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Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:58 pm
by teaandpies
This was a hill I've wanted to get out of my way for a good while. I had done it's closest neighbours so I was left to do this hill by it's self.

The weather was looking good for Wednesday and I had a quick check of the bus prices and they were good, I could get a ticket from Glasgow to Inverarnan for under £17 apex (it's normally £28). Decision made, ticket booked.

The weather was sunny when I left Glasgow at 07:13 and I was starting to freak out that I had left my sun cream at home but it worked out ok because the only 'factor' I had to worry about would be bog factor as turned out.

The bus dropped me off at the Drovers about 08:30 and I made my way along the road to the bridge and then around the field and out of the other gate which is so stupid because you still have to walk through where people are camping anyway. I found my self skipping around tent guy ropes so couldn't really see the point.

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Inverarnan & The Drovers Inn


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I have to go up there? :(


The first part of the walk reminds a bit of Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond), it's very steep and very wet but there is bracken right up against you, it was wet and I got an early socking.

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Jurassic Park


There's not much good to say about the path up, the eroded track is a stream (when it's wet obviously) or a an ultra muddy mess but the water fall is nice I suppose.

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The Falls


The steep climb gives you some good height over the campsite and you get a view across to the glen.

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Meall nan Caora


Once over the brow there's not much to see it's just a moor with some electric pylons on your right but at no point is there a decent path (don't take the road that goes to the left). If you aren't confident in your boots ability to keep out water you will be better off wearing a comfortable pair of wellies. The problem isn't the 'path' across the moorland is just wet, it faint at times and then at some points it's very deep marsh/bog with wide sections that doesn't seem to be a way around. I came to a bit that I had to take a run and jump at and when I landed on the other side I was in the mud half way up my shins and took a fall into the mud...so now I was wet and dirty.
It was at this point I remembered from one of the reports I read that the writer advised to stick to the burn to avoid the bog. I set off across country I guess you could say, luckily it wasn't that far but to be honest the path by the burn wasn't much better. I just followed the burn the best I could until I got up to the Lochan where I stopped on a large rock for some breakfast.

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The moor


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Lochan Beinn Chabhair


After breakfast it was time to set off up the next steep pull, which as you might have guessed is soggy as well.

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The way up to Meall nan Tarmachan

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Looking back over the moor


Once up the path never really improves, it's still pretty wet in places and a good few shorter steep sections to deal with. Lots of up and down here, it's like a roller coaster.

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Still a good bit to go


I'd imagine the views would be pretty good on a clear day but this wasn't a clear day so I'll just have to keep imagining that. This was the best look I got if this hills neighbour.

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The only bit of An Caisteal I got to see


I got a good view down the glen of the hydro works and they have built a shiny new road. If anybody is reading this planning to walk this hill as a stand alone I'd say don't bother walking over the moor form Inverarnan because it just the absolute worst and there's nothing of interest to see either. If I had known I would have walked right up the road and then up the side of the hill to where I was standing in the below picture cutting out all crap, probably cutting the walk time by half! Unless you're doing this hill as part of a bigger more challenging walk you're only really doing it to tick it off the list.

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Looking down at the new road


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Looking over to Lochan a' Chaisteil


Now I was a bit higher the views had disappeared so I was just following the path to summit. Once reached I didn't linger that long, not much point.

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The summit in gloom. Sums up the whole walk.


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Summit


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Looking back to the summit as I leave


I pelted it down the hill, well I went as fast as I could go without putting myself at risk and because my feet were already wet from the walk up I didn't take any measues to avoid the marsh on the way back, I was ready to get my feet 're-wettened' I was just wanting to get off this hill so badly. If I ever come to this hill ever again I won't be doing it this way that's for sure.
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My feelings made clear


I was back at the top of the falls and just working my way down the steep hill and I came across the highlight of the walk by far a knot or bunch or tangle (is there a proper word for this) of Slow Worms. Amazing. I have only seen Slow Worms in Perthshire and 1 dead one in the Aviemore so I was pretty chuffed.

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Anguis fragilis or Slow Worm, legless lizards?


I walked right through the campsite and stopped for a while to chat to some guys I met on the hill having a drink in the café there. I made my way back to the drovers and found myself with almost 4 hours to spare. I hung out in The Drovers Inn where I had a late lunch and some coffee while I waited for my bus.

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Steak & Haggis burger from the Drovers


I went and sat out in the air for a while just before my bus and there in the beer garden was another one of these little buggers.

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Another Slow Worm in the Drovers beer garden


I didn't really want to come to the computer and write a negative report, I truly didn't but I didn't really enjoy it at all so I need to get for another walk to recover from this one haha.





@teaandpies on Instagram

(walked alone)

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:16 pm
by teaandpies
A few from Ben Chonzie 1/08/15

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 10:02 pm
by IanEzzi
Sooo... good day out then? 8)

A big waterfall, some cool wildlife, a burger and a beer. That's enough for a good day out in my book. I seem to remember finding some nice rocks to scramble about on up on the ridge as well.

Granted it's not one I'd hurry to repeat though...

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 10:22 pm
by teaandpies
IanEzzi wrote:Sooo... good day out then? 8)

A big waterfall, some cool wildlife, a burger and a beer. That's enough for a good day out in my book. I seem to remember finding some nice rocks to scramble about on up on the ridge as well.

Granted it's not one I'd hurry to repeat though...


I couldn't get into it I guess. Once up in the clag I couldn't see much further than 20ft so discovering stuff wasn't happening. What I wanted to do was include Meall Mor on this walk but I didn't take my map and compass with me. I don't have a GPS either so didn't want to risk getting lost :lol:

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:18 pm
by jupe1407
:lol:

Superb. I had a diabolical time on this hill, albeit in far better weather conditions. It had almost everything I hate, a steep wet ascent, a great long bogtrot, an obscene number of false summits and a steep and rocky final descent which pretty much finished my right knee for weeks. Atrocious.

I'll probably end up repeating it when Anne gets round to it :?

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:50 pm
by Alteknacker
Slow worms twice in one day! What on earth have you got to complain about???? :D

Seriously: I'd count that as a privilege!

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:32 am
by teaandpies
Alteknacker wrote:Slow worms twice in one day! What on earth have you got to complain about???? :D

Seriously: I'd count that as a privilege!


I did say it was the highlight of the walk. It's good seeing something different on a walk.
I hope the wee fella in the Drovers wasn't eaten by one of the million Chinese tourists...joking obviously. There's so much human activity there I find it odd that the creature was there at all.

jupe1407 wrote::lol:

Superb. I had a diabolical time on this hill, albeit in far better weather conditions. It had almost everything I hate, a steep wet ascent, a great long bogtrot, an obscene number of false summits and a steep and rocky final descent which pretty much finished my right knee for weeks. Atrocious.

I'll probably end up repeating it when Anne gets round to it :?


Well, the thought that I may have to do it again has crossed my mind but I'll be doing it form another approach that's for sure.
I don't mind steep hills but constant bog killed my enthusiasm completely on this walk.

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:01 pm
by CarltheViking
I did this walk a couple of weeks ago and I think it was even wetter and boggier than the day you ventured out. The waterfall was spectacular but then July 2015 was the wettest July since records began. Envious of the slow worms though. Remarkable.

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:08 pm
by Mal Grey
Sorry, this just made me smile, we all have days like this when the hill experience is less than desired! Thanks for sharing.

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 8:33 pm
by Old Stag
One of my favourite hills! Having two pubs at the bottom of it does push it up my list quite a bit though.

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 2:13 pm
by ancancha
Bog totting isn't much fun that's for sure :(

The slow worms are fabulous 8)

Reading your report I really wish I'd had time to tick this one off from An Caisteal & Beinn a'Chroin recently as it was at least dry and fun up top and the down up to Beinn Chabhair summit through the bealach looked like fun as well.

Guess now you know why my favourite kit are solid dry leather walking boots, it definitely makes for a more comfortable experience.
Oh and grangers G-Wax
https://grangers.co.uk/product/g-wax
not cheaper own brand substitutes :!: genuine pure bees wax, grangers G-Wax, it seems to be slightly more viscous and seeps into the leather better :wink:
Keeps leather boots waterproof for ages :D

Gaiters are pretty cool as well, got an old pair which would still offer some protection if you are in need PM me.

Guess I will now look at getting up to Beinn Chabhair summit from Inverlochlairig :roll:

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:26 pm
by kaye.cantlay
I did this one in June and didn't find it too boggy....

It was a relentlessly longer-than-it looked twisty-turny lumpy-bumpy ascent though......wouldn't have fancied it on a bad day.

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 9:17 pm
by teaandpies
ancancha wrote:Bog totting isn't much fun that's for sure :(

The slow worms are fabulous 8)

Reading your report I really wish I'd had time to tick this one off from An Caisteal & Beinn a'Chroin recently as it was at least dry and fun up top and the down up to Beinn Chabhair summit through the bealach looked like fun as well.

Guess now you know why my favourite kit are solid dry leather walking boots, it definitely makes for a more comfortable experience.
Oh and grangers G-Wax
https://grangers.co.uk/product/g-wax
not cheaper own brand substitutes :!: genuine pure bees wax, grangers G-Wax, it seems to be slightly more viscous and seeps into the leather better :wink:
Keeps leather boots waterproof for ages :D

Gaiters are pretty cool as well, got an old pair which would still offer some protection if you are in need PM me.

Guess I will now look at getting up to Beinn Chabhair summit from Inverlochlairig :roll:



I don't have leather boots (yet) but I do have a very expensive pair that's meant to be waterproof but I know they aren't 'submergeproof'. The ironic thing is I had conditioned them a few days before my walk and when I was walking through the field at the start I was chuffed as I was watching the beads of water rolling off them :?

Mal Grey wrote:Sorry, this just made me smile, we all have days like this when the hill experience is less than desired! Thanks for sharing.


I'm laughing about it now :thumbup:

kaye.cantlay wrote:I did this one in June and didn't find it too boggy....

It was a relentlessly longer-than-it looked twisty-turny lumpy-bumpy ascent though......wouldn't have fancied it on a bad day.


I enjoyed the top part the most. It reminded me a wee bit of the first Munro I ever walked Ben Vane... Always thinking this must be the top now and I even got my feet soaked very early on in that walk wearing a cheap pair of boots. :(

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 9:57 pm
by katyhills
This year has been particularly bad bog wise. I quite enjoyed Chabhair when I did it many years ago, but it wasn't wet and soggy so the open moorland after the initial ascent was actually quite pleasant!
I did Beinn a Ghlo a couple of weeks ago, and the return back to the track is always boggy apparently. Had a great day but the weather came in on the ascent to Ghabar so I came back to the bealach and down the corrie instead of going over the 'end'. Utterly hellish. Never been so wet in my life! :(

Re: Beinn Chabhair is the worst

PostPosted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:47 pm
by roscoT
Just as well I missed out on this one eh?! :lol:

Glad you got a better day on Lawers et al though. I'm back from injury now mate, so I'm all ears if you have any plans :D