Beinn a' Chaorainn & Beinn Teallach

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Summary

This pair of Munros are much less visited than their better known neighbour Creag Meagaidh to the east. Their lower slopes may be boggy, but the walk along the summit ridge of Beinn a'Chaorainn is a delight.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Boggy ground lower down, with a river crossing late in the walk which could be impassable in wet weather. The upper slopes give better walking.

Public Transport

None.

Start

Parking at Roughburn on A86. Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 16km / 10 miles
Time (summer conditions): 6 - 8 hours
Ascent: 1172m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NN377814

Summits Climbed

Munro: Beinn a'Chaorainn
Munro: Beinn Teallach

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (41)

Stage 1

The walk begins where a forestry track leaves the A86 just east of the bridge over the Allt a'Chaorainn; there is space for a few cars to park carefully, and a layby a short distance east along the road. To start, follow the track up into the plantation, (there is also an overgrown and soggy but waymarked trod upstream beside the river but this is not recommended). The track soon bends left and later to the right (where there is another option to follow a path off to join the route by the river). Beyond this the track reaches a junction. Turn left here and continue to eventually reach the forest edge, where the riverside 'path' rejoins.

Stage 2

Continue through the first soggy field to a gate and stile, and then bear right through another gate to reach the open slopes. Begin the long, wet pull up these largely pathless slopes towards Meall Clachaig. This is an area of rocky knolls, rather than a well-defined top. There's a deer fence across the hillside which is crossed at a stile. Beyond it the ascent continues, now on drier ground. There are stunning views looking back to Loch Treig and to the hill ranges across the glen, with the Grey Corries looking particularly fine.

Stage 3

Continue up the fairly featureless mountainside until the southern top of Beinn a'Chaorainn is finally reached, marked by a cairn. From here the walk improves greatly, with some stunning views down into the corries on the right, and Creag Meagaidh beyond. The walk continues easily in summer across a slight dip to reach the central, Munro summit at 1052 metres. There have been several accidents to walkers in winter taking a bearing between these two summits and falling through the cornice into the corrie, so in such conditions be careful to keep safely away from the edge, both on this stretch and that to the north top.

Stage 4

Continue this fine traverse, curving round another perfect arc to reach the northern summit at 1043 metres, and a final look back across the corries.

Stage 5

From here, begin the descent northwards at first before slanting down increasingly wet ground towards Tom Mòr , at the bealach between Beinn a'Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach. The height lost is very considerable, but there is some encouragement in that Beinn Teallach is a much lower hill.

Stage 6

Round the steep lower slope of Beinn Teallach to the right before beginning a direct climb up the north-northeast ridge. There is a faint path for most of the way; the upper section of the ridge has many rocky knolls and outcrops. There are two cairns on the summit; the first is reckoned to be highest but the second is finer.

Stage 7

Beinn Teallach is now known to be 915 metres but was for many years regarded as below 3000 feet, until in 1984 it changed from being one of the highest Corbetts; it is now the lowest of the Munros. Descend the easy southern slopes before curving round to the left to reach the Allt a'Chaorainn lower down. A deer fence is crossed at a gate.

Stage 8

The stream can be quite tricky to cross, so may be best to try to reach the east bank as high up as possible; in wet conditions you may need to detour north up the glen to find an easy crossing. Once on the far side, a faint and soggy path leads down the glen to eventually return to the forest track and then retrace your steps back to the start of the walk.

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