Beinn Dearg from near Blair Atholl

Summary

The remote position of Beinn Dearg makes for a long hillwalk, although the terrain is straightforward in good summer conditions making for fast walking. The views are extensive and with a different route for the return the route makes for an enjoyable day.

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Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Good landrover track for the approach and return, hill-paths on higher ground, with a short boggy stretch on the ridge. The route is, however, exposed and long.

Deer Stalking information

Atholl Estates. Stag stalking from beginning of Aug to 20 Oct with no stalking on Sundays. Hind stalking from 21 Oct to 15 Feb with no stalking at weekends. If further information is needed, please e-mail [email protected] at least a couple of days in advance or phone 01796 481355 (office hours only).

Getting there

Start

Old Bridge of Tilt car park.

Public Transport

None to Old Bridge of Tilt; Blair Atholl buses and trains only a kilometre away.

Start Grid Ref

NN874662

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 29km / 18 miles
Time: 7 - 9 hours
Ascent: 990m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Munro: Beinn Dearg

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Walk Description

User reports (63)

Stage 1

Park at the well-signed car park near the Old Bridge of Tilt. The walk is waymarked with black arrows and begins by leaving the car park via the entrance and turning left along the road. Soon it forks; take the right hand branch which slopes gently uphill, eventually reaching a cross-roads of routes. Head straight across onto a track leading past a bungalow. This track leads into the attractive mixed Banvie woodlands. Keep to the main track up the east side of the burn ignoring the branches down to the left that lead to two bridges. A gate marks the end of the forestry.

Stage 2

The good track continues, now across empty moorland. It soon climbs away from Glen Banvie, reaching a prominent and well built cairn before ascending again, passing to the right of the hummock of Tom nan Cruach. Follow the track as it winds above the eastern side of the Allt an t-Seaphail and climbs over a low bealach at 514 metres.

Stage 3

The track then descends slightly and curves right to reach the Allt Sheicheachan bothy, hidden until you are almost upon it. This is an open shelter maintained by volunteers from the Mountain Bothy Association; please help by carrying out any rubbish you find here, and always follow the bothy code when visiting. The ascent continues by following the track to the left of the bothy, fording the burn and continuing on the now slightly rougher track up its west side.

Stage 4

The climb contains for some distance until the track swings right and recrosses the burn - leave it before it crosses to take an old stalkers path which continues up the flank of the glen, soon zig-zagging sharply left and gaining height. The path continues clearly, being slightly eroded as it crosses the now open, rolling slopes; one point it forks but the two branches rejoin further on. Eventually it levels onto a flatter shoulder; at a small cairn it makes a 90 degree left turn to head NNW across a very boggy stretch of ground to begin up the broad ridge towards Beinn Dearg.

Stage 5

A minor cairned top is crossed; the true summit of Beinn Dearg is in view not far beyond, across a slight dip. The terrain becomes stony on the final climb; the old path originally passed a little to the left of the summit but these days most people are headed for the large windshelter cairn (with a trig point inside) that marks the Munro of Beinn Dearg at 1008m.

Stage 6

At the last moment the high Cairngorms join all the other ranges in the extensive views. The whole summit area is covered with rounded granite rocks. The return walk begins the same way - follow the path back to where it left the track by the Allt Scheicheachan. This time follow the track across the burn and uphill briefly on the far side.

Stage 7

The track climbs up to a junction; here turn right onto the track that contours the slopes, rather than the one that keeps zig-zagging upwards. Follow the track as it heads SSE, eventually running close to the Allt Slanaidh burn. Further on it passes a locked shooting hut.

Stage 8

Continue down the track which eventually enters the forestry by a gate in the deer fence. It now passes above the Glen Tilt rifle range - there are great views from here looking up the glen to the left. Join in with a larger track and continue through the woods high on the west side of the glen. Ignore smaller tracks off to the left (down) and to the right (up) and stay on the main track, passing the steading at Blairuachar. The track becomes a tree-lined lane, with good views over the castellated farmhouse of Bailanloan. It then descends to rejoin the outward route at a cross-roads. Turn left here along the minor road to return to the car park.

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