Beinn an t-Sidhein

[McMole]

The forecast was good and also correct as I arrived in the car park by the Broch Café at the south end of Strathyre. I parked next to the path along what used to be the railway line and beside a large wooden carving of an eagle.

I walked northwards along the path then turned left across the road bridge to reach the path up Beinn an t-Sidhein.

It was closed due to felling which from the noise and piles of tree trunks was well under way. A diversion route was well signposted adding about 1km to the route and 2km to my day. The forest roads took me easily to the start of a narrower and steep incline that saw my temperature climbing in the still air. As it curved round to pass beneath An Sidhean it deteriorated into a muddy squelch through open forest where a breeze soon cooled me back down. I continued past An Sidhean to a stile over a fence.

Beinn an t-Sidhein in the distance

Looking back at An Sidhean

From the stile the path continued easily if a bit indistinct at times as it crossed boggier areas to the small cairn on the main summit - Beinn an t-Sidhein.

The summit cairn

There is another bump nearby that is about the same height so I visited that as well. On the way back I took a narrow path up and over An Sidhean where I found a family enjoying the day and their sandwiches. After a short chat I continued along the path and found it descended steeply down to eventually reach another good path that sloped down to join my upward route.

The route down

I joined it as half a dozen girls with bulging rucksacks on their Duke of Edinburgh Silver expedition reached the junction.

Nearing the junction with my upward route with the DoE group approaching

They were looking forward to arriving in Strathyre, and when I reached the forest track their assessor was patiently waiting there. A fine walk on what seemed a very busy hill. I met four other parties, more than the combined total for my previous nine walks! Perhaps I need to choose better weather days more often!