Geo-Trips :: Climbing Beinn Achaladair and Beinn a' Chreachain
South of Rannoch Moor
A walk from Achallader, Sat, 6 May 2000 by Nigel Brown
These two Munros are high spots of the line of hills forming the southern boundary of Rannoch Moor. Taken together they make a long but attractive walk which also includes some lower summits.
I parked at Achallader farm and set off south, over the railway and up the glen which lies between Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Achaladair, to the col at its head. A long and pleasant ridge walk lies ahead. I turned left onto the south ridge of Beinn Achaladair and followed it for 3km to the summit, with very easy going. The views over Rannoch Moor are superb.
I continued along its flat north east ridge to the sudden drop to a col some 225m below, then climbed up to Meall Buidhe, which has another long almost flat summit ridge. At the other end a slight drop then steady climb took me up to the summit of Beinn a' Chreachain. Good views to be had all around.
To return I continued to a col on the north east ridge then cut down to near the outflow of Lochan a' Chreachain. I followed the stream out of the corrie then cut west then south west through the ancient Caledonian woodland of Crannach Wood, to the bridge over the railway, whence back to Achallader. A fine trip.
Parking then was available at the farm; now there is a car park between there and the main road.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
↓ Scroll down here ↓
Bealach at the head of Coire Daingean
The bealach covers quite an extensive flat area, mixing grass, stone and peaty... more
View south west from Beinn Achaladair
Taken from the flattish part of the south ridge south of the south top, looking... more
Beinn Achaladair
Looking across from the south top towards the main summit.
Coire na Clach
Looking across the coire from the south top of Beinn Achaladair. Beinn a'... more
Summit of Beinn Achaladair
At least, I think this is the one at spot height 1036m. Which according to the map... more
View east northeast from Beinn Achaladair
Looking along the line of north facing cliffs towards the distant Beinn a' Chreachain.
East of Beinn Achaladair
Looking back at Beinn Achaladair from over the col to the east.
North eastern end of Meall Buidhe
The north eastern end of Meall Buidhe's flat ridge barely falls, before the climb... more
View west from Beinn a' Chreachain
From north of the summit, looking down the stony slopes towards the flat ridge of... more
The summit of Beinn a' Chreachain
Approaching the summit from the north.
Beinn a' Chreachain, from the north east ridge
Eastern slopes of Coire an Lochain
Even tussocky slopes lead west down to Lochan a' Chreachain. Beyond can be seen... more
Crannach wood
Only sparse remnants here, although the denser stuff can be seen further ahead. In... more
All images © Nigel Brown and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
.
