There are more hills similar to it which get more praise, some in the southern cairngorms are very much the same but on a greater scale - long walk in, surrounded by more inspiring hills, rounded shoulders but taller.
True when walking a'Chreachain and Achaladair it looks like its only purpose is to stop Loch Lyon being longer.
However I think it deserves its place - as the armchair of the Breadalbane, sit at the top and count the hills in view.
- Target - Beinn Mhanach
- Beinn a'Chaisteill (only! a corbett)
- Fuaran Mor and Beinn Dorain
Left the car at a couple of minutes before 08.00 and walked down the estate road to a cacophony of baying hounds, what do they hunt from there - Bear.
Nice fresh morning with a little ice in the track puddles.
- Beinn Bhreac-Liath with Beinn Udlaidh on the left
- Track up Ach Gleann following the Allt Kinglass
- Coire Chruttein (Beinn Dorain)
No real problems crossing the multitude of fords and reached the split in the track for Lurg Luibheach at 09.20.
Had a we breather just past the dam.
- Cliffs of Beinn a'Chaisteil and bealach Mam Lorn
- Beinn nam Fuaran
- Allt an Loin up to Lon na Cailliche .638
Left the track and followed the right bank of the stream towards the Lon na Cailliche spot height. After 1/2km of flogging through wet heavy snow and soft sodden turf I turned directly uphill to try and gain firmer ground.
In the end I gave up on trying to contour round to the .849 spot height between Mhanach and a'Chuirn and decided to go straight up a'Chuirn.
- Its a long way in
- North face of Beinn a'Chuirn - pick a gully
- Beinn a'Chreachain and Meall Buidhe
- Beinn an Dothaidh behind the shoulder of Beinn Achaladair
After the excitement of An Stuc in the snow, I can do this - old as I am. Stopped to put on the spikes and break out the ice axe, pick a gully and up we go.
Careful route picking, trying to balance the firm drifted deep snow in the gully and the the hard packed icy thin cover over rocks.
- Resting
- Way up from Lon na Cailliche
Minimum of two points of contact all the way up, occasionally having to break the crust with the axe to allow the feet to kick-in. It may not be Matterhorn stuff but its good enough for me, made the top at 11.33.
- Beinn a'Chuirn summit with Beinn Dorain & Ben Lui
- Beinn Mhanach
Sense of achievement deflated a little when realised I still had to top the munro - shift it.
Even more so after crossing the bealach and started to climb an insignificant gradient - Ouch Ouch. Calfs really tightened up after the exertions of the 'North face'.
- Mhanach cairn with a'Chreachain behind
- Loch and Glen Lyon
- Somewhere up North with a bit of sun
- Long way out
Reached the top at 12.10 and had a brew and a wedge, nearly made my self dizzy turning round to suck in all the hills and view.
Saw my first people of the day topping out on a'Chuirn as I started to descend, roughly following the line of the Allt a'Chuirn down to Strath Tarabhan. At first the snow was crisp and firm, easy walking, then came the mushy crap and soggy turf again.
- Creag Mhor on the right
- Beinn Dorain and Meall Garbh
Made the track at 13.08 an stopped to refuel for the walk out
- Manmade waterfall Strath Tarabhan
Bit of a slog on the way out but I have done a few K's in the last few weeks.
Worst hill of the day the climb up to the road and with Ian's absence - no beer.
Few minutes shy of 7 hours, good enough for me.
