free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
It had been a couple of months since I had been on a Munro (getting married tends to take over for a while
) and after getting on to a Corbett or two over the last two weekends, I decided it was time to really stretch my legs and get back on to the big boys. I had only ventured East a couple of times and with Saturday's forecast looking better on that side of the country, I spent Thursday and Friday at work narrowing down where I wanted to go
Carn a'Chlamain emerged as the winner and there was the added bonus of the Corbett Beinn Mheadhonach next door so it promised to be a long but rewarding day out.
I left Port Glasgow around 6:30am and with the roads being quiet I made quick progress up to Blair Atholl and was in the car park just after 8. I tucked in to some of Tesco's finest prawn pasta in the car park and then set off along through Glen Tilt. There was a slight chill in the shade but blue skies were an abundance and I was thankful that I had remembered to pack suntan lotion unlike last week on The Brack
(that was the colour of me that night).
The track made for a good pace although I was so immersed in the surroundings that I didn't realise I had missed the cut off suggested by the route on here and ended up on the other side of the river. I knew I could head for Gilberts bridge so I followed the road along without too many ups and downs and within a short time I was clambering through the diamond shaped gate
A quick application of sun tan lotion next to the River Tilt and I carried on along the path until I rejoined the road/track I had left at Gilberts Bridge. Beinn a' Ghlo loomed ahead of me and I was now reaching the point where I would have to leave the relatively flat track and head up the hillside.
Chlamain 1 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
It looked reasonably steep and after reading someone on here recently describe how they found it easier to ascend slowly but without stopping I gave it a try and found it a good way to go up the hill. I ascended 200m in no time and then got my first view of Carn a'Chlamain which at the 5 mile point was still 3 miles away. I felt like PeteR seems to around the Loch Ossian area which is burn in the sun
so it was time for more sun tan lotion and a picture of what was ahead as well as Beinn a'Ghlo alongside me.
Chlamain 2 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
Chalamain-9 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
As sods law would have it, the sun decided to hide between a few clouds and with the wind picking up it started to get a good bit cooler so on went the jumper only ten minutes after putting on the extra lotion
I met someone on their way back down and it turned out he had met Kevin on his Munro Round at the top so it was good to hear that he was charging on. After taking a shortcut further up I eventually arrived at the summit and the wind was much stronger up here. As I sat scoffing my lunch I had to don my hat to keep myself warm but I was enjoying the views all around me and it seemed that despite the cold win, I was getting the best of the weather.
Chlamain 3 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
Chalamain 5 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
Chalamain 6 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
The path ahead:
Chlamain 4 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
Lunch done and with my body temperature getting lower, I decided that I should press on in the direction of Beinn Mheadhonach and figure out the best way to get over to it. Having followed a very clear path all the way from the car it was strange but also enjoyable to be on what looked like untouched hillside and I descended fairly quickly down to the Allt Mhairc where I refilled my Platypus and then headed up the opposite hillside.
My exertions were catching up with me but although my progress was slow, it was steady and the at times relentless plod up the steep grass was over reasonably quickly and I then had to make my way to the summit. It was one of those tops that seems to just keep going on and on and just as I thought I was at the top, it went on for another 100 metres or so and I'm glad no one was around to hear me shouting a few things
The small pile of stones that signified I didn't have to go up anymore were a welcome sight but by this time the weather around me seemed to be getting worse. I still had a clear view of Beinn Dearg though.
Chalamain 7 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
The wind had reacquainted itself with my face and water seemed to be falling from the sky so it was on with the waterproof jacket, hat and also a pair of gloves for what I knew was a long walk back to the car. There was a good path for part of the descent but then it would randomly come to a complete stop in the heather as if those who used it had just floated away
I was aiming for a path I could see marked on the map further down the Allt Mhairc on the opposite side but at the point where I intended to cross I was confronted with a rather steep sided gully
I looked back up the river and could see where I would easily get across but I was confused as to where the visible and well used path on the other side went to when it met the river. It wasn't until I walked 50 metres up stream that I stumbled across a bridge which I then discovered was clearly marked on the map and had a bit of a laugh at myself
I was now on the track that I had came up earlier and I recognised it right away as there was a small gate and a bridge over a fast flowing stream. I told myself that it wouldn't be long before I was back at the car and I bounded off down the path feeling a bit tired but still in good spirits and I stopped to take a picture of Glen Tilt in the afternoon sunshine.
Chalamain 8 by
lmcf photography, on Flickr
As I reached the diamond shaped gate, I then headed off down the track which I had missed earlier and after not too long I was wishing I had missed it again and stuck to the other side of the river. It started going up in a long slow climb and as I passed the rifle range, my spirits where beginning to sink and water started falling from the sky again. After this I missed a turning in the forest although I did notice after a few hundred metres and I tried to keep a good pace up as the car was my idea of heaven at that point
The car was getting closer and closer and closer and I reached it 8 hours after leaving it with the change of clothes that it held representing Christmas coming early
I had an absolutely great day out and although it was hard work it felt good to have really stretched my legs and also to have pushed myself to add on the Corbett. It also has inspired me to get my bike fixed
