Beinn Udlamain and the West Drumochter Hills

Loch Ericht and Ben Alder to the west from Geal Charn

Summit of A Mhaconaich

Honda 90 cavalcade on A9

Saturday, 15 May 2010

1310m of ascent, 23 km, 5hrs 35mins

Geal Charn             917m      1hr    5mins
A' Mharconaich      975m      2hrs  4mins
Beinn Udlamain    1011m     2hrs 49mins
Sgairneach Mhor     991m     3hrs 47mins

There are some hills that do not fire the imagination but nevertheless always give a good day out; such are the four munros to the west of the Drumochter pass on the A9. I have climbed them 3 times in winter, once in diabolical conditions, as well as on the September day of Princess Diana's funeral.   But never in the spring so this was a chance to pick up four easy hills. We had decided to do them north to south from Balsporran cottages, which is the better way and from the helpful starting height of 400 metres.  We started by 9:45am after a 2-hour drive along the scenic route through Killin, Fortingal and Trinafour that avoids the A9.  It was the first long walk since my back injury from last November and I was with Gregor and Mark, two of the fittest and fastest of walkers, but with Corsica approaching fast I knew that I had to push the body to see if it could cope with 2 weeks of continuous climbing.

There was a cooling wind from the south-west and the occasional shower but the tops were clear.  The ground was waterlogged from recent the spell of rain and the path through the heathers was made slightly easier by virtue of tracks from a vehicle. The views to Ben Alder beyond Loch Ericht came into view as we climbed the stony convex slopes leading to Geal Charn. Gregor was like a puppy let off a lead and had charged ahead as he did again on the long walk over to A' Mharconaich into the face of the wind and a rain shower for 15 minutes.  

We marched out to the summit but then kept together for the walk over to Beinn Udlamain where we ate some lunch.  We kept a good pace over to Sgairneach Mhor despite the stiff climb from the bealach at 800 metres.  We were feeling pleased as we jogged down the northeast ridge and then descended down to the Allt Coire Dhomhain and crossed the river.  Mark and I then went over An Torc, otherwise known as the Boar of Badenoch, whereas Gregor took the direct route back to the car.

On the A9 there was a group of motorcyclists riding from John O'Groats to Land's End on Honda 90 bikes for the Help for Heroes charity.  The Drumochter pass is somewhere I would rather avoid at the best of times but chugging along on a Honda 90 is a real feat of endurance.