Beinn a Chreachain and Beinn Achaladair

[maxie23]

Track_2020-09-27 163935.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Arrived at the car park at Achallader at 07.30 on a clear, crisp and slightly frosty morning.
There were a few cars already parked up and a couple of younger lads were trying out a drone overhead.
Nice views already.

Loch Tulla by robert irvine, on Flickr
Meall a Bhuiridh and Creise by robert irvine, on Flickr


Walked along the track and passed the remains of the tower at the farm
Old tower at Achallader farm by robert irvine, on Flickr
Follow the track and cross the Allt Ur, not much water in it today.
First crossing of the Water of Tulla.
Bridge over water of Tulla by robert irvine, on Flickr

Carry on along the left bank for a couple of kilometres until you reach the remains of a bridge.

Remains of bridge over water of Tulla by robert irvine, on Flickr

If you don't fancy crossing this there is a nice spot to ford the river 100 yards upstream, weather conditions permitting.
Once across there is a boggy path to follow through the ferns around the edge of the ancient woodland and up to the underpass at the railway line.

Railway underpass, watch your head by robert irvine, on Flickr

Slightly boggy path runs alongside the Allt Coire an Lochain as you make your way up the slope.
Nice views all around as you gain height.
The WH route veers off to the left and aims for the notch in the ridgeline but I followed the stream all the way up to the Lochan a Chreachain, it really is a beautiful place and well worth the slightly longer route.

Coire an Lochain by robert irvine, on Flickr
Coire an Lochain 2 by robert irvine, on Flickr

Turned left here and began to climb towards the ridge, through the boulders, out of the shade and into the sun.

Lochan a Chreachain by robert irvine, on Flickr

Once you gain the ridge there is a clear view of the summit.

Beinn a Chreachain summit from ridge by robert irvine, on Flickr

Nice walk up to the summit with fantastic views out over Rannoch moor and beyond.
Steep drop on right hand side into Coire an Lochain.
Views from the top were great.

View from Beinn a Chreachain to Black Mount and Glencoe by robert irvine, on Flickr
Beinn a Chreachain view to Nevis range by robert irvine, on Flickr
Ben Nevis zoomed in by robert irvine, on Flickr
Loch an Diamh by robert irvine, on Flickr
Crianlarich hills in distance by robert irvine, on Flickr
Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin by robert irvine, on Flickr
Loch Lyon by robert irvine, on Flickr
View to Beinn Achaladair by robert irvine, on Flickr

Sat for a while at the cairn and had a bite to eat.
Leaving the summit there is a steep descent over stony ground and then an ascent up to the next ridge with a pleasant walk along to the top of Meall Buidhe with great views all the way.

Grey Corries by robert irvine, on Flickr
Stob Dearg (Buachaille Etive Mor) by robert irvine, on Flickr
Stob Coir an Albannaich by robert irvine, on Flickr

A nice gentle descent follows to Bealach an Aoghlain before the steep part of the ascent to Beinn Achaladair.

Beinn Achaladair (2) by robert irvine, on Flickr

You need to use your hands in a couple of places but there is a path through the rocky bits and the gradient eases off quite quickly.
Nice grassy walk up to the cairn with a steep drop on your right hand side.

Beinn Achaladair cairn by robert irvine, on Flickr
View back to Beinn a Chreachain by robert irvine, on Flickr
Loch Tulla and water of Tulla by robert irvine, on Flickr
Cruachan range by robert irvine, on Flickr
Loch Lyon (2) by robert irvine, on Flickr
Creise and Meall a Bhuiridh by robert irvine, on Flickr
Rannoch moor, Loch Ba centre by robert irvine, on Flickr
Loch Laidon by robert irvine, on Flickr
Nevis range turning greyer by robert irvine, on Flickr
Zoomed in by robert irvine, on Flickr

The actual summit is a little further along the ridge but the position of the cairn gives you better views.
Leaving the summit you walk along a broad grassy ridge which descends gradually before rising again.
I detoured slightly to the right to avoid climbing all the way up to the top of the rise.
Then you follow a well defined path all the way down to the bealach above Coire Daingean.
At the bealach look out for the path heading down into Coire Achaladair.


Descent path down Coire Achaladair, bit boggy by robert irvine, on Flickr


Its a bit boggy at times and slippy through some of the rocky bits.
Once into the lower reaches of the Coire it turns into a bit of a quagmire.
The path follows the Allt Coire Achaladair all the way down to and over the railway.

Railway bridge on descent by robert irvine, on Flickr

Not far from the bridge there is a sign pointing left to the car park which takes you away from the farm and into very boggy ground.
There is a donation box for the Oban mountain rescue team just before the end of the path if you have any spare change handy.



Really good day out, nice walk and the weather gods were kind.

[dogplodder]

Did this route last year but only as far as Beinn a' Chreachain as my friend didn't want to go further. I'm thinking of doing Beinn Achaladair as an out and back by your descent route, but suspect from everything I read it will involve a lot of wet ground, best left until after a long dry spell?

[jayedubya73]

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

[Petr Dakota]

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

Not sure if I would recommend you my route, but it's just an option how I did it, all the 3: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=63580
Definitely not again in a hot day !

[prog99]

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

Yes, its very doable, did the loop of three from Auch a few years ago (bike useful)

[maxie23]

Did this route last year but only as far as Beinn a' Chreachain as my friend didn't want to go further. I'm thinking of doing Beinn Achaladair as an out and back by your descent route, but suspect from everything I read it will involve a lot of wet ground, best left until after a long dry spell?

Hi dogplodder.
The day I did it there had been no rain for about a week and the bottom half of the descent route was sodden.
I can't imagine what it will be like after this weekends rain.
Regards

[maxie23]

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

Hi jayedubya73
Descending from Achaladair summit there are certainly options for cutting across to Beinn Mhanach.
Probably makes sense to include it with other peaks, it's a long walk in just to do it solo.
Makes me wonder why I didn't.
Regards

[maxie23]

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

Not sure if I would recommend you my route, but it's just an option how I did it, all the 3: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=63580
Definitely not again in a hot day !

Hi Petr Dakota.
Wow, that was a marathon.
Loved the photos
Regards

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Superb photos! - and a great idea to include the lochan in your route - it must be one of the finest corries in the southern Highlands...

Tim

[maxie23]

Superb photos! - and a great idea to include the lochan in your route - it must be one of the finest corries in the southern Highlands...

Tim

Tim.
Thanks mate.

It certainly is a special place and well worth the slight detour.
The lochan was crystal clear and gave a perfect mirror image of the corrie.
Definitely a good day for the camera

Regards

Robert

[rockhopper]

Nice day for it and a good set pf photos - cheers

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

Here's another option tagging it on to the BaC and BA route from Achallader Farm although I dropped a little lower than necessary before going back up to come down Coire Achaladair

[maxie23]

Nice day for it and a good set pf photos - cheers

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

Here's another option tagging it on to the BaC and BA route from Achallader Farm although I dropped a little lower than necessary before going back up to come down Coire Achaladair

Hi rockhopper

Just checked out your report, bit of an epic.

Loved the photos.

Regards

[Alteknacker]

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

I did a route that included all 3 a few years ago in very early spring, albeit I came from the Gleann Achad-innis Chailein direction, and visited Beinn Mhannach first. I would have though that combining the 3 from a start on the north side would be eminently doable.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=71538

Some great pics in your report. My abiding memory of that ridge is the breathtaking views, especially across Rannoch Moor.

[JFMurray]

Nice report!

I was on Beinn Mhanach on the same morning (and just posted a report : https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=100868)

I was on the clock that day, but still I was very much tempted to go across and join your ridge to the SW of Meall Buidhe before going over Beinn Achaladair. From where I was, it looked straightforward enough.

[maxie23]

This is really good. Did you get a sense of how easy it would be to tag on Beinn Mhanach? Had wondered if the loop of 3 is doable?

I did a route that included all 3 a few years ago in very early spring, albeit I came from the Gleann Achad-innis Chailein direction, and visited Beinn Mhannach first. I would have though that combining the 3 from a start on the north side would be eminently doable.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=71538

Some great pics in your report. My abiding memory of that ridge is the breathtaking views, especially across Rannoch Moor.

Hi Alteknacker

Just had a look at your report.
Loved the photos, especially the panoramic views across Rannoch moor
Great stuff.

Regards