Beinn a’Chrulaiste.....Bookilicious
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:24 pmHeading up to the walkhighlands Autumn meet at Kinlochleven and I had great plans to bag Sgaith Chuil, but work pt paid to that idea and so I was looking for a last minute substitute as I left the house around 10.00 a.m.
Thankfully Beinn a’Chrulaiste came to my rescue
Parked up at the Kingshouse around midday and was soon on my way. The initial views toward the Big Bookil and Creise were pretty encouraging
Think this is going to a good wee walk
To say the approach from Kingshouse is boggy would be something of an understatement
It didn’t take long for my boots to get a good soaking as I followed the boggy track come path that heads off alongside the Allt a‘Bhalaich up towards Ba’C’s east ridge 
It didn’t take me long to get soaked either, as one decidedly rainy, sleety, snowy shower dumped its worst on me for about 10 to 15 minutes 
So, with very wet troos I continued the walk in the bog. Even on the ridge and gaining height this is one boggy hill as the situation seemed to deteriorate!
Thankfully there is one majestic reward for all the effort on the sometimes steep climb up
Gaining height I was surprised by just how much snow there was nearer the top. Eventually this made walking easier, as soft, slippery bog gave way to firmer snow.
Once the summit was reached all struggles with bog, rain, sleet and snow was easily forgotten
Now the Big Bookil took centre stage, It was just was simply majestic 
Other views were superb too, Creise, over the desolation of Rannoch Moor, toward the Mamores, Grey Corries and down into Glencoe
All stunning, but that Big Bookil stole the show I was like a kid in a sweet shop jumping about the summit area taking in all the views
Even in descent toward Alltnafeidh the views were just incredible
Initially the snow this side seemed to be deeper than from when I climbed up from Kingshouse. Soon enough though snow gave way to bog and I was soon taking a bit of a slip in the slop on the way down
Once back on the West Highland Way and it was a straightforward walk back to Kingshouse and the car, all the while enjoying that Big Bookil to my right
Driving back on the Sunday and it was clear blue sky. Anyone lucky enough to do this little gem that day would surely have had some absolutely stunning views
Thankfully Beinn a’Chrulaiste came to my rescue
- The Big Bookil from Kingshouse
Parked up at the Kingshouse around midday and was soon on my way. The initial views toward the Big Bookil and Creise were pretty encouraging
- Buachaille Etive Mor
- Creise
Think this is going to a good wee walk
- The Bookil
To say the approach from Kingshouse is boggy would be something of an understatement
It didn’t take long for my boots to get a good soaking as I followed the boggy track come path that heads off alongside the Allt a‘Bhalaich up towards Ba’C’s east ridge It didn’t take me long to get soaked either, as one decidedly rainy, sleety, snowy shower dumped its worst on me for about 10 to 15 minutes So, with very wet troos I continued the walk in the bog. Even on the ridge and gaining height this is one boggy hill as the situation seemed to deteriorate!
- Rannoch Moor
- The only way is up......steeply
Thankfully there is one majestic reward for all the effort on the sometimes steep climb up
- Sneaking out after a quick shower
- Toward the Mamores
- A shadowy Bookil
Gaining height I was surprised by just how much snow there was nearer the top. Eventually this made walking easier, as soft, slippery bog gave way to firmer snow.
- Summit trig
Once the summit was reached all struggles with bog, rain, sleet and snow was easily forgotten
Now the Big Bookil took centre stage, It was just was simply majestic - Quite a summit view
Other views were superb too, Creise, over the desolation of Rannoch Moor, toward the Mamores, Grey Corries and down into Glencoe
All stunning, but that Big Bookil stole the show I was like a kid in a sweet shop jumping about the summit area taking in all the views - Little Bookil, Bidean and into Glencoe
- Mamores and Grey Corries......and tomorrow's target front right
- That old Bookil again
- Zoomed view down the Lairig Gartain
- Panoramic Creise, Bookil and across to Bidean
Even in descent toward Alltnafeidh the views were just incredible
Initially the snow this side seemed to be deeper than from when I climbed up from Kingshouse. Soon enough though snow gave way to bog and I was soon taking a bit of a slip in the slop on the way down
- Lairig Gartain
Once back on the West Highland Way and it was a straightforward walk back to Kingshouse and the car, all the while enjoying that Big Bookil to my right
- Classic view
Driving back on the Sunday and it was clear blue sky. Anyone lucky enough to do this little gem that day would surely have had some absolutely stunning views
