The Tarmachan ridge and the 4 Tops+Meall a Chorie Leith and
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:14 pmDate. 20th June 2009
Completed by. Dave and Wilson
Weather. Heavy mist and rain
Time. 5hrs 40 mins…. Meall a Chorie Leith and Meall Corranich
Time. 4hrs 45 mins…. The Tarmachan ridge and the 4 Tops
Meall a Chorie Leith and Meall Corranich
Starting from cairn North of Lochan Na Lairige
Checked the met office site, and the morning forecast was not looking good at all with poor visibility and rain.
Plan was to complete Meall a Chorie Leith and Meall Corranich and if I was capable on the day carry on and do the Full Tarmachan ridge.
As there was meant to be a vast improvement in the afternoon, I thought it best to leave the ridge till then.
I decided to do the route in reverse starting with Meall a Chorie Leith and then onto Meall Corranich and then try to catch an outward path from the visitor centre from there I would then head north towards the lawers Dam and then start on the Tarmachan ridge.
30mins in and my feet were soaked through, the boggy ground made for very tough walking indeed, with the rain now on and the heavy mist, all I wanted was to get the 2 Munros out the way.
Meall a Chorie Leith now in sight just (I think) I take the direct route up, finally up, onto a flattish top I can just make out the cairn through the mist. On reaching the cairn I mark my position with the GPS just to be sure I’m where I want to be. Then its down off the summit and past the crags on my left (Coire Liath) this ridge part was a nice walk even in the poor weather conditions.
It was after this area I seemed to veer off track and possibly ended up on a sheep track farther down hill than I should have been, I had no option but to make the steepish as I was still approx 200 feet lower than the summit, Wilson and I reach the summit at 10.55 am.
Off the summit we head north east, and eventually meet the outward path from the visitor centre, we then notice NNW in the distance the car park, soaked thro and my feet now shrivelled like prunes I decide to head the long 4km north of the loch and reach my car that’s parked at the cairn.
At the north end of the loch I meet a nice couple from Stirling, they are about to start the 2 Munros that I have just completed. I tell them I was thinking about doing the ridge but thought it best if I kept it for another day. They completed it the week before and suggested doing it in reverse, starting from the top Beinn Nan Eachan.
I reach the car pew, rinse out my socks and air my waterproofs. Some food and drink and the time is now 2pm, I drive south of the car park and cross the small bridge and park up.
The Tarmachan ridge and the 4 Tops
I’m ready and moving by 2.20pm and head SW along the track then NW and reach an old quarry and stone building Rather than head north west and head for Bein Nan Eachan I decide to save time and head west directly up the steep face of Creag Na Caillich to save time, this turned out to be pretty tough and steep but am sure it did save me precious time.
From her it was on to Beinn Nan Eachan 2 hrs 45 mins in, and im heading for the 3rd top Meall Garbh. I never expected that scramble West of the summit that was a surprise as was the eroded ridge prior to the very pointed summit. All the way from the 1st top to Meall Garbh the walk and views were beautiful, im just extremely glad I decided to make the ridge part of my day.
On to Meall Nan Tarmachan (Munro) im marching on now, and have seemed to find my second wind. I pass the 2 small Lochans at the foot of Tarmachan and then make the steady climb to the summit.
Fantastic im well chuffed with my days efforts. It’s all down hill from here on in, On to the final top at 923m and then head down the well-defined path to meet the path on the outward journey.
Im just glad the weather cleared, as it gave me the chance to include this in my day’s hiking, but as the wife was not joining me on the day im sure I will be doing the Tarmachan ridge for a second time.
Completed by. Dave and Wilson
Weather. Heavy mist and rain
Time. 5hrs 40 mins…. Meall a Chorie Leith and Meall Corranich
Time. 4hrs 45 mins…. The Tarmachan ridge and the 4 Tops
Meall a Chorie Leith and Meall Corranich
Starting from cairn North of Lochan Na Lairige
Checked the met office site, and the morning forecast was not looking good at all with poor visibility and rain.
Plan was to complete Meall a Chorie Leith and Meall Corranich and if I was capable on the day carry on and do the Full Tarmachan ridge.
As there was meant to be a vast improvement in the afternoon, I thought it best to leave the ridge till then.
I decided to do the route in reverse starting with Meall a Chorie Leith and then onto Meall Corranich and then try to catch an outward path from the visitor centre from there I would then head north towards the lawers Dam and then start on the Tarmachan ridge.
- lawers dam in the distance
30mins in and my feet were soaked through, the boggy ground made for very tough walking indeed, with the rain now on and the heavy mist, all I wanted was to get the 2 Munros out the way.
Meall a Chorie Leith now in sight just (I think) I take the direct route up, finally up, onto a flattish top I can just make out the cairn through the mist. On reaching the cairn I mark my position with the GPS just to be sure I’m where I want to be. Then its down off the summit and past the crags on my left (Coire Liath) this ridge part was a nice walk even in the poor weather conditions.
- Meall a choire leith
- choire liath heading towards Meall corranich
- looking back on meall choire leith
It was after this area I seemed to veer off track and possibly ended up on a sheep track farther down hill than I should have been, I had no option but to make the steepish as I was still approx 200 feet lower than the summit, Wilson and I reach the summit at 10.55 am.
- summit of Meall corranich
Off the summit we head north east, and eventually meet the outward path from the visitor centre, we then notice NNW in the distance the car park, soaked thro and my feet now shrivelled like prunes I decide to head the long 4km north of the loch and reach my car that’s parked at the cairn.
At the north end of the loch I meet a nice couple from Stirling, they are about to start the 2 Munros that I have just completed. I tell them I was thinking about doing the ridge but thought it best if I kept it for another day. They completed it the week before and suggested doing it in reverse, starting from the top Beinn Nan Eachan.
I reach the car pew, rinse out my socks and air my waterproofs. Some food and drink and the time is now 2pm, I drive south of the car park and cross the small bridge and park up.
The Tarmachan ridge and the 4 Tops
- Tarmachan Ridge
I’m ready and moving by 2.20pm and head SW along the track then NW and reach an old quarry and stone building Rather than head north west and head for Bein Nan Eachan I decide to save time and head west directly up the steep face of Creag Na Caillich to save time, this turned out to be pretty tough and steep but am sure it did save me precious time.
From her it was on to Beinn Nan Eachan 2 hrs 45 mins in, and im heading for the 3rd top Meall Garbh. I never expected that scramble West of the summit that was a surprise as was the eroded ridge prior to the very pointed summit. All the way from the 1st top to Meall Garbh the walk and views were beautiful, im just extremely glad I decided to make the ridge part of my day.
- meall nan eachan and meall garbh in the distance
- summit of meall garbh
On to Meall Nan Tarmachan (Munro) im marching on now, and have seemed to find my second wind. I pass the 2 small Lochans at the foot of Tarmachan and then make the steady climb to the summit.
- small lochans at the foot of Tarmachan
- heading for the summit of Tarmachan
Fantastic im well chuffed with my days efforts. It’s all down hill from here on in, On to the final top at 923m and then head down the well-defined path to meet the path on the outward journey.
- the lawers dam
Im just glad the weather cleared, as it gave me the chance to include this in my day’s hiking, but as the wife was not joining me on the day im sure I will be doing the Tarmachan ridge for a second time.