Beinn a'Chocuill and Beinn Eunaich and a camp
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 1:47 pmWe climbed Meall Greigh on Sunday and from there moseyed down to the Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum for haggis, soup and chips and to peruse the weather forecast for our next endeavour.
Both MWIS and the Met Office suggested the best weather on Monday would be furthest West, and improving as the day went on with 50% chance of cloud free munros in the afternoon. So we headed West to these two red balloons behind Cruachan hoping it would be our lucky day. It wasn't, but nevertheless we had a good time.
We set off at about 4.30pm, after a great deal of faffing, from the small layby just before Castles Farm. It didn't look too promising but we could at least see half way up the hill to where we hoped to camp. There were cows in the field beyond the first gate, but they were well away from the track. We hoped there would be a likely spot just before the intake at the end of the track near the Allt Lairig Ianachan.
It's a great track to walk on, a nice gradient for going up and we spotted several possible camp spots on the way up should our chosen place not be any good.
As it turned out we found an ideal place on a grassy knoll about 200m before the end of the track. There was a lot of audible running water nearby, but most of it inaccessible as it was under rocks and not visible, or if visible then out of reach. However we managed to get filled up with water and pitched our tent.
Before having our tea we went to look at the small dam at 125317 and next to it the tunnel intake which carries water under the mountains to the reservoir at Cruachan Dam. Impressive.
We had plenty of time to eat our tea before it got dark, went to bed and slept well, all night, with the white noise accompaniment of running water and occasional rain, always very soothing.
On getting up in the morning the valley was filled with mist and the cloud was above us. We watched swirls of cloud moving down the valley and up again, momentarily looking like it would clear, but in the end, meeting in the middle.
Before long as we climbed up the nose of Beinn a'Chocuill we were into the cloud and would remain so until we were nearly back at the tent.
The top of a'Chocuill was cold and windy so we only stopped long enough for the compulsory photo after touching the cairn. It's certainly one to come back to as the views from the ridge I'm sure would be grand on a fine day.
The top bit of Beinn Eunaich was surprisingly steep and rocky but the top was very pleasant; a big red cairn and a shelter. There was not a breath of wind so we stopped for lunch and a brew and stayed for a good half an hour.
From there we retraced our steps down the steep rocky part of the ridge until it turned towards the south, then we aimed off-piste down the slope taking what we thought was the easiest line towards our tent.
As we were coming down the ridge we suddenly saw a hole in the cloud with tantalising glimpses of Loch Etive - then it went, probably lasted about 90 seconds in all. But it was breathtaking while it lasted!
As we came further down the slope we came across more audible but invisible running water - you have to be careful as there might be leg-breaking holes so poles can be very useful here for testing the ground.
After packing up the tent it was an easy downhill back to the car in improving weather. We had no trouble avoiding the cows, who this time were on the track. We just walked parallel to the track outside the fence through some good Farm Mud.
Then of course another wee trip to the Real Food Cafe to consider our next move. It's clearing up folks!
Both MWIS and the Met Office suggested the best weather on Monday would be furthest West, and improving as the day went on with 50% chance of cloud free munros in the afternoon. So we headed West to these two red balloons behind Cruachan hoping it would be our lucky day. It wasn't, but nevertheless we had a good time.
We set off at about 4.30pm, after a great deal of faffing, from the small layby just before Castles Farm. It didn't look too promising but we could at least see half way up the hill to where we hoped to camp. There were cows in the field beyond the first gate, but they were well away from the track. We hoped there would be a likely spot just before the intake at the end of the track near the Allt Lairig Ianachan.
- not looking too promising
- if the cloud was not there you'd be looking at the Cruachan Horseshoe. Lovely autumn colours
It's a great track to walk on, a nice gradient for going up and we spotted several possible camp spots on the way up should our chosen place not be any good.
- good track
As it turned out we found an ideal place on a grassy knoll about 200m before the end of the track. There was a lot of audible running water nearby, but most of it inaccessible as it was under rocks and not visible, or if visible then out of reach. However we managed to get filled up with water and pitched our tent.
- Happy Mugs at camp
- View down to the top end of Loch Awe and Kilchurn Castle
Before having our tea we went to look at the small dam at 125317 and next to it the tunnel intake which carries water under the mountains to the reservoir at Cruachan Dam. Impressive.
- the Tunnel opening by head torch light
- toadstool forest.
We had plenty of time to eat our tea before it got dark, went to bed and slept well, all night, with the white noise accompaniment of running water and occasional rain, always very soothing.
On getting up in the morning the valley was filled with mist and the cloud was above us. We watched swirls of cloud moving down the valley and up again, momentarily looking like it would clear, but in the end, meeting in the middle.
- valley mist in the morning
- it's thinking of clearing - the slopes of Beinn Eunaich
- breaking up....?
- dramatic wisps of cloud rolling in and out - and then suddenly back in and staying about 5 minutes after this picture
Before long as we climbed up the nose of Beinn a'Chocuill we were into the cloud and would remain so until we were nearly back at the tent.
- drops of water on the grass - aka I need a breather!
- This boulder marks where the path up the nose of Beinn a'Chocuill meets the ridge. Looks like the cairn busters have been here
- Rudolph doing his bit for mountain safety - although tomorrow it may be back to being just a boulder.
The top of a'Chocuill was cold and windy so we only stopped long enough for the compulsory photo after touching the cairn. It's certainly one to come back to as the views from the ridge I'm sure would be grand on a fine day.
- Rudolph on the top
- and me
The top bit of Beinn Eunaich was surprisingly steep and rocky but the top was very pleasant; a big red cairn and a shelter. There was not a breath of wind so we stopped for lunch and a brew and stayed for a good half an hour.
- Rudolph on Eunaich
- and me!
- happy mugs waiting for the kettle to boil
From there we retraced our steps down the steep rocky part of the ridge until it turned towards the south, then we aimed off-piste down the slope taking what we thought was the easiest line towards our tent.
As we were coming down the ridge we suddenly saw a hole in the cloud with tantalising glimpses of Loch Etive - then it went, probably lasted about 90 seconds in all. But it was breathtaking while it lasted!
- Meall Voirlich and Loch Etive - wow!
As we came further down the slope we came across more audible but invisible running water - you have to be careful as there might be leg-breaking holes so poles can be very useful here for testing the ground.
- a waterfall which appeared out of the ground then disappeared back underground again
After packing up the tent it was an easy downhill back to the car in improving weather. We had no trouble avoiding the cows, who this time were on the track. We just walked parallel to the track outside the fence through some good Farm Mud.
- This one's got left out. Are his friends being mean or is he the watch-cow?
- All young stirks enjoying some very smelly silage/hay
Then of course another wee trip to the Real Food Cafe to consider our next move. It's clearing up folks!
- back the way we came, the tops are almost clear now
