April stunner on Tarmachan Ridge

[thebonnydooner]

After doing all the other Lawers range munros last year, I promised myself to wait for a really nice clear day to do the Tarmachan ridge. With most of the snow long gone and a really nice forecast - Thursday April 3 was it.

Did not have a particularily early start so ended up in the Ben Lawers car park at 10.15 and was off by 10.20. Although bright and sunny, the east wind was biting and did not put shorts on (which turned out to be a good call).

The path is really well marked and easy to follow and it is a pleasant enough start - not too steep - that comes later. Great views across to Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas, with An Stuc peeking out.

After about an hour seemed to be gaining height and views of Meall Garbh appeared.

Getting steeper now and over the false summit to see the final pull to the summit.

Short and steep - but pretty quickly to the summit and the small cairn at 11.45 - so about an hour 25 mins to the top. Wind was blowing hard at the top but the views made up for it.

View over to Meall Garbh with Ben More behind was fantastic.

It was an easy traverse across to Meall Garbh with more great views.

Most interesting part of the hike follows with the grassy arete and more stunning views.

Then came across the scramble. For some reason did not realise this was going to be steep, or exposed, or quite long. Had to stash the poles and carefully got down. Would not fancy this much in the wet. As always seems steeper in person than in the picture afterwards...

Final climb up Beinn Nan Eachan didnt take too long even though it was steep and got to the top just before 1pm. Lovely views back to Meall Garbh.

Steep descent from Beinn Nan Eachan down to the bealach and decided against going to the very end of the ridge. So made for the quarry road. No real path, but easy enough to route find in the good weather and as an added bonus was not boggy at all. It's a long trudge along the road back to the car park but you can make good time as it is flat and dry. Some nice views along the way too.

This was a great hike and am really glad I waited for a nice day to do it. Views are fabulous and there is a lot of interest in a pretty short day.

Back at car park by 2.40 - 4 hours walking and 20 mins of breaks.

[jmarkb]

Nice day for it: lovely pics!

The scramble is indeed quite tricky, especially in descent, and has got harder as more turf has eroded away to reveal sloping rock underneath. I tend to witness folk in various states of distress on it every time I go there. There is a bypass route to the north side, but the start of it is not obvious from above. If you reach the top of the scramble, go back uphill for 10 or 20m and look for a horizontal path heading off left (looking up).