Beinn a'Ghlo from Blair Atholl

[Caleb Wright]

Having stayed over in Blair Atholl we awoke early, we had caught the train up the previous evening and so had a walk just to get to the normal start point. It was a lovely walk though through the village and the very picturesque 'bridge of tilt' then gradually ascending on the country lanes on the south side of Glen Fender. The lane was thankfully quiet with only one car and a deer passing us. We reached the walkers car park in good time and could see the bulk of Beinn a'Ghlo directly ahead.
We headed along a good track and then forked left at a junction through a gate and passing a hut. Soon after this we turned down a path heading directly for the slightly imposing looking Carn Liath. The path started out with excellent stepping stones avoiding the worst of the bog, after this it gradually steepened but the ascent was aided by steps and nowhere near as tough as I thought it had looked. After a cairn at 900 meters things became less steep as we made it to the summit of the first munro of the day Carn Liath. Time for breakfast! The views from here are outstanding, excellent views of Schiehallion and the Glen Lyon munros as well as and distant peaks out west.

Carn Liath ahead

The obvious path up

Nearing the top

On Carn Liath

The path took us onwards down a lovely well defined ridge. The two next munros and the challenge for the day was ahead to see! The height loss after Beinn Mhaol was slightly dispiriting and even though on a good path the re-ascent was especially tiring. It was with huge relief we reached the rocky area and cairn marking the summit of Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain. The views across Glen Tilt to Carn a' Chlamain were impressive.

The way ahead

A tiring ascent ahead

Knackered on Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain

Carn a Chlamain

After a well earned rest at the summit it was time to move on again. We followed the initially obvious path North East and then more North, we must have missed the right hand turn and so breifly lost the path but easily found our way to Bealach an Fhiodha. From the bealach it was a nicely angled good path onto the longish summit of Carn nan Gabhar. The cairn after the trig point marked the top. Though cloud had come in alongside a cold wind for July the views were still amazing, looking out the munros west of Glen Shee, and towards the distant Cairngorms. It was well worth the long walk.

The final ascent!

The longish summit of Carn nan Gabhar

Relieved on Carn nan Gabhar

Towards Glen Shee munros

To distant Cairngorms

Now came the long walk back, we retraced our steps to Bealach and Fhiodha then turned south following an increasingly boggy and eroded path. I am not sure if this was the best way or not but we crossed the burn before the obvious confluence on the OS map and after some mud and bog the path dramatically became excellent. This led us around Beinn Bheag and then all the way back to the track where we started. It was a very long walk back to Blair Atholl on the tar road and I was glad to be able collapse into a chair with a refreshing cider when we reached The Atholl Arms. A long but excellent days hike.

A look back at the days achievement

A boggy path

The good path begins

The long but lovely walk back

[Chris Henshall]

Thanks for posting - looked like a good day out.
Always remember, though, that you are not a number, you are a free man!

Number Six

(see No. 6 in "The Prisoner" at

.)

[Chris Henshall]

Sorry, video clip not available. If unclear, "The Prisoner" was a cult tv series of the 1960s created by and starring Patrick McGoohan as Number Six. I liked it!

[Caleb Wright]

Sorry, video clip not available. If unclear, "The Prisoner" was a cult tv series of the 1960s created by and starring Patrick McGoohan as Number Six. I liked it!

I hadnt heard of it but I've looked into it, thankfully I didn't notice any surveillance balloons on Beinn a'Ghlo so I am free to continue my munro bagging journey