Hill: Beinn Mhanach (Hill of the Monk)
Type: Munro
Height: 953m
Another stunning blue sky morning without a cloud in the sky, which in this part of the world, usually means cold and it was, very.
Another Plan B day, very high winds forecast so changed my plan. I had this down on my planner as a Bike/hike route due to the length of hard packed track that had to be walked. But I did not have my bike with me but too good an opportunity to miss.
I parked up at the scrape on the main road to Bridge of Orchy beside the entrance to the Auch estate and as I changed it was clear but chilly.
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| My target in the distance, mighty Beinn Dorain on the left |
I walked down the private road to the Auch estate where in the morning light I could see my target. To be fair I could see quite a few Munros & Corbetts nearby but none of these were mine. Look carefully and that one way in the distance is where I am heading. 5 miles each way to the base of the hill and back, a long walk hence the original bike/hike plan.
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| Train crossing the viaduct Beinn Mhanach the right of the two hills |
All the construction works at Auch look complete, a lot of dosh has been spent here. Farm buildings and modern housing. Reading later another foreign landowner.
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| Ruined cottage of Duncan Ban MacIntyre ahead. Beinn a' Chuirn on right |
I entered Auch Glen and was immediately out of the sun mainly due to the great bulk of the Corbett Beinn a’ Chaisteil. The wind was blowing through the glen so jacket on as well, it would be an hour before the sun warmed me again.
The Allt Kinglass river is crossed 4 times and was higher than I expected. Pushing a heavy Emtb would probably have involved wet feet but would have been worth it.
Auch Glen is a nice glen hemmed in by big hills but it is kind of same old, just me and the sheep. As well as the view ahead which was not shabby.
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| Beinn an Dothaidh left centre & Beinn Achaladair right |
On my hike in an estate vehicle drove past me, a lift might not have been turned down but it was not offered.
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| Left side of burn for me |
Finally after just under two hours I reached the base of the hill beside the weir.
Now the hard work really begins. A direct ascent of 480m if you take it head on. There is no standard route up the hill and according to the reports that I read no path, a free for all up unrelenting steep grassy slopes. But that is not quite true, more of which later.
Looking at the map I had decided that I would ascend via the left hand side of the Allt a’ Chuirn burn all the way to the top. More the SMC route than Walkhighlands. This actually proved a good choice. Steep it was, huffing and puffing I was but looking at the slopes on the right hand side they looked steeper.
The going was pretty good mainly short grass and moss, not the tussocks I recall from climbing the Corbett across the way. But there was still a lot of huffing and puffing and short pauses.
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| Crossed the burn then headed up to the top |
The only issue with my route was that it was forcing me away from the summit but I wanted to get to the top of the burn before heading for the hill. From this approach I could see that the Walkhighlands route is more direct and much steeper. I had also spotted a fence on the other side which I decided I would use for my descent.
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| Finally flattens off as cairn comes into view |
Once I crossed the burn I had an easier walking gradient to the plateau and then onto the cairn. 1hour 35m, I don't think the direct route would have been much quicker but would have been undoubtedly harder.
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| Ben Nevis through the gap |
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| Beinn a' Chreachain looking impressive |
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| View South |
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| View West |
Although there was a haze the 360deg views were magnificent. It is mainly a stand alone hill albeit surrounded by its nearby cluster of Munros & Corbetts. But look beyond these and there is much to see, peaks everywhere including Ben Nevis, Ben Alder and much much more. Pictures do not do it justice. Although it was cool with a strong breeze it was not the 40mph forecast by the Met office this morning. A fine spot for view finding.
I headed off to find the broken fence which I followed back to the track. Yes it was more direct but also very steep. There is a faint path which was also very damp and slippery in patches. I met a couple coming up the fence path and also spotted 3 walkers on my right, just proving there is no one route.
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| Auch Glen flanked on left by the Corbetts Beinn nam Fuaran & Beinn a' Chaisteil. On right Beinn Dorain. |
On the descent I was looking over to the Corbetts I climbed last year. The ascent, particularly of the 2nd one, on an extremely hot day, with clegs constantly buzzing around the knackered me, unforgettable.
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| Surprised at how much water was still flowing down the weir |
Back to today’s hill and my right knee was very pleased when I reached the estate path at the weir, descending can be a touch painful these days.
All that was left was the long walk back to the car.
Compared to my inward walk it was now very warm in the glen. I had to use the burn to fill my water bottle, normally not an issue but there was a lot of green algy on the rocks which made me pause. But needs must as I was getting overheated, my tummy will tell me tomorrow if that was a wrong move.
After my knees being glad to meet the track it was the turn of my feet to be happy chappies getting to the car. Long hard packed trails and hard walking boots are not particularly compatible.
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| 5 stags came out of the trees must be a hole in the fence |
Overall the view was more than worth the effort, a good ramble under blue skies. A short hill walk but a long walk in and out.
Ascent: 831m
Distance: 20.8km
Wildlife: Woodpecker; Meadow Pipit; Buzzard; Red Deer; Raven; Wheatear; Chaffinch; Peewit;
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