Over The Hill

My only previous visit to Beinn Tulaichean was on a wet, misty and very miserable day in October 2011, when visibility was so bad that I have no recollection at all as to what this mountain has to offer, apart from a hard slog up steep grassy slopes from Inverlochlarig. And so, given the fine weather we have been having throughout this summer, I was looking forward to re-visiting this mountain in much finer conditions; and, apart from one short period of low cloud as we arrived on the summit, the day remained fine and Beinn Tulaichean proved itself a mountain worthy of a second visit.

There is just enough time to stretch your legs as you walk along the road towards Inverlochlarig farm, cross the bridge and turn onto the track bypassing the farm to join the main track into Inverlochlarig Glen before you take to the open hillside on the steep pathless ascent towards the distant southeast ridgeline of Beinn Tulaichean. Given good visibility, a prominent cairn sitting on a small knoll is a good aiming point to get you started on the upward journey; a fine cairn, but with no obvious reason for being situated at this point other than a small clue as to the possibility that at some time it may have contained a slate plaque of sorts.

Around the 500m height, a fenceline contours around the hillside, and a barred gate is crossed. Now a very faint path begins to emerge as the grassy slopes take on a more rugged appearance, and rocky knolls are a recurring feature, the path, indistinct at times, gradually takes shape, and by the time you crest the ridgeline and gaze westwards towards Beinn a'Chroin and An Caisteal grass gives way to rock, and the path leads directly to the summit plateau and cairn, at 946m a fine viewpoint, slightly spoilt today as low cloud and mist started to drift over the summit as we settled down for some refreshments.

As the mist blow over, and cleared the summits, we began our descent, heading onwards along the ridge, dropping to the broad bealach between Beinn Tulaichean and Cruach Ardrain, where grassy, and quite gentle slopes made for a relatively pleasant descent down into the upper reaches of Inverlochlarig Glen, where we joined the good track on the west side of the Inverlochlarig Burn for a very leisurely walk back to Inverlochlarig at the end of an enjoyable day in the hills.

Thanks to everyone for your company - Great day.