Beinn a'Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach (Glen Spean)

[Scotjamie]

Beinn a Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach with Hans, Malcolm, Brian and Dougie

Leaving the lay-by on the north side of the road at Roughburn we strolled up the forestry track to the first junction.

Dougie Hans Malcolm Brian

The choice is to continue on the track to a fire break which leads to the hill, or take the left turning to the western edge of the forestry. We elected for the latter - you lose a little height but reach the open hillside sooner for the first great sense of leg stretching. A clear day below but a decidedly murky hilltop.

misty Beinn a Chaorainn

As we ascended we chased the clouds higher to give hazy but very acceptable views. The view back down from around 400 metres shows the forestry ‘clump’ that borders the return path…….

The return path by the plantation in the distance

as well as a stalwart Malcolm.
With clearing weather the views tried to respond to my £70 nikon “surefireidiotproofpointandclick”. A view of the second hill of the day Bein Teallach with gentle slopes and easy walking.

The walking is benign with straightforward navigation northeastwards, hardly noticing Meall Clachaig and soon reaching Beinn a Chaorainn. We doubled back to the first top ‘because it was there’ before easy walking to the central summit pictured below from the south.

Beinn a Chaorainn central top

Continuing northwards to the 1044 top gives great views of the Creag Meagaidh massif to the right

The Craig Meagaidh massif

and Beinn Teallach on the left

Beinn Teallach from Beinn a Chaorainn

. Descending northwest brings you readily to the bealach at Tom Mor with its cairn and a large erratic. From the bealach, tend to the right up the initial slopes of Beinn Teallach giving access to a lovely walk up a gentle ridge with views over Loch Sguadaig and beyond to the Monadhliath. The true trig point top is soon reached with a cairn marking an allegedly lower top in a hundred more yards.
The hazy day views included a southerly panorama from Beinn a Chlachair along by Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg, before this Yin and that Yin lead on to the vague outline of the Grey Corries.

Then to finish with, a most delightful stroll down easy slopes, escorted by views all the way down and skirting the eastern edge of the obvious plantation before crossing the Allt A Chaorainn.

This is a simple matter in normal conditions, though others write of the need to seek a crossing point further up in spate conditions. The original path through the forest is joined and, as always on the way back, the length of this forestry section doubles as we head down to the lay-by for a welcome bottle of frothie.

[mountain coward]

I enjoyed those when I did them, especially the nice walk up the back of Beinn Teallach - we had the same kind of conditions you had but it was hugely boggy trying to get back to the forest after descending Teallach. I also found the descent of Chaorainn very stony but a lot of stuff in that area is really... Nice to see them again though - thanks

[Scotjamie]

Thanks for the comment MC. Very dry underfoot for us that day. My first report and have appreciated your courtesy to all new posters over the past while (I am also a practising mountain coward).

[mountain coward]

I think there's getting to be a few less brave people on the site recently - which is nice for me - I used to feel very isolated hearing about everyone's brave deeds and seeing how useless I was continuing to be!