Footprints Across Scotland
Why not make a few of your own!
14th & 15th March 2015
A visit to Beinn a' Chearcaill and its amazing flat sandstone roof top.
Route Map
About 500m west of the Bridge of Grudie there is an old track running parallel to the road that provides suitable parking for a few cars. Returning back down the road I picked up a path running past the front of a solitary cottage before starting on a gentle rise up Glen Grudie.
Slioch from Glen Grudie
I’d already passed the cairn that marks the start of the route up into Coire Briste before I started looking. After backtracking a short way I then followed the path as it contoured the north side of the corrie before climbing onto the lochan filled saddle south of A’ Choineach Beag. After passing one of the main lochans I worked my way up through a wide gully defined by vague ridge lines either side of the main broad ridge.
Beinn Eighe
Higher up some bands of low crags were bypassed easily to finally reach the unusual summit area, a large sandstone table littered with many small erratic’s. I sat beside the cairn allowing a guy to continue his photographic wandering around the top.
Beinn Eighe
His wife then appeared and we chatted a while before being joined by the husband. Conditions were not ideal for making decent photographs but the views of the summit area and its surrounds were truly spectacular. I found a nice place to pitch the tent just a few meters north of the top and soon had camp set up.
Camp and Beinn Eighe
Well wrapped up I enjoyed the early evening wandering around the top until the light faded and I could see no more.
Beinn Eighe
I emerged from my tent to watch the sunrise, I was up in plenty of time, there were still plenty of stars on show in the dark skies. A crescent moon added to the scene floating above a sea of snowy peaks to the south. Brew in hand I found a seat on a summit boulder and awaited the returning sun.
Peaks of Torridon
It had been a cold night and the small pools on the summit area now reflected the moon from a frozen surface. Slowly golden rays from the rising sun emerged from behind Meall a'Ghiuthais to enhance the redness of the small rocks and boulders that adorn the summit table.
First light on Liathach
I was in no rush to be anywhere and spent a good few hours enjoying breakfast and multiple hot drinks while taking in the views of the fine scenery on show. Most striking was Coire MhicFhearchair and Sail Mhor with snow lining the deep vertical gash of Morrison's Gully.
First light on Sail Mhor
Further west the serrated lines of Liathach led the eye around to Beinn Dearg and the Beinn Alligin lying across the expansive flats of Strath Lungard.
Beinn Dearg and Beinn Alligin
Beinn Dearg and Beinn Alligin
Beinn Dearg and Beinn Alligin
Reluctantly I decided it was time to strike camp and began my decent by heading east over to Creag na Feol.
Slioch from Creag na Feol
It was nice easy going for the best part and It was only when heading north I had a bit of a gully and a snow field to work around before dropping to lochans west of Coire Briste. A cairn marks the start of the path back into the corrie and onward to the main path out. The impressive Slioch dominates the view on the way back down to the road.
Slioch from Glen Grudie
I was soon back at the van after what had been a fine and very leisurely weekend outing, a fine way to spend my birthday.
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