Meall nan Tarmachan Ridge

Getting there

• On the A827, 6km east of Killin along Loch Tay, there is a road aiming north up towards Bridge of Balgie and the Ben Lawers car-park.
• Around ½km beyond the Ben Lawers car-park, by a bridge, there is another area to park cars, and this is where the Meall nan Tarmachan route begins from.

Creag na Caillich

• Leave the roadside and follow a track westwards, over a bridge and to a gate with a large National Trust sign for the Ben Lawers Nature Reserve. Through the gate follow the track for a further 2km contouring around the southern slopes of Meall nan Tarmachan.
• The track reaches a junction - keep right and 500m on, keep straight-on at another junction.
• The track climbs and reaches the edge of an old disused quarry .
• As the track takes a sharp turn right, leave it and climb up the grass ahead.
• On a north-westerly bearing, the gradient lessens and a pleasant plod is taken over more grass and peat-hags to reach the ground below Creag na Caillich's crags.
• A faint path can be seen aiming for a gap in the crags north-east of the summit, from where an obvious path continues to Creag na Caillich's summit .
• Meall Ghaordaidh stands proud to the west and to the east the erroded route over the crests is clearly seen.

Beinn nan Eachan, Meall Garbh and Meall nan Tarmachan

• Return along the obvious path and drop to the col below Beinn nan Eachan .
• Follow the path up and over Beinn nan Eachan .
• The path twists and turns and changes direction to climb Meall Garbh.
• This hill has an interesting rocky summit , but no difficulties are encountered.
• Drop to a bealach with two lochans , then follow the path northwards over a broad crest to gain Meall na Tarmachan's summit with its small cairn. Fine views on clear days !

Return

• From the cairn head north for a few metres, then turn east and drop slightly to turn southwards on the path.
• Ahead the path drops sharply, but work has been carried out to install rocky steps (slippy if icy) to aid descent.
• The path meets up with a fence-line, over which a large stile is used to gain the ground on the other side.
• A brief climb up to a minor top (marked 923m on OS maps), then a fast 2km descent can be made on the path back to the track and to the road.