finishing the Drumochters - Sgairneach Mhor, Beinn Udlamain

[Caleb Wright]

It was a warm sunny day when we arrived at layby 79 on the A9 ready to complete the Drumochter Munros. It was those (for me) rare perfect conditions, sunny, clear a breeze and few insects around (they would later catch up with me in Glen Affric).
We left the layby and followed General Wade's road for a very short distance, then a side track that went down and under the railway then right back on itself before turning up into Coire Dhomhain. The track was good and the way ahead could be clearly seen. Above the track was the Sow of Atholl, and ahead and to the left was the first target Sgairneach Mor.

Sow of Atholl

Both munros ahead

Crossing the stream

After crossing a stream, we followed the track gently uphill and took the second left track turning off as it crossed the Allt Coire Dhomhain at a bridge and then turned into an ATV track as it ascended towards Coire Creagach. The gradient was good and because of the dry weather there wasn't even much mud. I have heard that people find these hills rather uninspiring, but I couldn't disagree more. I thought Coire Creagach and the lovely walk above it was impressive and the view from the first munro of the day Sgairneach Mhor were impressive. To the East were the first two Drumochters I had done, to the south Schiehallion was as impressive as ever. To the South West the two northerly Bridge of Orchy hills I had recently climbed were visible across the vastness of Rannoch Moor. To the west hints of the Ben Alder group and to the North, further Drumochters.

The way up

ATV track up

Coire Creagach

Spot the bird

Looking East to the Sow of Atholl

Lovely short ridge walk

On top of Sgairneach Mhor

Towards the Bridge of Orchy hills

Towards Schiehallion

Leaving the summit, we were heading for the 809 meter point on the map. We did lose the path a couple of times but eventually crossed a very short boggy section and began ascending the surprisingly boulder full southern slope of Beinn Udlamain. The summit itself had a decent size Cairn and there were views across Loch Ericht to the remote Ben Alder range which still had some snow patches. After lingering a while we gently descended following the fenceposts slightly north east and then north east until we reached some fenceposts that had been pushed together. Just after this and before we ended up ascending A'Mharconaich we headed down a surprisingly good path through the heather downhill. I was pleased that this wasn't as steep as I had been expecting from some reports I had read. We emerged back onto the original good track and headed back to the layby. It had been a great way to end the Drumochter Munros and I will certainly be back to these hills again.

Crossing the bealach

Towards Loch Ericht

Unexpected boulders on the ascent

On top of Beinn Udlamain

The way ahead

The turn off

Going down

The path down we took from the track

Looking back up Coire Dhomhain