Meall nan Tarmachan (1044 m/3425 ft), August 2009
Present:
Lots
Route:
- Ben Lawers NTS Visitor Centre car park (430 m - approx.) >
- Turn right at the car park entrance and walk North along the road for approx. 0.5 km. Then turn left onto the Estate track (Westward initially, then turning towards a SW direction) >
- Turn right off the Estate track onto an obvious path heading Westward across the moorside to gain the South ridge of Meal nan Tarmachan >
- Pass over a minor top at 923 m, drop down in a NW direction to a col and cross the stile >
- Pick up the gully path through the crags heading in a Northerly direction (short, but steep!) >
- Once through the crags, the gradient eases and the path finally turns left to reach the summit of Meall nan Tarmachan from the North (Munro No. 89) >
- Retrace route back to the NTS car park
NTS car park - Beinn Ghlas in the background.
Copyright © 2009, Krystian.
Setting off - on the road, walking N from the car park.
Looking towards our destination from the road.
Crossing a bridge at the start of the Estate track. The lower slopes of Meall nan Tarmachan leading to the ridge are ahead.
The start of the ascent after turning right off the Estate track.
Meall nan Tarmachan viewed from the start of the ascent.
A little higher up on the approach to the South ridge (skyline).
The path skirts round an exposed rock.
Gaining height: view back down shortly before gaining the ridge.
View forward shortly before gaining the ridge.
On the South ridge. The path ahead goes up and over the top of the first 'bump' (right of centre). Meall nan Tarmachan is to the left.
Approaching bump.
Looking towards the summit slopes and the steep path through the crags (clearer in lower photo's centre) after crossing the minor top.
Meall nan Tarmachan's summit (skyline, centre of photo).
Start of the stone steps on the summit slope.
On the summit.
A view South from the summit across the minor top and towards Loch Tay.
View SW along the start of the Tarmachan ridge walk towards the sharp top of Meall Garbh (1026 m).
View West taking in Beinn nan Eachan.
Copyright © 2009, Bill.
Most of the party continued on to do the 'classic' Tarmachan ridge walk but, having walked Schiehallion just a few days before, I'd pretty much decided before the walk that the summit of Meall nan Tarmachan would be where I'd stop for the day. Having 'felt' the incline in my legs during the steep, stone-stepped gully ascent through the crags on Meall nan Tarmachan's summit slopes (some guides write about this section of the walk "requiring concentration", or words to that effect - the stones are awkwardly angled and too small for adult sized boots to completely fit on, in places - or is that part of the fun?), I turned round at the lochan (thankfully accompanied by John), headed back for the Munro summit and walked off the way we had ascended. John and I did, however, get to see the rest of the party traversing along the ridge after Meall Garbh's peak heading for the 'bad step' and Beinn nan Eachan. I must get some photos of the 'bad step' and the route by which it can be avoided on a future visit.
Coming off.
Notes: Up and back down in about 4 hrs with about 30 mins non-walking time. Good weather (just a bit windy in places) and great views. The only section that 'hurt' (and it did) was ascending the gully for Meall nan Tarmachan.
A few photos of part of the ridge walk which I didn't do on this occasion:
The summit of Meall Garbh (Copyright © 2009, Krystian)
On the ridge after crossing Meall Garbh (Copyright © 2009, Bill).
