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Meall nam Maigheach and Beinn nan Oighreag were a pair of Corbetts i had always wanted to bag having seen them from the Munros i'd climbed between Loch Tay and Glen Lyon over the years. Everything i'd read about them suggested very boggy conditions especially Meall nam Maigheach so the recent extended dry spell made the decision for me.
Making a relatively early start and accompanied once more by Big Jie we reached Killin by 10 am only to be held back by a large cycling event going up the single lane Ben Lawers road. Averaging 5 miles per hour we eventually parked up at the head of Lochan na Lairige unwilling to risk the chances of finding a parking space further up that narrow road.
We began the walk up Meall nam Maigheach at the large cairn above the road up from the reservoir and found the going rough but dry with the boggy areas more spongy than wet so we made good time reaching the summit exactly an hour after leaving the car. The views of the Lawers Munros and the Tarmachan Ridge were the highlights here and we got our first good look at the next Corbett of the day, Beinn nan Oighreag.
- Lochan na Lairige
- Ascending Meall nam Maigheach
- Summit cairn with Beinn nan Oighreag in the distance
- Looking back to the start
Following a drystane dyke we descended steeply back down to the road and set off further down the glen towards the access for Beinn nan Oighreag which began by crossing a footbridge over the Allt Baile a' Mhuilinn.
By now the sun was really beating down and the temperature was probably reaching a daytime high so the initial steep ascent of the hill was a bit of a struggle although an ATV track made things easier and straightforward as we followed this all the way to the summit which we reached a couple of hours after leaving the footbridge but this did include a lunch break.
- Descending Meall nam Maigheach
- Footbridge over the Allt Baile a'Mhuilinn
- Meall nam Maigheach
- The ATV track on Beinn nan Oighreag
- Summit of Beinn nan Oighreag
The main highlight from Beinn nan Oighreag had to be Meall Ghaordaidh but there were also great views of the Tarmachans as well as the Munros above Loch an Daimh which Big Jie and i had climbed a couple of years ago.
I'd read that Beinn nan Oighreag was a hill of many false summits which was so true but in weather like this it was worth every step.
- Meall Ghaordaidh
- Loch an Daimh
The return journey involved retracing our route down to the road then following it all the way to the car which was a real slog in the sun and heat but walking on the tarmac was faster despite our hill footwear and knowing that we'd bagged a couple of normally boggy Corbetts with dry feet was the added bonus to a great day on the hills.