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Carn Liath (975m, Munro 181)
Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain (1070m, M66)
Carn nan Gabhar (1129m, Munro 32)
Carn a'Chlamain (963m, Munro 192)
Beinn Dearg (1008m, Munro 124)

Beinn Mheadhonach (901m, Corbett)

2850m (9,350ft)
42km (26m)
running : 7:45hr, walking : 13hr

Loch Moraig (NN905670)
Old Blair carpark (NN874663)
OS landranger 43
main route summary
Beinn a'Ghlo is the collective name for the three fine munros east of Glen Tilt. Each munros is subsequently higher than the previous one - it's highest peak Carn nan Gabhar gives fine views is all directions, its lowest peak Carn Liath is a landmark from the south with its badly scarred path up its south-west shoulder. Carn a'Chlamain is hidden up Glen Tilt. Beinn Dearg is a bouldery summit above Glen Bruar. Access to these hills is along excellent tracks and paths, however when linking the summits, the ground between is more often heather clad and pathless, therefore navigation skills will be tested, even in clear conditions.


main route outline

Getting there
From the A9, Blair Atholl lies 50km north of Perth. Coming to Blair Atholl from either end, get to the centre of the village, just east of the entrance to Blair Atholl grounds, where there is a road off north marked to Monzie and Old Blair. Head up this road to a junction, keep right, reach another junction, keep right again towards Monzie Farm. Continue up this narrow road for 2.5km and park by the gate and cattle grid.

Carn Liath
On foot or bike, head along the road to the gate on the corner. Through this gate, head up the track for 1.5km to two sheds. Cross the fence via the stile, descend to wet ground and cross the burn. Pick up a path and follow it up the side of a dyke. The path then heads directly uphill, the errosion up close appears nothing as bad as the view from the A9 would suggest. After 500m of ascent, the steepness subsides and a cairn is met. The summit cairn is another 300m further on. Fine views are had in all directions.

Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain
Leave Carn Liath's cairn and drop north-west along the wide crest of the hill. An obvious path is followed as the crest twists left, then right over Beinn Mhaol and left again to drop to a sharp little bealach. On the steep hillside ahead, the path scars a route up through the heather to more grassy and stoney ground for the slog up to Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain's summit cairn.

Carn nan Gabhar
In poor visibility, the route from Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain to Carn nan Gabhar can be tricky to navigate as the wide crest is fairly pathless. From Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain's summit, drop north-east, then east to a flat grassy area. Continue for a further 300m north-east over a slight rise, then bear east and start to loose height. A path starts to develop to follow down through some scree to Bealach an Fhiodha. A more definite path then heads east gradually uphill to the north end of the col between Airgiod Bheinn and Carn nan Gabhar. From the col, head north-east on a faint path up over grassy ground to a bouldery summit with a cairn. This is not the summit, neither is the trig point 250m further on. The summit has a large tidy cairn and is 150m further on from the trig point. Superb views in all directions.

Carn a'Chlamain
North of Carn nan Gabhar is visited infrequently, therefore the ground is fairly pathless. Head north-east from the cairn on Carn nan Gabhar, then after loosing around 100m of height, start to turn north and continue around the head of Coire a'Chaisteil to Meall a'Mhuirich. North, then north-west to head down to Glen Tilt, the last 250m of heathery descent being pretty steep, but a path can be picked up to follow to near a bridge over the River Tilt. Cross the bridge, then head northwards, directly up the steep heathery ground ahead to the right of the crags. Once past the crags, turn south-west, cimb up to the spot height of 729m on the OS map and aim for the Allt na Maraig. The ground is covered in deep heather in parts, grassy and pleasant going in others. Nearing the Allt na Maraig, you should start to see the obvious stalkers path aiming up Carn a'Chlamain. Follow this to the bouldery summit with its small cairn.

Beinn Mheadhonach
The path continues from Carn a'Chlamain north-westwards, then becomes indistinct. Continue over Aonach na Cloiche Moire, then drop directly down into Gleann Mhairc. Climb up wet tussocky ground to the bealach between Carn a'Chiaraidh and Beinn Mheadhonadh, from where, head south to the small cairn on the corbett's summit.

Beinn Dearg
Return north to the bealach, then contour around the west side of Carn a'Chiaraidh and drop to tussocky and heathery ground at the head of Glean Diridh. Aim directly for Beinn Dearg's summit, nearly 2km away. At first the terrain underfoot is a bit wet and grassy, but soon becomes more heather clad, with progressively more boulders protruding or hidden in the undergrowth. The OS map suggests a steep scree ascent for the last 100m or so - it's not nearly as frightening or difficult as you'd think. Fine views in all directions from the trig point.

Return
From the trig point, head south-south-west on the obvious path down through the boulders to a flat area. Turn south-east and drop 100m over more heathery ground. Climb up the easy northern arm of Beinn a'Chait and continue to this hill's summit. Descend southwards and after loosing 350m of height, pick up a decent track to follow around Elrig, down to the Allt Slanaidh and into the forest above Glen Tilt. The track passes through a rifle range (I've yet to see anyone shooting) and meets up with the main track that travels through Glen Tilt. Follow this track to the car-park near Old Bridge of Tilt, then return on the road back up to Loch Moraig.




Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here

routes nearby
West
South-west
East

alternatives

Beinn Dearg on its own
Start from Calvine, which is 7km west of Blair Atholl on the A9. Parking is available at the west of the village at the start of the cycle-way. A bike is recommended for the route in to Bruar Lodge.

From Calvine, cross the A9 and head up a steep access track towards a house. The track turns sharply and continues through two gates in deer fences, then climbs, steeply at first, for 5km to a height of 460m. A freewheel downhill next into Glen Bruar. A further 6km on fairly flat track leads to Bruar Lodge. Leave your bike by the bridge over Bruar Water and head around the lodge - I prefer the right-hand side. Through the forest to open hillside. A steep climb up over burnt heather and occasional boulder will take you to flatter ground. A path will gradually appear to follow to Beinn Dearg's bouldery summit. Return by the same route.

Ascent : 1150m, distance : 30.5km (incl 25km in bike)


Carn a'Chlamain from Glen Tilt
This route follows a track up Glen Tilt, so a bike is recommended. If you intend to use a bike, then take care and be considerate as the track is popular with ramblers and used by local traffic.

Start at the car-park 1km east of Old Blair, cross the road and head up a track by the right-hand side of the house. Head up this track for 8km - you'll cross a stone bridge, go past a house and out-buildings, pass Marble Lodge, cross another stone bridge and reach a wooden bridge over the Allt Craoinidh. Cross this wooden bridge, then head directly up the steep hill immediately ahead. Only a faint path at first, but this joins with a track (not marked on my OS map) heading up the southern shoulder of Carn a'Chlamain. Further up, the track starts to veere off to the right, leave it and follow a faint path through the heather that sticks to the crest. Further on, the ascent steepens, a wall is crossed and a flat area is reached. A path coming from the south-east is joined to follow up the last bouldery rise to the summit cairn. The return is by the same route.

Ascent 1060m, distance : 25km (incl 16km on bike)


Beinn a'Ghlo returning over Airgiod Bheinn
From the gate by Loch Moraig, follow the main route up Carn Liath and Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain to the cairn on Carn nan Gobhar. From the summit, head south-west back along the crest to a flat area, then continue south-east, then south up to Airgiod Bheinn. The terrain becomes bouldery underfoot. Head down south-west on bouldery ground to cross the Allt Bealach an Fhiodha and pick up a path through the heather, which contours around Beinn Bheag. Further on, the path crosses another burn and starts to contour around Carn Liath. Look out for the track approaching from the left (east) and cut down to it when possible. Follow this track to the two sheds and return to Loch Moraig.

Ascent 1350m, distance : 20.5km
atholl, tilt and bruar