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After a leisurely drive up the A9 I was parked up at Dalnaspidal and ready to go for 8.20am. Plenty parking spaces on either side of the road by the railway line and I had my pick of them as there was no one else around. One thing I did notice on the road up, the chap that lives at the layby a mile south of House of Bruar has bought himself a great big new tent.
Things didn't look very promising on the road up so it was surprising to see that the clag seemed to be sitting at around 700m.
- Car Park
Once over the railway line I headed towards the lodge then took the right turn (signed Rannoch) following a track heading for Loch Garry.
- Any grub mate?
Crossed the sluice bridge over the Allt Dubhaig and continued on to the next bridge over the Allt Coire Luidhearnaidh. Just before this bridge I took a right turn and followed a newish looking bulldozed track (not sure if this one was built at the same time as the one that runs parallel to the A9 south of Dalnaspidal?) climbing gradually uphill keeping the Allt Coire Luidhearnaidh on the left.
- 1st sluice bridge
- 2nd bridge with Loch Garry beyond
- Allt Coire Luidhearnaidh
After 10 minutes I came to a split in the track and took the right turn.
- Turn right
This track only lasted about 100 yards before reaching a rather attractive 4x4 parking area/turning point.
At the far end of the turning point I found an old track which was a bit damp but clear enough to follow as it headed up the lower slopes of The Sow.
- A bit damp
I reached a point where the track had stopped gaining height and it was now time to leave it behind and pick a line through the heather. This bit was a bit damp and fairly steep so it was a good feeling to reach the short cut heather and get blasted by the wind -must be nearing the top.
- Looking south towards the A9
Once on the short heather the gradient eased and it was an easy walk over to the summit. Unfortunately the low cloud meant there were no views to be had.
- View north
- View south - or is it the other way round?
Pretty windy on the summit but still quite warm, even on the exposed top i've still just got a long sleeved thin summer top on - balmy.
After a couple of photos I just retraced my steps back down to the bridge over the Allt Coire Luidhearnaidh. From here I wasn't sure if I could just head directly for the sluice bridge at the head of Loch Garry as I needed to cross the waterway and I couldn't see a bridge so played safe and headed back to the bridge over the Allt Dubhaig and followed the grassy left bank.
- Looking up Loch Garry
Once over the bridge it's a quick left and right to start the climb up Meall na Leitreach. This track is a bit on the damp side, probably not surprising after all the recent rain. It's a bit of a damp miserable climb up as the low cloud means there's not much to look at on the way so head down and engage trudge gear.
- The summit in view
Once the main climb is out the way it's an easy walk along the wide ridge with a slight descent before the final pull up to the top.
- The only dry bit - the 100m walk over to the summit
- Summit of Meall na Leitreach
- And again
Another short stop at the top for a couple of photos and off back down the track.
- The Sow of Atholl - looks steep from this angle
The walk back down the sodden track was going OK till reaching this point.
On the steepest, wettest section of track I did my one minute take of bambi on ice with three top class dives straight in to the mush - oh happy days.
Back at the car in 3hrs 50 mins so not a long day and I can imagine on a better day the views are probably really extensive - maybe next time.