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This was a great half-day's walk (ideal before the long drive home).
Views later on the walk were marvellous - although you would not have guessed it from the gloomy and very windy start. Yesterday's bleak east wind was still in full force, and seemed to be centring its fury on the Ben Lawers massif. Unsurprisingly, mine was the only car in the car park below the lonely cairn above at Lochan na Lairige.
Looking back to the lochan and the dam.
IMG_2587 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking back to Meall nan Tarmachan from Meall nan Eun.
IMG_2589 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Although the weather was unpromising, I was enjoying the walk. The path over Meall nan Eun took me quickly and easily over the watershed and down to a waterfall on the Allt Gleann Da Eig.
IMG_2597 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
In the Valley of Two Eggs - looking from just above the waterfall towards Meall nam Maigheach.
IMG_2594 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The path followed the chattering stream for a while. Only the top of Meall na Tarmachan was visible from the floor of the valley. But above the skyline, I could see that the western sky looked brighter.
IMG_2608 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
However the wind was still strong and easterly, so I did not get my hopes up.
The path contoured round into the little side valley of Coire Gorm.
IMG_2620 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Rather than tackle the steep slope of Meall a'Coire Leith direct, I followed the stream up towards the head of Coire Gorm - a very pleasant route sheltered from the wind.
Meall a'Coire Leith from Coire Corm.
IMG_2622 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Near the head of Coire Gorm - the stream is now just a dark line amid the snow.
IMG_2625 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
I crossed the stream and headed up to the bealach between Meall a'Coire Leith and the main Ben Lawers massif.
IMG_2630 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The wind was very strong at the bealach and all along the ridge up to the summit. But there were some fine (but bracing) views of the stormy clouds enveloping the Ben Lawers summits.
IMG_2632 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking across Coire Leith.
IMG_2633 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
But the weather was now improving. There was a clearing view across to Meall nan Tarmachan. I loved the contrast in this view between the smooth foreground slopes and the rugged Tarmachan landscape.
IMG_2634 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The summit cairn came into sight.
IMG_2645 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
As I walked up to the cairn, the western sky turned blue and bright. Meall Ghaordaidh is just above and to the right of the cairn.
IMG_2648 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
West from the summit. I think the prominent scarped hill is An Grianan above Glen Lyon.
IMG_2657 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The panorama was actually better from the western edge of the summit plateau, with Gleann Da Eig as a foreground.
IMG_2660 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Getting back down to Coire Gorm was quick.
IMG_2663 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Scenes looking back up Coire Gorm.
IMG_2664 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_2666 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Sun glinting on the snow.
IMG_2676 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Back in Gleann Da Eig, looking ahead toward the north ridge of Beinn nan Eachan.
IMG_2673 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Everywhere was looking nice now.
IMG_2682 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Meall nan Tarmachan ahead.
IMG_2679 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Meall Corranaich from near the stream.
IMG_2688 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Sunshine on the waterfalls.
IMG_2698 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_2702 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking back from the pah on Meall nan Eun to the Meall Corranaich ridge
IMG_2711 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Meall nan Tarmachan from the Meall nan Eun path
IMG_2709 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Last sight of Meall a'Coire Leith
IMG_2712 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Meall nan Tarmachan
IMG_2716 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking down to the Lochan na Lairige, last few steps back to my lonely awaiting car.
IMG_2718 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Romance?
IMG_2719 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Meall Corranaich from the start of the long road back to Birmingham
IMG_2721 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr