Mullach Clach a' Bhlàir

Summary

Glen Feshie makes a lovely approach to Mullach Clach a'Bhlàir, whose cairn stands towards the southwestern edge of the great Moine Mhòr plateau. Much of the ascent is on a vehicle track but there are great views down into the twisting cleft of Coire Garbhlach.

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Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Burn crossing near the start can be impassable in flood. The ascent of the peak is straightforward, mostly on a track, but the plateau can be difficult to navigate in poor conditions. Descent follows a rougher ATV track; parts of this are eroded, another is boggy, final stretch a little overgrown.

Getting there

Start

Glen Feshie car park 1km from Achlean.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start Grid Ref

NN850985

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 21.75km / 13.5 miles
Time: 6.5 - 7.5 hours
Ascent: 870m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Munro: Mullach Clach a' Bhlàir

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Walk Description

User reports (29)

Stage 1

Take the road up the east side of Glen Feshie (signed Achlean); just after the road leaves the forest there is a car park on the left, about a kilometre short of Achlean itself, where parking is not permitted. Begin the walk along the tarmac road, turning left on a track before reaching Achlean. Ignore the track that heads left to a mast, and keep right at the fork a short distance further on (marked Upper Glen Feshie on the boulder). Soon the path goes through a gate; just beyond a fast-flowing burn is reached. This must be forded, which is usually fairly straightforward but it could be tricky or even impassable after heavy rain. Beyond, the path runs along the edge of a heather bank elevated above the flood plain of the river. Ignore a path that forks off right towards a bridge over the river, and continue ahead.

Stage 2

Continue on the path until a fork; bear left here onto a smaller path (the main path ahead where the Allt Garbhlach meets the Feshie has been washed out). Keep left when a path joins from the right, soon reaching and crossing the Allt Garbhlach (often a ford, though logs sometimes placed in summer). On the far side the path soon forks - keep left to continue into the the trees. At a grassy track turn right, then keep straight ahead (ignoring paths off right and left); the well surfaced main path joins the grassy track. Bear left at a fork. The path rises through the pines and heather before descending to join a track - turn right along this.

Stage 3

After 400m ignore the path off right, which again has been destroyed further on by flooding. Eventually on a cross-roads of tracks is reached; turn left here. The track begins to ascend up from the floor of the glen and soon the pinewoods are left behind. The track begins to climb high above Coire Caol before heading towards a little bealach on the left hand ridge between Meall nan Steac and Cadha na Coin Duibh.

Stage 4

The track itself is something of a scar on the landscape, but short detours to the rim of the corrie to your left reveal some spectacular views down into Coire Garbhlach. The track skirts the side of Cadha na Coin Dhuibh before coming close to the edge for even more dramatic views. Continue the ascent onto the flat plateau, where the landrover track eventually forks.

Stage 5

Take the right hand fork and follow it for about three quarters of a kilometre before leaving the track to follow a fainter path for the final gentle ascent to the cairn on Mullach Clach a'Bhair at 1019m. The flat terrain robs the view of any depth, the most impressive feature probably being the vastness of the soggy plateau stretching across to Braeriach and Càrn Toul.

Stage 6

There are several options for the descent; probably easiest is to return the same way; another popular option is to traverse the rolling plateau to the north to reach Sgòr Gaoith and include another Munro in the day, before returning down the Hunter's Path from the south flank of Càrn Ban Mòr to Achlean. A third option is using the stalkers path down Coire nam Bo, which is beautiful but has become very overgrown and completely lost in its lowest reaches. The simplest alternative descent is to instead follow a faint ATV track that initially descends southwest down the Druim nam Bo ridge. It passes round the southern side of Lochan nam Bo before rising slightly as it turns N.

Stage 7

Soon the track bears NNW. It becomes much clearer for a time, and is quite eroded on a couple of steeper sections; below these it is almost lost briefly in a boggy area.

Stage 8

Further down the ATV track easily fords the Allt Coire nam Meur, and then the Allt Choire Dhomhain. The final stretch leads through magnificent regenerating native forest of Scots pines and juniper, but is a little overgrown. It rejoins the outward route at the clear cross-tracks at the floor of the glen. Take the track that leads northwards and retrace your steps from the outward route all the way back to Achlean and the start.

Route Profile

Where to stay

Kingussie & Newtonmore Hotels

Kingussie & Newtonmore B&B

Kingussie & Newtonmore cottages

Cairngorms hostels

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