You can't say no to Beinn A' Ghlo

[martin.h]

I remember, long ago, when our children were very young, we camped at the Blair Atholl campsite near the castle. One day we decided to have a picnic somewhere local and decided to have a run up the Monzie road to find a quiet spot. We parked up on the edge of the big field just before the cattle grid and had our picnic there. A few cars were parked but there was no one around. I remember looking towards Carn Liath and seeing the path snaking it's way up and wondering what it was like up there. So, back to 2014, 19 years later, me and Denise were looking towards the same path, this time without the kids and about to find out what was "up there".
We parked up in the little rough layby just on the left over the cattle grid, there were only two other cars and while we were getting ready for the off we had a natter with a couple of guy's from one of the other cars. They were from the Falkirk area and were waiting for a group of friends to arrive, they decided to set off when the group reported a delay and decided to take it easy with the hope of them catching up at some point. We set off about 10 mins after them, it was a cracking morning, the clouds were just off the summits but it was fine and warm.
We followed the track as far as the wooden hut, turned left here towards the hut, over a stile and followed the easy path towards Carn Liath. This section is a bit boggy but were soon past the soggy bits and on our way up the steep but easily neotiable path. We caught up with the two guy's about half way up, had a quick natter and asked if they would mind us tagging along for the company. So two became four, we introduced ourselves, they were John and Bill and they were ok with us joining them. So off we trotted up to the summit, it's a bit of a pull up but steady away. A shower came over, it did'nt amount to much but it did give us a fantastic rainbow.

Rainbow

At the summit we could see the route ahead, no clouds but the slight threat of more showers later.

Carn Liath

After a little rest we set off for Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain. It's quite a long drop into the bealach between 1 & 2 but easy to get to. All the way we could see the path leading onto the second summit, it looked a bit daunting, but as we started the climb up we found it to be a steady gradient and an easy plod up. By now it was getting brighter, the sun shone, the breeze lessened, it began to feel quite warm. At the summit you could see for miles and the next objective was plain to see.

looking ahead from near the summit

John and Bill approaching Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain

looking back to Carn Liath

On the summit

Big skies

The way over to bealach an fhiodha was initially heading over to the left before dropping quite steeply into the bealach, in mist this could be confusing as it would seem you were heading off course but this is to avoid very steep ground lying directly ahead off the second summit. In the bealach we had lunch and had a good natter with John and Bill who were willing to help me with the correct pronounciation of the gaelic names of the mountains and some of the features around us and the meanings. I find this interesting had a go but failed, I could'nt get the right sounds, it's very difficult.
After lunch we set off for Carn nan Gabhar which again is easier than it looks from below and we were soon at the trig point, the boulders are a bit of a trial to walk over and it's not difficult to see why its name translates to "hill of the Goat", it's a good job no one was recording my attempt at saying it in Gaelic. Beyond the trig point is the true summit over more boulders but they are a good size so using them as stepping stones makes progress easier, at the summit the views are fantastic it makes the effort getting here worthwhile.

Denise on the summit of Carn nan Gabhar

Summit again

Big views

Looking back to the Trigpoint from the true summit

The decision was made to go back to the bealach instead of the alternative descent over Airgiod Bheinn. On the way we met up with John and Bills group who had made good progress considering the delay so we stopped to have a natter. The guy's decided to carry on down so we stayed with them for the rest of the walk.
We started off down from the bealach and it's a very very long walk out, but it is over easy terrain, not as bad as some of the descents we had in Glen Shiel.

The descent from the Bealach

Lower down

As we were going, we kept looking back and slowly but surely you could see why the W.H route description says it's more of a range of hills than a solitary mountain, and it's quite easy to say that Beinn a Ghlo is one of the nicest looking mountains in the Highlands.

Looking back, the big ones are behind this lot

The path eventually meets up with the outward track and soon passes the hut. By this time the legs were getting a bit tired but it was a good tired and the sence of satisfaction you get when you've had a good walk was great.
Back at the car we took our time getting ready for the off, then said our farewells to John and Bill who were great company on a fantastic day, they made us feel welcome and we enjoyed their conversation, thanks guy's, maybe we'll meet again.
We had an excellent day on a fantastic mountain. it's a real "must do".

[rockhopper]

nice one - certainly a long walk back but the view of the "switchback" ridge as you approach it more than makes up for it - cheers

[Fife Flyer]

Good one Martin, enjoyed reading that

Thanks for posting

[Silverhill]

Lovely report of a great set of hills. I just couldn’t get enough from the ridges that keep curving back and forth. I did these three weeks ago and the final descent was pretty boggy. You didn’t miss much!

[martin.h]

Thanks all for your replies.
It's a fantastic day out with no difficulties, a real classic hillwalk.