With its many twisting ridges and secretive corries this complex, multi-topped massif offers a superb ridge walk, a long day but of no real difficulty. Rising above Blair Atholl and the trench-like fault of Glen Tilt, Beinn a' Ghlo has the virtue of easy access, yet it's a huge sprawling hill and its inner recesses still feel quite isolated and hidden. From its feet the ground unrolls into the empty expanse of the southern Cairngorms, adding to the sense of remoteness. There's supposed to be an old stalker's legend that a rifle fired in any of the mountain's 19 (!) corries can't be heard from any other; perhaps one for a member of the shooting and fishing brigade to test out.
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Height Profile
metres / Distance
miles
Detailed description
1
NN9058367092 Take the track towards Beinn a' Ghlo and where it forks keep right to head over open moorland to a tin-roofed bier. Branch left here, then take the obvious footpath across bogs, climbing towards the squat cone of Carn Liath. The ascent of the southwest spur is steep but, following maintenance, the trail is not as badly eroded as it once was. Pass a false top to reach the summit trig point and cairn.
2
NN9359369799 A pleasant, well defined ridge curves left and then back right to loop around the head of a corrie. Beyond the nice level crest of Beinn Mhaol is a sharp descent into a steep-sided little col. Having climbed out of this the path cuts rightwards. After making a rising traverse the path follows a stony ridge north to Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain.
3
NN9455172414 Follow the high ground onto a minor top, where the ridge kinks left. After a couple of hundred metres look out for an obvious path heading roughly east down to the grassy Bealach an Fhiodha, a major col at the head of Glas Leathad. From here the path continues on a rising traverse leftwards onto the skyline between Airgiod Bheinn and Carn nan Gabhar. At the top go left, climbing past a cairn on a stony false summit, and then a misleading trig point, to find the cairn on the true high point of Beinn a' Ghlo's highest Munro.
4
NN9711373308 Retrace your steps back along the crest, continuing in the same line to climb the ridge onto the narrow, steep-flanked top of Airgiod Bheinn - arguably the best of Beinn a' Ghlo's peaks.
5
NN9618971994 The way off down the hill's steep and sharply defined southwest ridge is obvious; it's rough underfoot but not difficult. Once down in the glen cross the Allt Bealach an Fhiodha and follow a path on a gradually descending traverse across the lower flanks of Beinn Bheag. Though it's not marked on maps this trail is well used and straightforward to find.
6
NN9488768541 Having joined an estate track, follow it easily back past the bier (stage 1) to the car park.This has been viewed 11,318 times
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Difficulty: DifficultDistance: 13.48 miles (21.69 km)
Total ascent: 1,338m
Time: 8 hours (Walking)
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Summits
Carn Liath 975 mBraigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain 1070 m
Beinn a' Ghlo - Carn nan Gabhar 1121 m
Beinn a' Ghlo - Airgiod Bheinn 1061 m
Additional Information
Start/Finish:New paying car park at the end of the public road near Loch Moraig, NN905671
Nearest town:
Pitlochry
Terrain:
Clear paths all the way, in places badly eroded and rubbly.
Seasonal variations:
A long atmospheric winter round and arduous in deep snow, but with no particular difficulties.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: Cairngorms & Monadhliath – Met Office: East Highlands
Public transport:
Train or bus to Blair Atholl
Guidebooks:
The Munros, SMC http://www.smc.org.uk/Publications/Publications.php?ID=1
Maps:
OS Explorer 386 (1:25,000), OS Explorer 394 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 53 (1:50,000), OS Landranger 43 (1:50,000), OS Landranger 52 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Pitlochry (01796 472215); Aberfeldy (01887 820276)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH