Slight detour on Beinn Mholach

[past my sell by date]

I visited Dalnaspidal last spring and climbed the two nearby Corbetts in rather dull conditions. Now I was back to do Beinn Mholach. There is a thriving wetland community here - a couple of dozen Greylag geese flew off as I went through the "field" gate and oystercatchers and lapwings kept buzzing around.

Dalnaspidal from the slopes of Meall nan Leitreach
All down the side of loch Garry are thriving enclosures of trees - both pines and broadleaves. It just goes to show what can be achieved even at this height if you can cut out the grazing.

looking back
Beyond the loch the track heads into a large flat area where it is hard to follow among the inumerable vehicle tracks. There was a lot of noise, and a hoard of yellow monsters soon appeared tearing up the land. I seem to find them everywhere

unfortunately this shapely little hill is not the Graham Creag a Mhadaidh - which is a dull lump on its L
Not having read the excellent WH account which is of great help here, I went went too far R , missed the bridge over the Allt Shallainn and followed a large track heading W beside it. It went through a deer fenced enclosure with a lot of very healthy looking new trees Eventually It came out the far side and I managed to cross the river dryshod just beyond

Healthy scots pine - there were broad leaves as well

Looking W up the river - I crossed just here
I headed diagonally L up the heathery hillside, - good views NW to Stob Aonach Mhoir, soon reached the flat ground around Creag nan Gabhar and followed the faint path to Beinn Mholach - the massive cairn being visible from afar. The views particularly S and W ere very hazy

Stob Aonoch Mhoir

Heading towards the top

Now that's what you call a cairn

Schiehallion and Loch Rannoch

NE to the Drumochter hills
I retraced my steps taking a direct line from Creag Gabhar towards the bridge. and walked back to the car.

Loch Errochty - for one awful moment I thought that was the loch I was walking back to

Loch Garry appears

Yellow monstesr at work - permission has been given to abstract water from the Allt Shallain

The river from the bridge - I wonder how much longer it will stay like this

[Bothybob]

Was surprised also to see the construction traffic and spoke to the man in charge who informed me that they are building a mini hydro scheme using the water from the two rivers and burying the cable down to Annat on Loch Rannoch side, I think we have had the best of the area

[Graeme D]

Yes, that's a cairn with very few equals.

[past my sell by date]

Was surprised also to see the construction traffic and spoke to the man in charge who informed me that they are building a mini hydro scheme using the water from the two rivers and burying the cable down to Annat on Loch Rannoch side, I think we have had the best of the area

Yes I seem to see the yellow monsters everywhere - even the Iconic "Road to the Isles" track from near Rannoch station had been ruined when I did Beinn Pharlagain, though enquries to Perth and Kinnross council showed that the contractors were obliged to return it eventually to its original state - thank god

[Bothybob]

You only have to go to Corrour to see the upheaval on that estate as they are installing at least 3 mini hydros
I suppose those are better visually than wind turbines

[Gordie12]

Good timing, I'm hoping to do this hill this month so good to see a recent report on it.

Looked like a great day.

[past my sell by date]

Good timing, I'm hoping to do this hill this month so good to see a recent report on it.

Looked like a great day.

Yes - but it is quite a long walk even if you avoid any detours The key is to stay on the flat ground beyond the loch and not be tempted to follow tracks up to the R

[BlackPanther]

That cairn... I propped myself against it and tore my trousers all the way across my bum

Luckily, it was in winter time so I had leggins underneath. And we were alone on this route that day, so nobody saw my humiliation...

[rockhopper]

Great set of photos - nice hill to get a good feeling of remoteness. Certainly a long walk in - being a bit lazy, think I'd have taken a bike if not doing a circuit. Walked the first hour or so down the loch in the dark and can well remember hearing all the birds even at that time - cheers

[past my sell by date]

Thanks all
Yes it is a magnificent cairn - despite its agressive trouser ripping behaviour It must have taken a considerable effort to build - I wonder why it was done