Beinn a' Chuallich
MunrosNone
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CorbettsBeinn a' Chuallaich
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GrahamsNone
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BothiesNone
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Distance/Ascent15km 770m
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Estimated Time6h 00min
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NotesPlan to do the route anti-clockwise having left my bike in Kinloch Rannoch but this depends on being able to park near the start on the north shore of Dunalastair water. The length of the walk along the road hardly justifies using the bike. It may be better to hitch a lift! I have just looked through my copy of the SMC guide to the Corbetts and Other Hills and discovered that I climbed this on 2 August 2003! I don't remember much about it but I think that I made the ascent from the B847 road near the bothy. I believe the photograph of Schiehallion below was taken from the B847 the previous day having just climbed Carn an Fhreiceadain. I think that I should climb Beinn a' Chuallaich again by the route shown above.
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12 August 2016
I had printed off the routes and everything was packed. I was just checking my emails when my son, Thomas, asked "What is the campsite like Dad?" I did a quick Google Image search for Kilvrecht campsite to bring up some pictures. "I'm coming!", he said! After packing his bags and ensuring that he had suitable clothing (including his mother's fleece sweater); then sorting out some extra food, we were off.
We stopped off at Tiso's as he did not really have any suitable legwear, but after lightening my wallet, Thomas was fully kitted out with his new Bear Grylls trousers and Sprayway overtrousers.
I was delighted to have Thomas along but the forecast was by no means great and the routes I had planned included pathless terrain that I knew Thomas would find challenging. Deep heather and bog is even harder going for those with short legs.
I had already packed a three-man tent rather than my Hilleberg Soulo, so there was going to be plenty of room for the two of us. This was the to be the first time using the tent since 2011 and I was happy to be getting some use out of it.
We stopped off at Tiso's as he did not really have any suitable legwear, but after lightening my wallet, Thomas was fully kitted out with his new Bear Grylls trousers and Sprayway overtrousers.
I was delighted to have Thomas along but the forecast was by no means great and the routes I had planned included pathless terrain that I knew Thomas would find challenging. Deep heather and bog is even harder going for those with short legs.
I had already packed a three-man tent rather than my Hilleberg Soulo, so there was going to be plenty of room for the two of us. This was the to be the first time using the tent since 2011 and I was happy to be getting some use out of it.
The We hid our bikes down the side of the bridge in Kinloch Rannoch before driving to a small parking space near the bottom of the B847 which I had found using street view on Google maps before my departure. The route starts up a track to Drumglas. This grassy track pleasantly meanders upwards making the going easy. While Beinn a'Chuallaich remained permanently shrouded in class, the summit of Scheihallion was often visible.
The route below is looking south-east with Loch Tummel in the distance left, Dunalastair Water and Scheihallion. The unremarkable looking Corbetts of Farragon Hill and Meall Tairneachan are also in view.
The route below is looking south-east with Loch Tummel in the distance left, Dunalastair Water and Scheihallion. The unremarkable looking Corbetts of Farragon Hill and Meall Tairneachan are also in view.
Kids need more stops than adults and Thomas had his first food stop where the track turned west through a broken down wall. The photograph below, shows Schiehallion, which was Thomas' first Munro.
At our resting place, a faint path continued, while the track skirted left before a branch continues to a bealach west of the summit. We continued up the path as we were ultimately aiming to gain the south ridge of the mountain. This was perhaps a mistake as the heather and wet sections made it much harder going for Thomas. When we did gain the south ridge, we entered the clagg and wind driven rain. Thomas tended to drift away from me due to the power of the wind so I took his hand. A short distance short of the summit was this shelter which allowed Thomas to rest before the final short push to the summit.
Thomas had been wearing a pair of my Bontrager cycling gloves and he removed them at the summit and that is the last we saw of them, so if you happen to find them . . . .
Leaving the summit, we headed westwards, directly into the wind and rain. However, Thomas' spirits had been raised by reaching the summit. Lower down, we stopped for a coffee break in a sheltered spot next to a burn. The sun was shining and its warmth was very much appreciated after the harshness of the earlier weather.
When we came to the burn below, I was concerned that Thomas might slip. He was not wearing gaiters and his "softshell" boots were already sodden. . . . . He seemed to dance across in perfect balance.
Leaving the summit, we headed westwards, directly into the wind and rain. However, Thomas' spirits had been raised by reaching the summit. Lower down, we stopped for a coffee break in a sheltered spot next to a burn. The sun was shining and its warmth was very much appreciated after the harshness of the earlier weather.
When we came to the burn below, I was concerned that Thomas might slip. He was not wearing gaiters and his "softshell" boots were already sodden. . . . . He seemed to dance across in perfect balance.
Further down, a relatively new, ugly, bulldozed track is reached, which was built as part of a hydroelectric scheme. Thomas took a slight detour to have his photograph taken on this sturdy footbridge.
Soon afterwards, we met a father and daughter from Northern Ireland and, among other things, discussed the route options. We were advised that we could leave the track and follow the old path down through the trees to the hydro-electric station.
Once in the village, we headed for the Riverbank Cafe for soup before collecting out bikes for the 20 minute ride back to the car. Mission accomplished and the day made all the more special and memorable as it was in the company of my son.
