Beinn Bhalgairean

30 May 2013

Participants - Neil and Ben
Where - Beinn Bhalgairean, 636m/2,085', Graham, Map 50 NN 203241

This one hasn't had many write ups as far as I could see although its position, just west of the Ben Lui group, suggested that it might be a good viewpoint. It is the lower of two Grahams situated in the "empty" country between the head of Loch Lomond and Loch Awe, an area that also has quite extensive forestry of the conifer kind.

I parked the car just in to the track that goes to Succoth from where there was a good view to Beinn a'Cleibh and Ben Lui to the east.....

Further along the track, as we gained height, there was a view back to the Dalmally horseshoe, a range of high hills that featured prominently in my day.....

The track passed the entrance to the lodge and carried on at a fairly gentle angle to pass under the railway line at this bridge.....

Higher up still, I got an even better view of the Dalmally horseshoe, this time with Beinn a'Chochuill and Beinn Eunaich added on as a bonus.....

I remember this forest from years ago when I tried to climb Beinn a'Cleibh from here and ended up on top of some other hill, to this day I haven't worked out what. It might have been the other Graham, Meall nan Gabhar, but I can't be sure.....

Everything was much more obvious today though as there has been considerable felling since my last visit. After about 3 miles or so of steady climbing, the track turned back on itself and about 100m further on, a side track entered the forest.....

This was our route and after only a short distance, we emerged on to the open hillside with our objective straight ahead....

I knew from reports on the Scottish Hills site that there was a six foot deer fence between us and the summit but that there was a gate which could be found by continuing to follow the track rather than heading straight for the top of the hill. Unfortunately, I followed the track too far but managed to get Ben under the fence at a loose bit. We found the gate on the way down. The top was indeed a great viewpoint. Here are the Dalmally hills again.....

and Ben at the cairn with Glen Lochay behind him....

Further round were Beinn a'Cleibh and Ben Lui.....

and to the south the elusive twin topped Munro Beinn Bhuidhe.....

It was a warm day and I needed a few stops on the way back down. The good track got me up and down easily but walking on that type of surface is sore on the feet. However, without it, theses two would be remote hills indeed. I reckon that the walk was about 9 miles and it took 5hours and 15 minutes. Another hill that is well worth doing.