Beinn Chabhair definitely not the tourist track

Hill: Beinn Chabhair
Category: Munro
Height: 933m

Start here, coos are on our left

We took a lesser used route to Beinn Chabhair approaching from Derrydaroch Farm, which is located on the West Highland Way. Plenty of early morning walkers heading northwards along the WHW. In the field all the coos thought we were the farmer and descended on the gate but apart from a frisky youngster all was well going through the herd. 

Up the track the hill in the middle our objective

Initially we followed the WHW then cut left heading up a track up the valley which was created to put in a hydro-electric scheme. Two large stiles to cross en route. The large gates had combination locks.

Mini dam we go right here

After a lengthy walk in the track ends at the small dam and looking at the above snap the burn is our descent route.
But for the outward route we head to the right and there is quite a tough climb up a wet grassy slope with no path apart from the occasional faint ATV track. Glad the gaiters were on, underfoot wet. We followed the burn, criss crossing it a few times and then up a steep gully to reach the normal path. Lots of huffing and puffing.

Slope gentle at this stage

As we ascended the grassy slopes I could see the odd head bobbing on the tourist track, deer I first thought ,wrongly. I swear I heard a kid looking down at us shouting ‘mummy don’t those people know there is a path up here’, lol. There was around 350m of ascent from the dam up these slopes.

The tourist path

Happily we reached the shoulder at Meall nan Tarmachan where there is now a good stony path for the meandering climb to the summit.

Summit in view

The views were outstanding, very clear air giving us lots of opportunities to argue which top was which of the many hills as far away as Mull and the Big Ben. Ben Vorlich, Ben Cruachan & the Dalmally horseshoe amongst many others.

Ben Lomond on left

After lunch we continued along the ridge, before descending very steeply to the valley below. Not the easiest terrain to descend, the grassy slopes very wet and slippery. 

Descent

Opposite us is the Munro, An Caisteal, where we spot a couple of walkers descending our way, wonder if they are doing both. 

Last grassy section

Finally we follow the burn in Coire a Chuilinn down to rejoin the track where we left it at the dam. Just the long walk out left.
Wildlife: A frog on the hill, not even a raven for our sannie up top.
Time: 5.03
Ascent: 937
Distance: 12.6k