Attractive start to the walk

P1000225 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000226 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Waterproofs on and off we set, past piles of stony stuff and earth moving machinery. The track through the trees is steep and covered in fresh snow. We passed a couple of dinky little caterpillar tracked vehicles which had a retro James Bond villain type look to them. A break in the trees allowed some views up to Beinn a'Ghlo hills, before everything was swallowed in clag. As we gained altitude the depth of snow at the side of the road was a reminder about just how much has fallen high up this winter. Still enveloped in clag we came to the turn off point for the brief ascent to Meall Tairneachan but could see nothing on the way up, nor at the summit. Following our own footsteps we descended again to the track and headed down into the mines...
James Bond Villain Vehicles

P1000227 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000269 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Track

P1000228 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Towards Beinn a'Ghlo

P1000229 by 23weasels, on Flickr
A bit desolate...

P1000231 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000232 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000234 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Top of Meall Tairneachan

P1000238 by 23weasels, on Flickr
The stony road that heads down was covered in sheet ice - damn gritters obviously hadn't been doing their job this morning

Ice road to the mines...

P1000241 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000244 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Trackless bog in clag...

P1000246 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Top of Farragon

P1000248 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Visibility improving

P1000254 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Farragon Hill

P1000255 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Back to the quarry, and with the mist lifted we could see even more bits and bobs of machinery. Also passed the opening of a mine shaft which we'd completely missed on the way past earlier, and I went in for a wee explore - Allison keeping herself out of bother at the entrance. Back along the track, views to Shiehallion opening up and even some sunshine on the banks of Loch Rannoch. Was turning into a better day than forecast. As we returned to the car, all the new snow along the track had melted and it seemed there was a major thaw on. Drove back to Coshieville then along the Glen Lyon road. Remembered that I hadn't packed any porridge for the morning and, seeing the Post Office / Shop at Bridge of Balgie decided to stop and see if they had any...after all it is described as "Inside an Aladdin's cave of all sorts of food, household items and gifts, as well as a post office. Gallons of tea at a very fair price and delicious almond cake - well deserved whether you have climbed a Munro or not" It may well have been, but a sign outside said "closed 5th November" so we didn't find out. Porridgeless we drove on along Glen Lyon, and very pretty it was too. Arriving at Pubil we could see a huge jet of water coming from the Hydro dam at Lubreoch Power Station. We parked in a layby just before the dam itself and found a suitable place for the tent, then walked down to investigate the dam. Great roaring as the water spewed out of the overflow. met some of the collies from the farm nearby, who effortlessly vaulted their fence to come and greet us. Headed back to the tent for noodles and chickpea curry.
Quarry road

P1000257 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000258 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Mine opening

P1000259 by 23weasels, on Flickr
inside

P1000260 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Sick "Scaredy-Cat Kid"

P1000261 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Windfarm in blue

P1000263 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Meall Tairneachan

P1000265 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Shiehallion

P1000266 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Loch Rannoch

P1000267 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000271 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Shop with helpful opening hours...

P1000273 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Dam

P1000275 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000279 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000280 by 23weasels, on Flickr
A very wild and windy night indeed - was worried that the tent might try to get airborne at points, but of course it stayed put. Didn't get much sleep however with the tent walls quaking under big buffets of wind. Managed to find some hot & spicy couscous to have for breakfast

Dam

P1000282 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000284 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Up the slopes

P1000285 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Watcher

P1000287 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Meall Buidhe

P1000290 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Towards Gleann Daimh

P1000291 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Summit MB

P1000292 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000296 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Heading back down to the bealach for lunch we could make out something of where we had to head next. Re-traced our tracks up to the 709m spot only to realise that we should actually have headed down into the valley rather than ascending Creag a'Chaorainn...ach well what's another hundred or so metres of unnecessary ascent over potentially avalanche prone terrain

Avalanche

P1000298 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Sron a'Choire Chnapanaich

P1000299 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Nearing the top

P1000302 by 23weasels, on Flickr
To Meall Odhar & Stuc an Lochain

P1000304 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Loch an Daimh

P1000305 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000306 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000307 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Descent route

P1000308 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Collapsing cornice

P1000310 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Allt Phuibhill

P1000312 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Pubil

P1000314 by 23weasels, on Flickr
Gate ornament

P1000315 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1000316 by 23weasels, on Flickr