Route Description for Beinn Achaladair and Beinn a'
Chreachain
Location: Bridge of
Orchy
Map: OS
Landranger 50 (GR
322443)
Distance: 12.5
miles (20km)
Ti|me: 6 hours
30 minutes
Terrain: tracks
and paths
Harbouring
dramatic hidden
corries and connected by a fine ridge, these two
peaks offer
the longest outing
among the Bridge
of Orchy
hills. The
only downside is the 7km approach or descent via Coire
Achaladair
and Beinn
Achaladair’s
south ridge.
The path is rough and a bit
boggy and
tends to do a disappearing act at
the top
of the corrie.
Still, it is
better than other paths
hereabouts. The way you walk it depends on whether you prefer a gentle
introduction
with a long and rough descent down Coire
Achaladair to
finish, or vice versa.
The route
described above
tackles the peaks anti-clockwise,
leaving the
tedious bits until last
when the
pressure is off and a more leisurely
pace can
be taken.
From
Achallader farm
follow the track signposted to Gorton
Bothy
which leads east from the car park to
the
Allt Coire
Achaladair. Fording this is
usually straightforward
in summer
and the track is followed to the
old
bridge over the
Water of Tulla,
below the ruined house at
Barravourich.
Two routes
are possible.
The first leaves
the track for a path marked by posts along the
south of
the river and into
Crannach Wood.
There are
sections of deer fencing to encourage
regeneration
of the native
Woodland.
Cross the
railway via a footbridge then continue north
beside the
railway to exit the fencing at a stile
at the
Alt Coire an
Lochain.
Alternatively,
cross the
bridge over the river and stay on
the track
for another 2.5km to reach a
footbridge.
Cross back over
the river,
follow it east for a short distance to
clear the
woodland, then ascend south to
fenced
woodland. Keep
left of the
pylon to reach a low underpass below the railway to emerge beside the Allt Coire
an Lochain.
Ascend beside
the fencing
and the Allt Coire an Lochain to reach the lochan
below the
cliffs of Beinn a’ Chreachain.
A steady ascent eastwards
gains the
col south of Point 961m and a ridge leading to the
summit of
Beinn a’ Chreachain.
Rocky
slopes
lead west
to the col below Meall Buidhe. Stick
to the
crest, rather than the deep path which
bypasses the
summit, and
follow the broad ridge southwest towards Beinn Achaladair. A steep rocky section gains
the
lip of the
Achaladair’s upper corrie and the
summit
ridge.
A long descent
is made
over the South Top and down to the col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Achaladair, where a
path leads into
Coire Achaladair.
Initially this is to the right of
the burn,
but a short distance down you
need to cross to
the left. The
lower section of the path leads to a bridge over the
railway and
back to the farm.
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