A wander above Water of Tulla
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:40 pm
The plan for today was to follow the standard route clockwise to take in these two fine hills . I was slightly concerned about the forecast , MWIS giving strong gusty winds , wintery showers and severe windchill , as it turned out they were spot on . Parked up at Achallader Farm and was walking for 0730 . The route is easy to follow , fording the Allt Ur then crossing the Water of Tulla via a fine crooked undercut bridge . Passing the old farm at Barravourich the good track continues NW on the northern side of the river with great views of the beautiful ancient woodland .
Crossing the footbridge brings you into the woodland , a faint and wet path leads up to the sheep creep under the railway . As mentioned in the WH description the forest regrowth in fenced areas is amazing , on one side of the fence the ground cover is rough grass , on the other it is crowded with pine, birch , aspen and rowan seedlings , lovely to see .
Leaving the trees behind I followed a clear path up beside the Allt Coire an Lochain ,a pleasant way up, although by now the wind had starting to pick up ,feeling distinctly nippy . On reaching Lochan a'Chreachan I stopped for second breakfast before heading up to the ridge , pausing to put on gloves and extra layers as the MWIS windchill had definitely arrived . Once on the ridge there were fine but fleeting views , before long the summit was reached .
Wind and rain sent me scurrying off the summit to lower ground and the gentle grassy ridge to Meall Buidhe and onwards to Beinn Achaladair . Between showers I had views north over Rannoch Moor,lasting just long enough to decide I didn't have a clue which hills I was looking at , a job for another day . From the bealach at 813m the ascent of Beinn Achaladair starts steeply but soon eases to reach the cairn balanced on the edge of a long drop , one I gave a wide berth to in the gusty wind .
Heading south from the summit the path passes over a lower top before reaching the bealach above Coire Daingean, from there it heads north down Coire Achaladair before crossing the railway above the farm .
A fine circuit and a good try out of some new winter gear
Crossing the footbridge brings you into the woodland , a faint and wet path leads up to the sheep creep under the railway . As mentioned in the WH description the forest regrowth in fenced areas is amazing , on one side of the fence the ground cover is rough grass , on the other it is crowded with pine, birch , aspen and rowan seedlings , lovely to see .
Leaving the trees behind I followed a clear path up beside the Allt Coire an Lochain ,a pleasant way up, although by now the wind had starting to pick up ,feeling distinctly nippy . On reaching Lochan a'Chreachan I stopped for second breakfast before heading up to the ridge , pausing to put on gloves and extra layers as the MWIS windchill had definitely arrived . Once on the ridge there were fine but fleeting views , before long the summit was reached .
Wind and rain sent me scurrying off the summit to lower ground and the gentle grassy ridge to Meall Buidhe and onwards to Beinn Achaladair . Between showers I had views north over Rannoch Moor,lasting just long enough to decide I didn't have a clue which hills I was looking at , a job for another day . From the bealach at 813m the ascent of Beinn Achaladair starts steeply but soon eases to reach the cairn balanced on the edge of a long drop , one I gave a wide berth to in the gusty wind .
Heading south from the summit the path passes over a lower top before reaching the bealach above Coire Daingean, from there it heads north down Coire Achaladair before crossing the railway above the farm .
A fine circuit and a good try out of some new winter gear