Killiecrankie bealach including Meall na h-Aodainn Moire

Today's outing was a hill pass outing from Pitlochry to Killiecrankie and to include a hill that I have looked at many a time when walking from Fonab into town but never having been to the summit. Mrs B was with me today so it had to be something that avoided steep descents.
We started from Pitlochry going up to Moulin and followed the Ben Vrackie path through the woods and then followed the path up over the moors until we reached the split giving the option of going to Vrackie or veering off to Killiecrankie. I have described this stretch in more detail in a previous posting.
Today we were the only people taking the bealach which was fine by us. The weather was unseasonably warm which was a pleasant surprise. Out of my peripheral vision I spotted a flash of pink higher up to my right. Definitely not our local wildlife in that shade of pink, it turned out to be a pair of mountain bikers who did at least brake before the reached us on the narrow rocky path. As they careered down I half expected them to be going at full pelt with us having to take evasive action but not to be, considerate bikers.

Mrs B clambering through the heather Meall Uaine behind

It was at this point that I decided to take some photos. The camera took a bit longer to open up than normal which was a clear warning sign. I took one photo and then it shut down and yes the battery was dead. I had charged it not long ago but there you go always check and memo to self buy a spare battery. Never mind I thought there is always the backup of Mrs B's compact. Out it came and it would not even open up, another dead battery. A few curses were uttered so backup number 3 was the phone camera so apologies for the grainy photos.
As we continued to rise into Bealach na Searmon we met a couple of guys who had descended from the back of Ben Vrackie after an early morning start. We had a pleasant chat then we climbed a bit further and were now in the middle of two hills. The very long named Meall na h-Aodainn Moire and Meall Uaine. From the map I could scamper up both easily but to get to the high point of Uaine was a lengthy walk along the top and away from our route. Additionally Aodainn was the highest of the two at 633 metres so off I went. Not sure of the translation as I think Moire is 'Mary' but [possibly wrong.

Ben Vrackie from Aodainn Moire

Mrs B decided not to bother as it was a heather scramble but it was fairly easy walking so she decided to follow. Of course there was a false summit or two so slightly further than I thought but well worth it the views from the top were spectacular. As I arrived at the flattish summit, no trig or anything you are looking up at Ben Vrackie along its western slopes from a viewpoint that I had not seen before. 

Schiehallion and the Glencoe hills in the distance

When I turned back upon myself the views were magnificent of a snow covered Schiehallion and behind it in the distance the very snow covered peaks of Glencoe and in the foreground the hills of Glen Tilt. To my right looking up the A9 into the distance were the also snow covered tops of the Cairngorm mountains. You can spend a long time here picking out all of the locations that you recognise in all directions.

Looking north Cairngorm hills

And finally to the left the view over Pitlochry looking south down the Tummel towards Perth. Views just don't get much better than this. Mrs B was very happy that she put in the final effort to receive this vista as her reward.

The high point of the bealach

A scramble back down through the heather to the bealach and the walk takes us out into open and remote country. We have come over the highest point and a good path zig-zags down. I can hear a raven calling, presumably from the crags of Meall na Moine which I think means Hill of Peat. The terrain we are crossing is probably peat bog so likely that is correct. A few minutes later a raven is spotted to our right flying low over the grassy areas presumably trying to flush pipits or the like from their nests and a feast for the raven. I wonder if that is Mr Raven with Mrs Raven still calling from the crags that she and the bairns are hungry.
On the way down we have good views of Craig Fonvuick which we climbed last year and set out in another post.
The path is still in good condition as we descend only one boggy section, it is now hours since we met the 2 guys and not another person spotted. Walking in Scotland can be just great at times, who wants crowds.

Mrs B with Ben Vrackie behind

We descend into farmland and get a good view of the top of Carn Liath unmistakeable from its scarred and very steep path. Hello we spot a couple down below coming this way. When we meet up we have a brief chat about where we are heading. Are you going to stop at the Killiecrankie centre for coffee she says? Alarm bells ring, yes we are!! Well she tells us they have closed it for renovations and no other coffee shop between here and the cafe at Loch Faskally. We have been on the go for 4 hours with 2 more before we reach Faskally. Mrs B is not impressed. I get a good sighting of my first wheatear of the season (originally named white arse but too rude for the Victorians) but even this was not fully uplifting after the cafe news. We did check and yes it was closed.

The scarred Carn Liath peeks through

From Killiecrankie we followed the Garry back to Pitlochry, again described in a previous post. To be truthful this was a bit of a trudge without the refreshment stop to energise us. We decided to forego the cafe as 15 minutes onwards brought as beer, now I'm beginning to feel refreshed.
Another super walk with brilliant views. We were out for about 6 hours which was a long stretch without the break but nevertheless fresh air in relative isolation with the views, better than watching TV indoors.