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I was spending the weekend with friends at the Bridge of Orchy ski lodge and this was a walk I had often fancied doing. I awoke to a beautiful crisp, clear morning so it was off to Inveroran to finally get this done. I parked in a large space just by the WHW and started off up this excellent track.
- Meall Tairbh from the WHW start
I went up as far as the cairn on Mam Carraigh before leaving the WHW to follow a sodden vehicle track up the SW ridge of Ben Inverveigh. Indeed, this seemed to be the order of the day - the ground was saturated and very slippery.
- The track up Ben Inverveigh
I quickly reached pt 546 and stopped for a while to admire the view ahead and back to the Etive mountains and Black Mount.
- Looking towards the summits of Ben Inverveigh and Meall Tairbh
It was a simple 2km from here to the summit - but I have to say that it looked and seemed further.
- Approaching the summit of Ben Inverveigh
I carried on past the summit along the ridge for about another km until I found the easiest route down to the col between the two hills where Lochan Coir' Orain nestled.
- Looking down to the col between the two hills
The descent didn't take long but the ground across to Meall Tairbh was awkward because of the hags, streams and bog. I traversed a few hundred metres to the south of the lochan which seemed to be the best terrain.
- On the col looking towards Meall Tairbh
I stopped to have a look at the best route for my ascent, wanting, obviously, to avoid the wet crags and ended up making a lovely easy ascent by zig-zagging up steepish grassy slopes.
- Looking back over Lochan Coir' Orain to Ben Inverveigh
In what seemed like no time, I crested a rise and saw the summit cairn about 20 metres away. It was time for lunch and to sit for a while to enjoy the views.
- The summit of Meall Tairbh, Bein Inverveigh,Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh beyond
- The descent of the broad NE ridge of Meall Tairbh
I decided to stay up on the broad NE ridge for as long as I could before dropping down to the lower ground. The first part of the plan was easy enough but the last 2kms to the road was nothing but a splash-fest! I was going at a good pace (I thought) despite the dreadful underfoot conditions and I could see the white building that was the hotel ..... but it never seemed to be getting any closer - probably because of all the dips and hummocks and detours round the worst of the bogs. It was a relief to finally reach the road for the last few hundred metres back to the car. I thought to myself that I if had been attempting Meall Tairbh on its own by this route, I would have given up in tears of frustration - what looks simple on the map is a nightmare on the ground. At least I had the benefit of being only 10 minutes from a hot shower and dry clothes!