A driech Tarmachan - familiar terrain

[matt_outandabout]

We used to live under the gaze of Meall nan Tarmachan, Cam-Chreag, Meall Garbh, Beinne nan Eachan and Creag na Caillich. This is the ever changing view from our old lounge in Killin.
Falls of Dochart by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Tarmachan Ridge; Falls of Dochart; Killin by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Tarmachan Ridge at dawn by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
It was then fun to return with some taller, stronger boys a complete the whole ridge with friends this Autumn. Sadly the weather was a tad on the “Driech” side, but none the less we had a great day out on this classic walk.
Starting at the carpark you are almost halfway up the hill already – making for a swift ascent to “point 923” – a familiar spot for us, as we had walked up to it many a time. Amazing to see our children grow…Note the adult on the end has not shrunk – he is replaced by a friends child!
2010 to 2016 by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
From here we had lunch number 1, at the foot of the steep pull to Tarmachan summit. The kids chose their own scramble up the fun way rather than follow anything as boring as a path.
Tarmachan Ridge Walk by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
From here the ridge winds and twists its way along – usually challenging navigation, however I have been up here about 30 times with work and for fun, and so it was more a wander along familiar paths. There are a couple of steep bits, made all the more fun by the damp. Sad to see how eroded the one big step down is becoming – making it more challenging that it was ten years ago.
Tarmachan Ridge Walk by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Tarmachan Ridge Walk by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Tarmachan Ridge Walk by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Second lunch and extra layers were donned after this, in the gully before Meall Garbh. The rain kicked in some more here, making it a less pleasant experience and so we kicked on, keen to complete and get into the lee of the ridge.
Tarmachan Ridge Walk by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
The walk down to the quarry track was the usual bog-hop and ‘guess how close to the big stone we are’ journey. Once on the track, a lovely chat and wander back to the car was had.
Tarmachan Ridge Walk by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Tarmachan Ridge Walk by Matt Robinson, on Flickr
Tarmachan has a reputation for being a lovely day out – and with good reason! I will be back, one day…