peaks ascent distance time start/finish maps	Beinn Bheoil (1019m, Munro 112) Ben Alder (1148m, Munro 25) Beinn Eibhinn (1102m, Munro 48) Aonach Beag (1116m, Munro 37) Geal-charn (1132m, Munro 26) Carn Dearg (1034m, Munro 98) 2550m (8,400ft) 56km, incl 30km on bike (35m) running : 8:30hr, walking : 12hr Dalwhinnie (NN663846) OS landranger 42
main route summary A cycle in on good tracks alongside lochsides to a remote bothy encircled by mountains, far away from civilisation. This cycle cuts the remaining walking down to just 20km. High plateaus, lochans, ridges, river crossings, fantastic views - they're all here !
main route outline Getting there By car, Dalwhinnie is just off the A9, half way between Perth and Inverness. Alternatively arrive by train, all the way from Euston if you like ! Beinn Bheoil Get to Dalwhinnie, drive up the road to towards the railway station, turning left just before it and continue along Alder Road past some houses to the railway crossing where parking is available. Cycle from the crossing down the lochside, through a gate house built in the late '90s - if locked, it is possible to get around it. Continue cycling past another house down to Alder Lodge and turn right at the next gatehouse, cycling uphill. Cycle to the highest point on this track, then down towards Loch Pattack. Don't take the track at the green shed, it's very mucky along this, instead continue to the loch and around its s side. There is a track on the gravel beach to a wire and wooden bridge. A bit further on a peat-bog can block passage if wet, thereafter reach the bridge over the Allt a'Chaoile-reidhe. The track from here has recently been improved, follow it to the bridge before Culra Bothy and leave the bike. Cross the bridge, pick up an excellent path and follow s side of the river. After 1˝km, the path turns s and starts to head uphill, follow for 1km, then leave the path and cross heather, grass and occasional hidden boulders to strike up to the n shoulder of Beinn Bheoil. The smallish summit cairn is reached via a fair slog over easy gravel ground. Ben Alder Leave the cairn and head sw to reach the next bealach - careful navigation is required if in mist, as the path can be vague in bits. A clearer path is picked up and followed uphill to the bouldery plateau of Sron Coire na h-Iolaire, who's summit has great views along Loch Ericht. Aim sw, again navigation required in mist, to pick up the path again to Bealach Breabag. Uphill nw, the path is vague and very wet as it tries to avoid the burns and twist through the rocks. Further up Ben Alder's ridge, Sron Bealach Beithe is attained and followed nw over an obvious path. After a dip, and on ˝km, the summit of a rise is reached, turn ne, find the lochan and jog over easy ground to the trig point and cairn. Being the highest hill in the area, there's a fantastic panorama to take in, there's also a ruin just north from the summit. Beinn Eibhinn Compass out again ! Easy running wnw from the summit over grass to reach the wet grassy descent to Uisge Labhair. Cross the river just below the junction with the burn coming out of Coire a'Charra Bhig then head directly steeply uphill over heather, then grass. Reach the ne east shoulder of Beinn Eibhinn, turn right and carry on towards the summit over easy ground, going carefully as the coire drops sharply off on your right. Top Bagging ? There's two tops west of the summit, but expect a detour of just under an hour to reach them and return to Beinn Eibhinn. Aonach Beag From Beinn Eibhinn return down ridge and continue to the bealach below, staying on obvious path. It's straight up Aonach Beag, again sticking to the path on the ridge. Geal-charn Aim e downhill to the bealach above Coire na Coichille and Coire a'Charra Bhig, the path a bit vague at first - so route not quite so obvious in mist. Uphill on the path to Geal-charn's small cairn and some cracking views. Carn Dearg Head ne from Geal-charn's cairn, and reach the edge of the coire. At the edge of the coire, turn right (east) and with some careful navigation, find the the heads ne between the two lochans - this can cornice over in winter and crampons may be needed. A good path travels down to the bealach, continues over Diollaid a'Chairn, then uphill over grass then boulders to Carn Dearg's summit - good views back to Geal-charn and towards Beinn a'Chlachair. Return Head ne on a path, then the descent steepens, as it levels out, turn se over grass then heather and some wet sections down to Culra Bothy. Return back to Dalwhinnie.

Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here alder and laggan weblinks Get the local mountain weather forecast here See todays conditions on the nearby Cairngorm Webcam Serious mountain biking at Wolftrax Laggan Community website is here Superb accommodation at the Eagle's View in Newtonmore Ralia Cafe for food and internet access here in Newtonmore routes nearby The Drumochter group is just to the east The Ardverikie munros are immediately to the north-west To the north is Monadh Liath group of four munros alternatives Carn Dearg to Beinn Eibhinn from north-west From Luiblea on the A86, just south of Loch Laggan, do the Ardverikie munros (Creag Pitridh, Geal Charn and Beinn a'Chlachair). From Beinn a'Chlachair, return north-east for just over 1km, then head down Coire Beag a'Chlachair and cross the Allt Cam. Head up the Cean Chioch a'Chairn to approach Carn Dearg's summit from the west. Go along the ridge over the munros Geal-charn and Aonach Beag to Beinn Eibhinn as described in reverse on the left. Head west from Beinn Eibhinn's summit then north down Sron an Fhuarain. Pick up the wet path heading north, to join the track back to Luiblea. Ascent : 1100m, distance : 20km Ben Alder via the Coire na Lethchois ridge Two ridges go up Ben Alder, the Coire na Lethchois being the finer. From Culra Bothy, follow the path on south side of the burn, cross the Allt a'Bhealaich Bheithe (difficult in spate), then heather and head directly up the ridge in front. Enjoyable easy scrambling to reach the north shoulder of Ben Alder. Keep the coire tightly on the left so as to get some good photo opportunity detours on the way. Reach the summit of Ben Alder and take in the views. Head around Garbh Coire, down to Bealach Breabag, up Beinn Bheoil and return to Culra as described in reverse on the left Ascent : 1050m, distance : 15km

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