The Tarmachan Ridge

[ramblingsteve]

Meall nan Tarmachan had been suggested to me on a WH forum earlier this year and since I checked it out on the site and various books I was desperate to give it a go, hoping the weather would be suitable to follow the ridge and visit all four peaks on the route.
As I parked in the small area beyond the Ben Lawers centre I realised I had forgotten to pick up an OS map on the way Typically well organised! Nevertheless the four of us set off at around midday, armed only with a compass and the route summary from WH which I had saved to my phone, and were soon caught in a race against the cloud to reach the summit... needless to say, the cloud won... gutted! And so we remained in the cloud for the majority of the day.
Without a map on the day, this is the route I reckon we took.

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

The initial ascent looking back over Loch Tay and Killin.

As with The Cobbler earlier in the week, the initial climb to the minor summit -where we stopped for lunch - was tough on the old pins... this does get easier, right? But after the initial battering we found some kinda rhythm and were soon at the cairn atop Meall nan Tarmachan.

Celebrating in the clouds

Happy to have reached the highest point of the day, and being unable to see the next top on the route - Meall Garbh - we followed the WH directions and eventually got a short break in the cloud to take a few shots.

Meall Garbh and Beinn an Eachan

We stuck to the path through the tops of Meall Garbh and Beinn an Eachan, enjoying some scrambling and big steps on the descent from Meall Garbh.

Meall Garbh summit.

Meall Garbh ridge.

Dodgy steps.

We then followed the path to the top of Creag na Caillich, where we stopped for a while debating the route of descent and filling up on satsumas. In the end I won and we headed south along the east ridge of Creag na Caillich.

Creag na Caillich east ridge.

Quite a way down, thankfully the wind was blowing us into the hill.

From here we followed a feint path round to the right (westward) until we reached a spot where we all felt comfortable heading down into the valley - which was quite boggy in places - and headed eastward to join the track (which seemed to go on forever) back to the car park.
Personally, I loved this walk and was only slightly disappointed we missed out on some fantastic views for the 2nd time in 4 days. Hopefully we will have better luck on Wednesday (Ben More) but that is unlikely according to the forecast. Nevermind, it's all good.

[mountain coward]

We took that same descent from Creag na Caillich - or at least Richard did - I didn't do that dodgy path on the side of it in your pic whereas he did! I walked over the top and stuck to the ridgeline all the way - much more comfortable for a coward. I thought it was a nice route though...

[ramblingsteve]

Hey MC,

The wee path was indeed dodgy, not one I'd fancy taking my boy along. I wasn't too fazed by it but one of my mates was really anxious, although we all managed fine in the end.

[mountain coward]

I think the thing which put me off it most was the fact that, when we did it, it was very slippery mud - I took one look down the drop if I slipped and went back up and over!

[ramblingsteve]

I know what you mean, not a place to be slipping! Although I remember finding a well placed flat rock jutting out of the hillside at the really bad bit, perfect size for my size 10 right boot to propel a hop onto firmer ground. Adrenaline boost!