Ben Inverveigh and Meall Tairbh circuit from Inveroran
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:28 pm
I was spending the weekend with friends at the Bridge of Orchy ski lodge and this was a walk I had often fancied doing. I awoke to a beautiful crisp, clear morning so it was off to Inveroran to finally get this done. I parked in a large space just by the WHW and started off up this excellent track.
I went up as far as the cairn on Mam Carraigh before leaving the WHW to follow a sodden vehicle track up the SW ridge of Ben Inverveigh. Indeed, this seemed to be the order of the day - the ground was saturated and very slippery. I quickly reached pt 546 and stopped for a while to admire the view ahead and back to the Etive mountains and Black Mount. It was a simple 2km from here to the summit - but I have to say that it looked and seemed further. I carried on past the summit along the ridge for about another km until I found the easiest route down to the col between the two hills where Lochan Coir' Orain nestled. The descent didn't take long but the ground across to Meall Tairbh was awkward because of the hags, streams and bog. I traversed a few hundred metres to the south of the lochan which seemed to be the best terrain. I stopped to have a look at the best route for my ascent, wanting, obviously, to avoid the wet crags and ended up making a lovely easy ascent by zig-zagging up steepish grassy slopes. In what seemed like no time, I crested a rise and saw the summit cairn about 20 metres away. It was time for lunch and to sit for a while to enjoy the views. I decided to stay up on the broad NE ridge for as long as I could before dropping down to the lower ground. The first part of the plan was easy enough but the last 2kms to the road was nothing but a splash-fest! I was going at a good pace (I thought) despite the dreadful underfoot conditions and I could see the white building that was the hotel ..... but it never seemed to be getting any closer - probably because of all the dips and hummocks and detours round the worst of the bogs. It was a relief to finally reach the road for the last few hundred metres back to the car. I thought to myself that I if had been attempting Meall Tairbh on its own by this route, I would have given up in tears of frustration - what looks simple on the map is a nightmare on the ground. At least I had the benefit of being only 10 minutes from a hot shower and dry clothes!