Stay at home

[Stretch]

On this day my good luck continued. Every time I've headed to the Glencoe/Rannoch Moor area the skies have been clear and the views spectacular - it would be no different on this occasion. Also on this day my mate Adam would bag his first two munros. I had planned on taking him up Beinn Dorain but I decided on a more circular route with more features to look at along the way - this proved to be the right call. These two hills offer great views from their summits all the way to Ben Nevis and back to Lawers and Crainlaraich. More importantly, there is much to see and enjoy along the way before reaching the ridge. Going clockwise - you begin with a nice easy stroll through the Achaladair farmland, then cross the Water of Tulla before walking through the Black Wood of Rannoch until you start to gain altitude. Once you get through the forrest you have to search for the tunnel under the railroad tracks which isn't clearly visible. It's also boggy in this section. But once past the tracks a clear path takes you all the way up to the lochan below Beinn a'Chreachain and its a lovely spot to rest before climbing the steep pathless slope of the hill. Once on the ridge its an easy pull to the 1st stop and the views across the moorland are spectacular. We took in the nearby top on the way to Beinn Achaladair and enjoyed the steep drops of the crags below the second munro. The going gets a bit more interesting on the ascent here, and I wouldn't want to do this is poor conditions or on ice. Not sure where Bio-man took his fall but if it was on this slope I can see how it could be possible. Once up at the summit the cairn is about as close to the edge of a drop off as it could get but the views down to Loch Tulla and across to Glencoe are impressive. Once you descend from the ridge and start back to the farm you can enjoy a series of nice waterfalls along the way. You also get a great perspective of Beinn an Dothaidh from below. This was a very enjoyable day out and the boggy bits were only a slight hassle when compared to the rest of the circuit. Here are some of the better pics from the day.

[mountain coward]

Great pictures and report! You look to have had a great day. I believe those 2 peaks in the 'What are the 2 peaks" pic are Ben More & Stobinian at Crianlarich... but it depends what direction you're looking really... if that wasn't the right direction I'll have another go at guessing!

[Stretch]

Cheers Mountain Coward, I thought it might be Ben More as Ben Nevis was directly behind me in this shot and from a larger map it almost lines up.

[John Burgess]

Hi Stretch,

Lovely report and photos. We were looking over to you from the hills between Rannoch and Loch Ossian. I've just posted a report and I'm guessing we'll see some more from the day. Fabulous wasn't it

All the best,

John

[kevsbald]

Cracking day had by all it seems. Great photaes. Stretch, you'll need to master the classic hill-walking summit pose. It needs some work.
Try getting your leg up on to a cairn or hand over eyes to the distance. As if you're the master surveying all.

[Stretch]

Kevsbald, that is the classic 'I've stopped moving and my hands are now frozen' pose.

[Freewheelin]

Were you early enough to see the mist over Loch Tulla? When I was passing (heading up for Stob Coire nan Lochan/Bidean nam Bian/Stob Coire Sgreamhach), it looked like there was a photography club's outing. must have been about half a dozen of 'em lined up lined up on the road and some more down on the 'beach'. It was the same once up onto Rannoch Moor - every parking space full of tripod humphers!

PS interesting fact for someone from the good ol US of A, did you know Beinn Achaladair is Scotland's version of Mount Rushmore?

We have a very important Scottish Character carved into that there hill!

Angus Ogg?

Sure is!