Beinn Bhalgairean and Meall nan Gabhar

[Mountaineer]

Up until fairly recently an attempt to combine these two hills involved a very long day indeed, but with new and ongoing clear felling both can be done with ease from the A85. Moreover, it is possible to drive much of the way to Succoth where Forestry Commission signs indicate there is no public vehicular access beyond. It is, however, important to note that there is currently extensive work involving heavy plant underway to construct a new hydro scheme, and that this is adjacent to the track from the A85 to Succoth. I drove in on a Saturday but cannot comment on car access during the week when work is presumably taking place.

Having spent the evening in good company at an Inverness Mountaineering Club meet at Inverardran Cottage, just myself and RF were up for a day on the Grahams, the rest of the party choosing to head into the clouds south of Crianlarich. Armed with the results of web research and a helpful tip from Alan Dawson who I had met the previous day on Fiarach, were we delighted to find it possible to drive the almost 2km to Succoth - which was as well given the limited parking at the road end.

From Succoth we followed the track under the railway and alongside the Eas a Ghaill for about an hour to a junction at about 340m where we took the western branch. The track is somewhat muddy due to forest operations, but it does make for easy going, and the clear felling has opened up vistas to the north that would otherwise have been blocked. After a further 100m a small pile of logs (nice spot for second breakfast) lay at the foot of a rougher track which cut more steeply south westerly through a gap in the trees. This joined a new autobahn of a track which we followed south for a further 50 metres. A minor track then disappeared into a narrow break through the trees on the right, and though blocked at times by some easily bi-passed fallen trees, emerged onto the open hillside from which it was easy going to the summit. There is an old deer fence , though there is a gate just to right of the line to the summit which removes the need for acrobatics. Beinn Bhalgairean is a splendid summit and enjoys extensive views to Ben Cruachan and the west. It is very worthy of a visit.

Returning to the logs for lunch we then followed the south westerly track south west before swinging westerly. To avoid a descent and re-ascent through rough clear felling, we used the second obvious fire break leading south towards the open hillside (100m long) and followed the fence east to a corner where it had been previously climbed. A quick ascent on good ground found us on the summit, with the central 'top' being the highest point. The summit views were a little disappointing due to low cloud on the Ben Lui group, though the view west is striking. We returned by the same route.

[m3doc]

Using e-bikes gets up the 1,000 feet 2.5 miles in 25 minutes from Succoth and 7 minutes back down, timber extraction lorries and hydro work vehicles permitting but Irish treefellers (though only 2 of them) with £400,000 machines may make access problematical at present.

[m3doc]

Some photos from 23 July 2015

[m3doc]

Photos from bike / walk on 14 July 2015 of hills Meall nan Gabhar then Beinn Bhalgairean