Meall na Leitreach

Meall na Leitreach from the carpark

After a full day on the Tay salmon fishing my legs were a bit stiff but Mrs B and I decided we go for a decent walk, kill or cure treatment. The weather forecast was in our favour possibly clouding over later in the day. So off we set up the A9 towards Dalwhinnie. Our destination was a Corbett, Meall na Leitreach which was chosen as it should be an easier walk for Mrs B as the start of the walk is already at altitude. This we soon found out was true when we approached Dalnaspidal lodge and could see snow on the hills. When we got out of the car the temperature was already telling us we were higher than when we left. The skies were still blue but!! Decision made we were going up. There was some snow lying on the hill but not enough to stop us. This hill, according to the Scottish mountaineering guide is often climbed with its northern partner, the Sow of Atholl, in one day but no chance of that with Mrs B in tow.

The hills either side of Loch Garry

The start of the walk goes across the railway line, take care please, past the lodge and joins the path to Rannoch via Loch Garry, a 10 mile remote walk if you fancy.

The gorge full of snow

The beautiful cry of peewits criss crossing the grassy areas in their magnificent flying display, definitely one of my favourite birds, sadly very much in decline. We cross the weir to the angry sound of greylag geese upset at our presence, presumably residents.

There is an outline of a track that goes more or less straight up to the plateau. It was a bit boggy underfoot which I think would be a wet marshy foot squelching walk after heavy rainfall. One of the reasons for the boggy path is the tracks of the estates hill vehicles churning the ground. The walk is straight forward but do keep stopping and looking around as the views are superb. Keep the gorge to your right and you will be fine. Fairly easy today as they are full of melting snow, not worth the risk of going through. Half way up the hill we get a good view of the first of three golden eagles spotted today. It's a good chance it was the same bird three times but still a superb sight. Also all the way up we spooked the red grouse, sometimes at the last minute which gives the heart a flutter.

The lodge sits in the trees below

At the top of the gorge we cut across the heather slopes towards what we thought was the top. At one of the boggy patches the water was alive with mating frogs. They all disappeared into the mud as they became aware of our presence, presumably vibrations. It never fails to amaze me when I find frogs at these high altitudes. The views are outstanding but it soon became obvious that to our left was a path leading to a hill slightly higher than this one. Ten minutes later we were at the real top. It is a bare grassy plateau but just stand and look around. Easy to pick out Vrakie, Schiehallion, the Glencoe peaks, looking down towards Rannoch, just superb. It took us 1 hour 20 minutes.

The summit

Photos taken we follow the track back down but then make the mistake of departing down the slope we thought we had came up. Fools as we joined the gorge a good way down but on the wrong side. I explored a bit further down but with the melting snow in the gorge I was not prepared to take the risk so we climbed again back up to the top of the snow field and back down the correct side, the gorge on our left. The mountain hares had come out to play, still with half a snow white coat it brought a smile to our faces.

Glencoe peaks behind Mrs B

Back at ground level we look over the bridge to the clear water below and a brown trout of at least 2lb slowly swam away, where's my fly rod?
A good easy walk with outstanding views.  Meall na Leitreach is 775m but as mentioned earlier the walk starts at altitude so the climbing is only about 400m, add another 100m plus for our detour.
 

Looking down to Loch Garry