Creagan na Beinne and neighbours

The road up to Gleann a' Chilleine

The route begins in the hamlet of Ardtalnaig, nestled above the southern shore of Loch Tay. The narrow, winding road from Kenmore is the recommended approach - about 10 km west - being shorter than the stretch from Killin. That said, the road is very narrow, and signs at both ends warn it's unsuitable for caravans and buses !

Once in Ardtalnaig, look for a junction with a right-of-way sign pointing uphill. Parking is limited but available up this side road which aims to Gleann a' Chilleine: a space beside the tennis court for one car, more spots further uphill just past a gate, and a few more near the end of the public road just before an iron bridge over the Allt a' Chloidh.

Looking up Gleann a' Chilleine towards Creagan na Beinne

From the end of the public road, cross the bridge over the Allt a' Chloidh and continue on an estate track as it heads toward the farm buildings at Claggan . When the track forks by the farm, take the left fork, which curves around the buildings and reaches another junction - again, keep left.

The track gently climbs before levelling off and crossing the Allt a' Chillein and turning by some forestry and the sad ruin of Tullichglass . Leave the main track here and head toward the ruins. Just before reaching a stone wall surrounding the ruin, veer left onto a faint track that leads through a gate and alongside the Allt Aonaich upstream.

Past a small dam, the track turns and slips through a gate in a fence, continuing uphill beside woodland. One final gate leads onto open hillside, where the track becomes very faint. Climbing the gentle grassy slope to the crest of Creagan na Beinne's northern shoulder, a sharp turn by a gate in a fence-line is met.

Approaching Creagan na Beinne's summit

Approaching Creagan na Beinne's summit

Creagan na Beinne's summit with Ciste Buide a' Claidheimh and Creag Uchdag beyond

From Creagan na Beinne's summit, head west and descend the easy grassy slopes - ideal for a bit of carefree running !

Lower down, the terrain becomes heathery, but grassy lines offer easier passage. Cross the burn in the glen below, on a track pass through a fence gate , and near a small copse of trees, leave the track and begin climbing again - now heading south-west.

Although largely heather-covered, there are grassy veins to follow up the slope. As height is gained, the slope steepens slightly but remains straightforward. Soon the crest of the Shee of Ardtalnaig is reached, with the northern shoulder of Ciste Buide a' Chlaidheimh ahead.

Bual a' Claidheimh

Bual a' Claidheimh

Creag Gharbh with Creag Uchdag's eastern tops behind

Leave Ciste Buide a' Chlaidheimh's summit and descend southwards down grassy slopes. As you approach the glen floor, heather briefly returns, followed by a track and a fence to cross .

After crossing a burn, follow a small tributary uphill, then aim slightly east of the crags of Creag Gharbh to ascend a slanted grassy ramp.

Higher up, the crest above Creag Gharbh is gained, where another line of old fence posts leads onward. Rather than heading westwards to Meall nan Oighreag, begin to drift southwest, losing a little height while aiming for the ground just above the confluence of burns forming the Allt a' Charran. Crossing these is usually easy, and then it's a steady grassy climb to the trig point atop Creag Uchdag .

On Creag Uchdag, looking to Lawers

On Creag Uchdag, looking to Lawers

Looking over the mine remains back to Creag Uchdag

From Creag Uchdag's trig point, follow the remnants of a line of old iron fence posts north-west along the hill's crest to a minor rise roughly 500m away - here, views over Loch Tay finally begin to open up.

Turning north, cross the undulating, occasionally peaty ground of Meall Reamhar. Eventually, the mossy remains of a small building are found, once used by the now-abandoned mine beneath Meall nan Oighreag.

By Meall nan Oighreag's summit, a fence line is picked up aside which a faint trod is followed to lead over a grassy expanse toward Tullich Hill . The small lochans shown on OS maps are more often dry peat flats nowadays ! Lower down, a deer fence enclosing woodland is reached - there's a gate at NN707383 .

Track through birch woodland above Ardtalnaig

Track through birch woodland above Ardtalnaig

Approaching Creag Uchdag from the Ardeonaig direction

It's worth noting that Creag Uchdag can also be approached directly from Ardeonaig, where a right-of-way sign beside an old graveyard marks the start of a route heading uphill. This line climbs through a series of gates in open fields, then onto the hillside via Creag Liath, before reaching the summit of Creag Uchdag. It's a more direct ascent, but with a notable trade-off: a 5 km walk back along the road to Ardtalnaig is required at the end of the day if you're doing a circular route.

For those considering variations - or in need of a quicker exit - the glens between the hills are threaded with good estate tracks, offering potential escape routes or easier ways out if the weather turns or time runs short.