Ben Alder via the Long Leachas

Bridge under railway at Dalwhinnie

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 need !

In Dalwhinnie, head 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. There's a turning circle here and you can usually park just before it.

Unfortunately there is an ongoing access problem over the railway line at this point, and Network Rail are insisting access to Ben Alder Estate should be made via a tunnel 1km to the south. To get here, turn west down a road just south of the petrol station in Dalwhinnie and park before the tunnel avoiding causing any hassle to the houses nearby.

Footbridge over the Allt a' Chaoil-reidhe

From Dalwhinnie, cycle from the crossing down the lochside on the fine estate track that hugs the western shore of Loch Ericht. Just before meeting the third gate-house, turn right uphill and continue to the highest point on the track and Culra Bothy can be seen ahead in the far distance. There are some wonderful spots to wild-camp by the Allt a'Chaoil-reidhe

Culra Bothy below Càrn Dearg

Culra Bothy below Càrn Dearg

Looking up the Loch Leachas from near Culra

From Culra Bothy, head back along the track to the bridge over the Allt a'Chaoil-reidhe, cross the river and join the path on the path on south side of the Allt a'Chaoil-reidhe. Follow this for around 3km to where the path takes a sharp change in direction from south-west to south.

Leave the path here and head south-west over heathery ground and cross the Allt a'Bhealaich Bheithe where convienient (this may be difficult to do in spate).Now heading westwards, cross more heathery ground to reach the base of the Long Leachas ridge .

Keeping to the crest, head uphill directly up the ridge, there is a path of sorts for most of the way.There are some sections of rock-scrambling, but there's nothing considered difficult or particularly exposed.

The northern shoulder of Ben Alder is reached and some boulderfield and a minor summit are crossed.Keep the coire tightly on your left (east) so as to get some good photo opportunity detours on the way !

On Ben Alder's summit there is a trig point, but not much shelter. Shelter can be found in the remains of a ruined building just to the north of the summit.

Scrambling on the Long Leachas ridge

Scrambling on the Long Leachas ridge

Above Garbh Choire on way to Sròn Bealach Beithe

Just south of Ben Alder's summit Lochan a'Garbh Choire (reputedly the highest lochan in the land) - in summer it's pretty straightforward to head directly to the continuing ridge by going around the east side of the lochan. In winter, or if there has been much rain, probably more prudent to head around the longer west side of the lochan.

Beyond the lochan, continue following a path on Ben Alder's crest above and around Garbh Choire. Over a rise, then begin to drop and the path disappears. There are some rocky outcrops and small burns to negotiate on the descent, but it should be fairly straightforward to reach Bealach Breabag .

Crossing the bealach, you should be able to pick up a fairly faint path heading uphill ahead. This path climbs up Sròn Coire na h-Iolaire, but doesn't aim for the summit - the short detour to this is worth the effort for the views down Loch Ericht !

Loch a'Bhealaich Bheithe and Beinn Bheòil from the top of Bealach Breabag

Loch a'Bhealaich Bheithe and Beinn Bheòil from the top of Bealach Breabag

View down Loch Ericht from Beinn Bheoil

Leaving Beinn Bheòil's small summit cairn behind, aim north-east for around 300m along the wide crest. As the crest begins to narrow, turn slightly more northwards and drop to a broad flat area.

Nearing Culra and looking back up the path to Ben Alder

Nearing Culra and looking back up the path to Ben Alder