04/08/24 Day Walk: Beinn a Chreachen and Beinn Achaladair…Well That’s What It Says on The Map!

The month of August kicked off with three fellows, SP, BR & GM, tackling two Munros near Bridge of Orchy in wet, windy and ‘can’t see a thing’ weather; two lumps, Beinn a Chreachen, NN 37392 44068, and Beinn Achaladair, NN 34602 43333. Their general route followed; https://consumerplatform.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/23511729/240804--beinn-a-chreachen-and-beinn-achaladair?lat=56.559478&lon=-4.722169&zoom=12.4059&style=Leisure&type=2d. 

At the bottom of the Allt Coire an Lochain just after passing under the railway bridge on the way to Beinn a Chreachain. The determination on the faces barely conceals the emerging sentiment of ‘are we nearly there’.

…yes it’s just up there – heads tilted SSE to Coire an Lochain. Beinn Creachain set back from the bealach with cliffs, and possibly not visible even without the mist.

Bog Asphodel, which the flower book says is a good guide where not to walk as it likes truly wet soil.

Lochain a’ Chreachain, their lunch spot where they met a couple of other walkers who had camped at the nearby Gorton bothy, NN 37541 48147.

After four hours of relatively easy walking despite the conditions they reach their first Munro, Beinn a Chreachain.

Having then headed SW, bypassing Meall Buidhe on the SE side to avoid the worst of the winds, they reached the top Beinn Achaladair. A windy and now cold second lunch spot followed. Although this is technically the Munro’s top at 1036m the 1:50,000 map shows a higher top at 1038m, 240m to the SW. Needless to say it was visited.

The view along the ridge…the decision to go clockwise was in order to get nicer views of the moors – hmmm.

Taken from Beinn Achaladair's southern rise, looking south to Corbetts Beinn nam Fuaran, on left, and Beinn a Chaisteil, it's top in the clouds, on the right.

Team Happy.

Now descending north following the Allt Coire Achaladair, they look south to the cliffs on north side of Beinn an Dothaidh…which gives the felling like they are in Glencoe.

After the long boggy walk they cross the railway.

Just after the railway bridge, the A82 can be seen ascending behind Loch Tulla just visible in background. After a short distance the path cut left towards the car park with the going much easier. A fine day out with roughly 21km distance and 1262m of ascent in about 8:45hr, including breaks.