peaks ascent distance time start/finish maps	Beinn a'Chlachair (1087m, Munro 56) Geal Charn (1049m, Munro 81) Creag Pitridh (924m, Munro 264) 1350m (4,450ft) 25km (16m) running : 3:40hr, walking : 7hr Luiblea (NN432830) OS landranger 42
main route summary This group of three munro peaks lie just to the south of Loch Laggan, from where the easiest access is. An excellent track heads in from Luiblea, with a gentle climb along its length to Lochan na h-Earba, therefore a mountain bike is recommended for the first (and last) 4km of the route. The hills lie in a fairly compact group with good paths linking the ground below them.
main route outline Getting there The route starts by Luiblea, from a long lay-by on the A86, 22km east of Spean Bridge. Although there is plenty parking available, this is a popular group of hills and the lay-by can be full early on. More parking is available 300m west of the track access. Beinn a'Chlachair From the roadside, head over the bridge over the River Spean, through the gate to a junction in the track, turn left and over a deer-fence using a stile. The track continues for 1km up to some forestry and another junction - turn right. Bike up another 1.5km to another junction beside a reservoir - this time keep on the main track and continue up to the bridge by Lochan na h-Earba. In summer this is a beautiful place to stop for a bit - the beach strangely seems somewhat out of place. Cross the bridge and head for around 200m to where a small cairn denotes the start of the stalker's path. Leave bikes by this cairn. Head up the stalkers path (which has seen some recent repairs) for around 1km, then leave the path and cross the Allt Coire Pitridh (which should be straightforward). Now on pathless tussocky ground head due south and aim for the eastern rim of Coire Mor Chlachair. The ground gets steeper and heathery. As it starts to level out, the wind has stunted the heather and going becomes easier. Once on the plateau, travel over more bouldery ground around Coire Mor Chlachair and climb to the summit of Beinn a'Chlachair with its large cairn. Fine views in all direction from this summit. Geal Charn If in mist, your navigation and timing will now be put to test. If not in mist, the route is obvious ! Leave Beinn a'Chlachair's cairn and return to the plateau south of Coire Mor Chlachair. Once past the boulderfield and onto grass, a faint path can be just be made out. Follow this path north-east around Coire Beag a'Chlachair and climb up the east top. North-east again, gradually dropping height, a small burn is picked up just before the ground ahead starts to drop steeply away. The route down is not very obvious, but worn sections of path can be picked out that zig-zag around the crags down to the stalker's path below. Use the stalkers path to cross the bealach and start climbing north. Once the ground on the right starts to look a bit drier, leave the path and aim north-east up Geal Charn. Further up, don't stick to the bouldery crest, keep on the east side where the ground is grass covered and much easier underfoot. The summit plateau of Geal Charn is reached and the large cairn can be seen ahead. The views are excellent and slightly better than that seen from the hulk of Beinn a'Chlachair. There's even a cylindrical trig point - perfect for balancing a camera ontop of for a group photo ! Creag Pitridh Return along the bouldery crest for 300m, then start to drop westwards on wet grassy ground. Creag Pitridh is seen ahead, looking fairly insignificant compared to the other munros around. On approaching the col, a stalkers path is crossed and a fainter path is picked up to cross the bealach. The path continues up Creag Pitridh, zig-zagging to avoid some slabs to reaches the bouldery summit. Return If you want the best views on the descent, then head due west from the summit. However, it's far easier to return to the bealach, then head south-west to aim for the Allt Coire Pitridh. The ground is just perfect for running quickly downhill ! Further down a faint path is picked up, which meets up with the main stalkers path at the junction of the burns. Once onto the path return to your bike and head back to Luiblea.

Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here ardverikie 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 Accommodation and food at the Roybridge Hotel routes nearby The Creag Meagaidh munros are to the north The three munros around Loch Ossian are to the south-west To the east is the six munro group in Ben Alder Forest alternatives In from Loch Pattack If you are staying at Culra Bothy doing some of the hills in Ben Alder Forest, then these three munros can be readily approached from the east. Get to Loch Pattack from Dalwhinnie or Kinlochlaggan using the estate tracks. Just past this bridge at the west end of the loch, the track splits, take the track heading up off right. Continue up this track to a ford over the Allt Cam, from where stalker's paths head up to Loch a'Bhealaich Leamhain and the munros. Ascent : 1150m, distance : 18.5km (plus 26km on bike) Ardverikie and Aonach Beag munros If three munros is not enough, then the main route described can, with effort, be combined with some of the Ben Alder Forest munros. There are no difficulties on this extension, just a fair bit of trudging over heather and grass. Start as in the main route described on the left, but from Loch na h-Earba, do the munros in the reverse order and reach Beinn a'Chlachair's cairn. From the cairn return to the lowest point between the summit and the eastern top, then head directly down the steep loose ground into Coire Beag a'Chlachair. Further down cross An Lairig then head up Ceann Cioch a'Chairn to reach the ground west of Carn Dearg. Bag Carn Dearg, Geal-charn, Aonach Beag and reach Beinn Eibhinn as described in the Ben Alder Forest munro route. 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 : 2375m, distance : 40km

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