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Creagan na Beinne and Shee of Ardtalnaig

PostPosted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 12:42 am
by Gordie12
Another early start so that I could be parked up and ready to go for 8.30am (from Ardtalnaig on the south side of Loch Tay). I downloaded Homer Simpson's voice on to the sat nav and he was starting to annoy me already so not sure he's going to survive for to long.

Decided to do Creagan na Beinne first so I used the WH route which was spot on. Started by entering a field at a gate with white fence posts (opposite Milton of Ardtalnaig) and followed the track as it left the field and zig-zagged it's way uphill through grass, heather and then grass again.

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Looking over Loch Tay 10 minutes after the start


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Early morning sunlight on the Munros


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Looking down Loch Tay towards Killin


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Looking South into Gleann a' Chilleine


The lower sections of the track were fairly damp but as height was gained, the ground was a bit more crisp and frozen making for easier walking. The track is a bit indistinct heading towards the bealach between Beinn Bhreac and Creagan ne Beinne but it doesn't really matter as the route is obvious (heading towards a fence close to some peat hags).

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Loch Tay


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Target - Peat hags


Once the fence is reached the gradient gets a bit tougher but this is a fairly well rounded and easy hill so no real problems. After a short climb round the side of the peat hags the underfoot conditions improve with short-cropped heather and a narrow track to follow along a wide ridge to the summit.

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Looking down to Kenmore


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Nice easy walking


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Summit in view


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Summit


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Summit with Ben Chonzie in the background


Once on the summit and exposed to the wind it was pretty cold so a couple of photos taken and headed off towards Dunan Hill.

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Skirting the peat hags on the Shee of Ardtalnaig side


Once I could see down to the cottage at Dunans I spotted a mound about half way between the cottage and the track I was using to head up the Shee of Ardtalnaig. If I could find a route down to the grassy mound I might be able to keep my feet dry through an area that looks pretty wet. The drop down was steep in places and on wet grass a bit on the slippy side so just a case of taking my time and heading for the track. Surprisingly, I made it to the track without taking my usual dive so all good.

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Shee of Ardtalnaing from the lower slopes of Dunan Hill


On reaching the track I turned right (towards Loch Tay) and walked for about 500 yards before turning left and following an obvious track I could see when coming down Dunan Hill. This was a nice easy start before leaving the track and taking a direct route towards the top.

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Small cairn at top looking over towards Creagan na Beinne


Having spoken to a chap close to the summit who was out with his two dogs I decided just to head along the ridge rather than retracing my steps back to the track.

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Heading along the ridge


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Luckily this is to the side of the track


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Looking back to the Shee of Ardtalnaig


Having found a route through some more peat hags I used the Garmin to find the track I was after (to the East of the Allt a' Chloidh). This track zig-zags down the hill before contouring round to the North East to link up with the right of Way from Loch Tay to Newton Bridge at Claggan Farm.

From the farm it was a tarmac finish back down to Ardtalnaig with great views over Loch Tay with the sun shining and the summits clear.

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I've previously walked from both Newton Bridge and Glen Lednock over to Ardtalnaig but this was the first time I've climbed these hills. A good day out and really enjoyable.