Beinn Mholach, from Dalnaspidal

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Beinn Mholach is a retiring Corbett, hidden away from roads, its rocky summit being the highest point of an area of rough heather moorland and bogs. The effort of reaching its massive cairn is extensive views at the heart of the Highlands.

Terrain

Good track along lochside, then boggy pathless section. Mostly heathery slopes on the hill with some rock and bog.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Parking area before level crossing, near Dalnaspidal Lodge. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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 Essentials page for basic information on the skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 23.5km / 14.5 miles
Time (summer conditions): 6.5 - 7.5 hours
Ascent: 476m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NN645732

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Beinn Mholach

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Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

There is parking on the approach road to Dalnaspidal Lodge, just before the level crossing over the railway. Begin the walk by crossing the railway and then taking the next right turn through a gate onto a smaller track (public footpath sign). Follow this to reach the sluice bridge over the Allt Dubhaig; cross and continue and cross a second bridge, this time over the Allt Coire Luidhearnaidh.

Stage 2

The track soon leads alongside Loch Garry. Though being part of the hydroelectric scheme means that it can have ugly bare tidelines, the loch is attractively set between the steep heather slopes of Meall na Leitreach and outlying summits of the Sgairneach Mhor group. Beinn Mholach remains out of sight round a corner. Small enclosures on the left of the track show verdant growth of birchwoods and wild-flowers - a reminder of what the area might look like if there were fewer deer and sheep. After 4km the track passes a small pumping station.

Stage 3

After just over another kilometre the excellent track ends where the Allt Coire Easan tumbles down to the loch, by some old shielings. Cross the burn and continue; there are atv tracks in the grass but this part of the route can be very boggy in places. The route too is now much less clear, basically keeping to the edge of the grassy flats with the more hummocky ground on your right. As the Allt Shallain is approached bear right upstream to reach a substantial bridge. Here a good track is picked up once more.

Stage 4

Cross the bridge and follow the track - three times crossing a small burn - until it passes close to Duinish bothy, which is hidden until the last moment off to the left. If visiting the bothy, please help the estate by keeping it tidy and removing any rubbish. Otherwise, just before the turn to the bothy was reached, a tiny cairn marked where a faint ATV track headed west towards the Creag nan Gabhar ridge.

Stage 5

Though faint, the tracks offer reasonable going, passing just to the north of a rocky knobble at 590m. From here a short pull continues up onto the top of the broad ridge of Creag nan Gabhar, with good views back towards Loch Garry. The track continues a little further across the heather and rocks with the massive cairn atop the final summit of Beinn Mholach visible ahead if the weather is clear. The track eventually gives out, and a short area of peat hags is crossed before a climb up onto the next section of the ridge.

Stage 6

The final section to the summit is rougher going, as a couple of rocky ribs cut across the ridge, separated by boggy areas. The well-constructed summit cairn has massive proportions, and the lower OS trig point is just beyond. Despite its modest height, the central position of Beinn Mholach makes it a very extensive viewpoint; amidst a ring of distant summits, the cone shape of Schiehallion is perhaps the most prominent.

Stage 7

Unless transport arrangements permit a through-walk to Loch Rannoch, the best return is to retrace your steps back to the track and Loch Garry to head back to Dalnaspidal Lodge and the start.

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