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I decided a while back that I would incorporate these two Munros from Loch Rannoch as I am certain I want to do the Alder Munros from Dalwhinnie or Laggan. Doing them this way meant I got to add on a cheeky Corbett and one I’d not be too keen to be going back for on its own. The weather was supposed to be better later in the day so I had a longer lie in and aimed to be walking by 11am.
The drive along Loch Rannoch took ages, getting stuck behind tractors and delivery Lorries. Just after passing the Eastern end of Loch Rannoch I saw an Osprey fishing in the river Gaur, it never actually took anything but it swooped a few times but pulled out just before it reached the water, it followed the River Gaur West but my photos do not do the situation justice as my zoom is crap.
- Osprey fishing
- Osprey fishing
Anyway I continued along and passed the Gaur power station till I reached the parking spot for the Road to the Isles. 2 (dogs) and 1 (human) then set off to summit 2 (Munros) and 1 (Corbett).
- The start of the road to the Isles, a building site look to it just now
The road was all hard core now, obviously to accommodate the heavy machinery that is being used for the hydro schemes. I personally hate this hardcore and find it terribly uncomfortable to walk on, not mentioning the scars it causes to the scenery, I presume the old Road to the Isles was a muddy land rover track that blended into the terrain a lot better....Nevertheless I made quick time along the hardcore and soon came to the section where the workies were erm....working. I also said hello to two estate workers whom were mending deer fences.
- Rannoch Station from the track
- Coming to point where I broke off the track, Sron Leachd a Chaorainn left, Beinn Pharlagain Right
I decided to go for Carn Dearg first and took to the shoulder to gain Sron Leachd a Chaorainn. I would have been better staying on the road to the Isles for a bit longer and cutting up to Sron Leachd a Caorainn from the West as my route was boggy and wet. My summer boots have really had it now and leak all the time so this made my feet very wet. We soon made the top and followed the path that we came across all the way along the ridge. The clag was down and we could only see around twenty feet so the dogs were told to stay in close. This doesn’t mean they always stay in close but they are good for coming back should they push their luck too far, my main worry is losing them in the mist should they flush a deer, hare or rabbit and decide it’s worth a chase. The clag stayed with us all the way along the ridge till Meall nam Fiadh where the views to the West started opening up to Blackwater reservoir and onward to Carn Dearg summit.
- Views opening up to Blackwater Reservoir
- Mist coming and going, dogs returning after a foray
- Leum Uilleim
- Mist down this time, another call back for the dogs, summit cairn just in the distance
It wasn’t far now so we pushed on as I was hungry now. We soon made the huge summit cairn and sat out of the rain for a piece.
- Summit Carn Dearg
On finishing the views started opening up to Sgor Gaibhre and the route over looked simple.
- Mist clearing revealing Sgor Gaibhre and route over
- The Corbett Beinn Pharlagain from Carn Dearg
Just as we were about to leave a couple from Glasgow joined me, we had a chat, they had been staying in the Ossian hostel and highly recommended it. We said cheerio and continued over to the next Munro.
- View to Eastern end Loch Ossian from slopes of Carn Dearg
- Route over to Sgor Gaibhre
At the low point between the two the ground was again really boggy and we were now starting to be bothered by Golden Plovers, their sharp calls were really irritating the dogs, they were going bananas chasing them about, they really are fast, nimble birds.
- The boggy low point between the two Munros
We reached the summit and had another wee rest, I decided not to bother with the Munro top and soon continued along towards the Corbett Beinn Pharlagain.
- Summit Sgor Gaibhre
The Plovers started their calling again and the dogs were charging about, it was funny to see but I have to admit the calling was really starting to grind on me, so sharp.
- The route ahead to Beinn Pharlagain
- Looking over to the long ridge of Carn Dearg
- Looking to Ben Alder Bothy
I knew the actual summit was called Meall nam Meoig and it was slightly West of two small lochs, once I reached the first one we skirted to the West of it and made the steep grassy ascent up to the true summit, the other loch was East of the summit but I had no need to go to that loch.
- Summit Beinn Pharlagain - Meall na Meoig
We had a rest and took some pictures as most of Ben Alder was starting to clear and also over to Glencoe and Blackwater Reservoir too. I could also see over to Leum Uilleim which from this angle did not look nearly as dramatic.
- Schiehallion cone from Summit Meall na Meoig
We soon pushed off and I made my way down off the Western side of Beinn Pharlagain to meet the hardcore track at a hydro dam below Sron Leachd a Chaorainn on the Allt Eigheach. From here I followed the Road to the Isles all the way back to the car, stopping to speak to the numerous workies that were really quite friendly, they were probably pleased to see other humans and pleased to speak to the dogs. One young guy spoke for a while, he revealed that he is actually an apprentice mechanic but he was roped into working on this scheme as he gets lots more money to drive the caterpillar truck up and down the tracks distributing hardcore, unreal that!!