Ben Ghlas to Meall a'Choire Leith from the Visitor Centre
Ascent : 1350m, distance : 13km
From the Ben Lawers Visitor Centre, follow a good path heading directly for Beinn Ghlas. The path takes a sharp turn below some hydro works, then heads up to a stile over a fence. Just beyond this, take the uphill turning at a junction and follow the path to Beinn Ghlas summit. Leave the small cairn on Beinn Ghlas and head north-east on the path to the bealach below Ben Lawers. A well built path heads up east-north-east up to the trig point and cairn on Ben Lawer's summit.
Return to the bealach, then take the constructed path heading off right downhill. Follow this path down to the bealach between Meall Corranaich and Beinn Ghlas. If you are only intending to bag Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas, then continue on this path back to the Visitor Centre. To take in Meall Corranaich, cross the wet bealach and head north-west uphill on a worn path. Further up, some fence-posts are picked up to follow most of the way to the summit.
Head north on a faint path for just under 1km, then head north-east away from the crest on pathless ground for 250m, where the path re-appears and follows a burn for a bit down to the bealach below Meall a'Choire Leith. Head due north up over stunted heather to the small summit cairn.
On a south-west bearing, head directly downhill on steep grassy ground to reach a burn, from where a wet path is followed to a small dam on the Allt Gleann Da-Eig. A trudge through wet ground is required to reach the new path to meet up with the road at the north end of Lochan na Lairige.
Meall Garbh to Ben Lawers from the Horn Carver
Ascent : 1550m, distance : 17km
500m east of the Ben Lawers Hotel is the Horn Carver, from where a track heads around the back uphill. Follow this track to the farm, where a sign-post points the way. A path is followed up to the Ben Lawers reserve, then continues heading north above the steep slopes down to Lawers Burn. As the path turns slightly west, leave it and head directly north over heather and occasional wet moss. Climb up steep ground to Sron Mhor and pick up a path to follow to the summit of Meall Garbh.
From the cairn, initially head north-west over a plateau, then turn west on a path hugging a fence. Reach the bealach and continue following the line of fences up to the summit of Meall Garbh. Beyond this peak, a short section on a path downhill will quickly take you to the base below An Stuc's scramble. The difficulties are avoided by keeping to the left (east) side. After reaching the small cairn, it's an easy jog downhill to the bealach, followed by a pleasant trip on a path up the northern shoulder of Ben Lawers to the cairn and trig point.
Leave the crowds behind and head east-south-east for 200m, then turn east downhill over some rocky bits. The terrain easies, and mainly grassy ground is descended east-north-east to reach the track. Pick up the path to descend to Lawers Burn and return to the Horn Carver.