Beinn Mhanach from Achaladair farm
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 2:13 pmForecast was heavy rain & wind clearing into the afternoon, thought river crossings on Auch Glen would be dodgy so left from Achaladair farm. Made up a rough route the night before:
Path from the farm up to the bealach was boggy and meant crossing a few streams. Had been here in autumn but rain & thawing snow was now gushing off the hills so had to detour to find reasonably safe places to cross. Also discovered that standing in a torrent looking for a submerged stepping stone will push gaiters past their tolerance leading to squelchy boots.
Finally made it to the top: there's a small cairn that marks the path up Achaladair then a larger cairn just behind it at the start of a faint stalker's path that traverses Achaladair towards Mhanach. Couple of streams to cross here too, one was snow covered:
Visibility was poor so kept following compass & looked out for a raised part of the valley below, was boggy here too & a few pools to avoid:
Got down to this point & took another bearing, I went straight to the bealach between Beinn a'Chuirn & Mhanach but heading slightly left to go around the ridge of Chuirn would avoid unnecessary ascent/descent. There's a ruined wire fence that's easy to cross but look out for coils of rusted wire on the ground. More fence between a'Chuirn & Mhanach with wooden gateposts to head through. After this it's an easy walk up to the cairn:
Rain was easing now so got the camera out on the return, here's the fence between a'Chuirn & Mhanach - wooden frames slightly right of centre:
Path up Mhanach:
Between a'Chuirn & Achaladair:
Looking towards Auch from the side of Achaladair:
I didn't follow the stalker path on the return, this was probably a mistake as the ground was a bit rougher & I forgot to go uphill, so had a steepish final ascent to the bealach. Started to get a few views on the way back to the farm:
There were also dozens of deer out on on the hills, glad I could provide interest as I squelched past.
Path from the farm up to the bealach was boggy and meant crossing a few streams. Had been here in autumn but rain & thawing snow was now gushing off the hills so had to detour to find reasonably safe places to cross. Also discovered that standing in a torrent looking for a submerged stepping stone will push gaiters past their tolerance leading to squelchy boots.
Finally made it to the top: there's a small cairn that marks the path up Achaladair then a larger cairn just behind it at the start of a faint stalker's path that traverses Achaladair towards Mhanach. Couple of streams to cross here too, one was snow covered:
Visibility was poor so kept following compass & looked out for a raised part of the valley below, was boggy here too & a few pools to avoid:
Got down to this point & took another bearing, I went straight to the bealach between Beinn a'Chuirn & Mhanach but heading slightly left to go around the ridge of Chuirn would avoid unnecessary ascent/descent. There's a ruined wire fence that's easy to cross but look out for coils of rusted wire on the ground. More fence between a'Chuirn & Mhanach with wooden gateposts to head through. After this it's an easy walk up to the cairn:
Rain was easing now so got the camera out on the return, here's the fence between a'Chuirn & Mhanach - wooden frames slightly right of centre:
Path up Mhanach:
Between a'Chuirn & Achaladair:
Looking towards Auch from the side of Achaladair:
I didn't follow the stalker path on the return, this was probably a mistake as the ground was a bit rougher & I forgot to go uphill, so had a steepish final ascent to the bealach. Started to get a few views on the way back to the farm:
There were also dozens of deer out on on the hills, glad I could provide interest as I squelched past.
