Over The Hill

At somewhat of a loss as to where to walk this weekend with nothing programmed I started to look at what Munros or Corbetts I had yet to complete within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and finally settled on Beinn Bheula as an interesting candidate. I had no sooner summoned up some support for company on the walk, when Mike reminded my that he had actually lead a walk on this very hill in September while I was otherwise engaged on a Carn Dearg away weekend at Strontian in Ardgour; so that was it, a trusty leader with a proven route, what else could one ask for.

As it transpired, 7 of us eventually set off from Lettermay and headed along the good forest track towards the rather impressive waterfall tumbling down from the Curra Lochain outlet. Extensive felling has taken place along this part of the forest and has opened up the views from the once tree bound track, so much so, that the days objective, Beinn Bheula is soon in sight, although still some distance away.

A steep ascent out of the forest brings you alongside the Sruth Ban waterfall, which, close up is much more impressive than it had looked at first sight as you approach it on the track in the forest below. Leaving the waterfall behind, our route took us up the undulating north east ridge of Beinn Bhreac, winding our way between a series of rocky outcrops and grassy knolls towards this 597m top, from where the views suddenly opened up, with Lochan nan Cnaimh dominating the view east, and directly ahead, the rocky crags which line the approach to Beinn Bheula.

A short descent from the summit of Beinn Bhreac leads you to the base of a steep gully which rises between the crags and offers an obvious approach route to the north ridge of Beinn Bheula, from where it is a short, easy walk to the Trig Pt and circular stone shelter marking the 779m summit. An undulating and broad ridge runs south then south east from the summit, at the eastern end of which lies Ceann Garbh, whose steep and craggy eastern slopes bar any direct descent, and require you to make a curving, anti-clockwise descent, initially south west before swinging south, and eventually east to gain the grassy bealach below the crags.

It is here, below the crags, where the scattered remains of a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Grumman Martlet(Wildcat) single seater aircraft that crashed in December 1940, killing the pilot, can be found. Although, a recent landslide from the crags above has meant that some sections of the wreckage are now partially covered by rock and rubble, brought down by the landslide.

Across the bealach we descended to the shores of the picturesque Lochan nan Cnaimh, the outflow of which is usually followed for a very steep and awkward descent into the forest to pick up the high forest track for the return to Lettermay. However, with the felling operations having cleared a substantial area of forest a slightly easier option is now available whereby we followed the forest boundary northwards from the lochan until reaching the edge of a felled area, from where it was a short descent, albeit through the remnants of felled trees, to reach the forest track, from where a leisurely walk takes you back through the forest to Lettermay.

An excellent mountain, and a great day - Thanks All