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Walking Ben Lawers, Rannoch and Atholl

Mountains and glens of Highland Perthshire

ISBN

9781786311078

Availability

Published

17 Aug 2021

Edition

Second

Pages

320

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm

Weight

370g

Delivery & Returns

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Walking guidebook to the highlands of Perthshire. Areas include Pitlochry, Rannoch, Aberfeldy, Ben Lawers and Ben Alder. 80 graded routes between Stirling and the Cairngorms explore grassy mountains and include 42 Munros, 22 selected Corbetts, 15 smaller hills and the Gaick and Minigaig passes. A range of walks for all abilities.

Seasons

April to August for all routes, with April and May the best of all; autumn is great under the trees, but not necessarily on the hills with gales and rain fairly common and some stalking season restrictions mid-August to 21 October; winter is good for the low-level routes and can also be magnificent on the high mountains for those suitably experienced and equipped

Centres

Comrie, Crieff, Aberfeldy, Killin, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl

Difficulty

Routes are graded low/medium/mountain and for difficulty from 1 (clear smooth paths with no steep sections) to 5 (featureless plateau requiring compass bearings in mist or pathless forest; heather tramping; remote high ground; long, steep rough ascents and descents; rocky ground and easy scrambling). No serious scrambling.

Must See

Ben Lawers, Schiehallion, Beinn a' Ghlo; historic passes through the wilds of Atholl; Perthshire's 'big tree country' at Birnam Wood, under the Birks of Aberfeldy, at Fortingall's ancient yew tree; the great rivers Garry and Tay

ISBN

9781786311078

Availability

Published

17 Aug 2021

Edition

Second

Pages

320

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.80cm

Weight

370g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to 80 walks in the highlands of Perthshire. Exploring the beautiful scenery of Scotland's south-eastern Grampians, the walks are suitable for most walkers, with shorter routes alongside plenty of more challenging, full-day hikes. The routes include 42 Munro ascents, 22 Corbetts, 15 smaller hills and the Gaick and Minigaig passes.

The walks range from 3 to 45km (2–28 miles) and can be enjoyed in 1–13 hours. April to August is the best walking time for all routes, with April and May the best of all. Highlights include Ben Lawers, Rannoch Moor and Schiehallion, and the routes can easily be accessed from Perth and Crianlarich. Other centres include Comrie, Crieff, Aberfeldy, Killin, Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl.

Either 1:50,000 OS or 1:100,000 maps are included for each route
Routes are graded by length and difficulty
Notes on local transport, accommodation and facilities
Comprehensive advice on access during the deer-stalking season
Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket

Table of Contents

Map key

Introduction

Jolly green giants

Trees, please!

When to go

Safety in the mountains

Maps

Compass and GPS

Using this guide

PART 1: Comrie and Crieff

1 Meal na Fearna to Ben Vorlich

2 Beinn Dearg

3 Water of Ruchill

4 Comrie: Deil’s Caldron

5 Glen Tarken tracks

6 Ben Chonzie and Auchnafree Hill

7 Crieff, its Knock, and River Earn

8 Glen Almond and the Lochan Slot

PART 2: Killin and Glen Lochay

9 Looking at Loch Tay: Meall Clachach

10 Cam Chreag and Ben Challum

11 Beinn nan Imirean, Meall Glas

12 The Tarmachans

Summit summary: Ben Lawers

13 Edramucky Burn

14 Up and down from the Lairig road

15 Lawers Four from Lawers village

16 The Cat’s Bowl (descent)

17 Down via Beinn Ghlas to Lawers village (descent)

18 Glen Lyon: Da-Eig Circuit

PART 3: Glen Lyon

19 Carn Mairg from Fortingall

20 Back of Schiehallion 

21 The Black Crag of Glen Lyon

22 Beinn Dearg and the Mairgs

23 Meall Ghaordaidh from Glen Lyon

24 Around Loch an Daimh

25 Beinn Heasgarnich and Creag Mhor

PART 4: Bridge of Orchy

Summit summary: Beinn Dorain

26 Beinn a’ Chaisteal and Beinn nam Fuaran

27 Beinn Mhanach, the Monk

28 Dorain and Dothaidh from the back

29 Bridge of Orchy to Beinn Dorain, Beinn an Dothaidh

30 Beinn Mhanach long crossing

31 Rannoch Edge: Chreachain and Achaladair

32 Beinn an Dothaidh from Achallader

33 The Lyon side: Chreachain, Achaladair, Mhanach

PART 5: Perth and Dunkeld

34 Perth and Kinnoull Hill

35 Dunkeld, Birnam Hill and the Tay

36 Tracks to Loch Skiach

37 Craig Lochie

PART 6: Aberfeldy

38 Farragon Hill from Strathtay

39 Aberfeldy: Rob and Rabbie

40 Aberfeldy and the Tay

41 Kenmore and the Tay

42 Falls of Acharn

43 Falls of Acharn to Creag an Sgliata

44 Creagan na Beinne and Ardtalnaig

45 Creag Uchdag

PART 7: Tummel and Loch Rannoch

46 Schiehallion end to end

47 Schiehallion Foot: Limestone and McGregor’s Cave

48 Craig Varr and Kinloch Rannoch

49 Beinn a’ Chuallaich

50 Black Wood of Rannoch

Summit summary: Ben Alder

51 Walk in to Benalder Cottage

52 Ben Alder from Benalder Cottage

53 Benalder Cottage to Culra Bothy via Beinn Bheoil

54 Benalder Cottage to Culra Bothy via Bealach Beithe (and in reverse)

55 Walk/ride in to Culra Bothy

56 Long Leachas from Culra Bothy

57 Short Leachas from Culra Bothy

58 Ben Alder to Bealach Breabag (descent)

PART 8: Rannoch Moor

59 The Road to the Isles

60 Two Munros and Beinn Pharlagain

61 Meall Buidhe and Cam Chreag

62 Tracks to the Foxes Bog

63 Leagag

PART 9: Pitlochry and Blair Atholl

64 Pitlochry and its loch

65 Ben Vrackie and River Garry

66 Blair Castle to Glen Tilt

67 Glen Tilt and Carn a’ Chlamain

68 Old Bridge of Tilt to Dearg, Mheadhonach

69 Bruar Falls and Glen Banvie

70 Bruar Falls and Blair

Summit summary: Beinn a’ Ghlo

71 Around Beinn a’ Ghlo (with optional ascent of Ben Vuirich)

72 Beinn a’ Ghlo from Loch Moraig

73 Carn nan Gabhar north ridge to Glen Tilt (descent)

74 Glen Tilt to Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain by Carn Torcaidh

PART 10: Drumochter

The Atholl Passes

75 Glen Tilt

76 Minigaig Pass to Glen Feshie

77 Minigaig Pass the ancient way

78 Gaick Pass

79 A’ Bhuidheanach Bheag by the Crooked Corrie

80 Udlamains and the Sow

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Access (especially in the stalking season)

Appendix C Shops, accommodation and transport

Updates

May 2022

Walk 12 - the Tarmachans

Start, p63. The path to Meall nan Tarmachan starts at the corner of the car park. (No 'short track' any more.) After a brief descent to cross a stream, fork right – the left fork being a woodland path descent to A827 at Milton Morenish.

The scrambly descent, p64. With further erosion, this has developed into an awkward scramble (Grade 1), with gritty, outward sloping holds in a fairly exposed position. The alternative route is found at the top of the eroded, steep section by taking a small path contouring to the right, which then zigzags down the grassy northwest-facing path.

descent path off Creag na Caillich, p66. The line of this rather faint path is now marked on Harveys (but not OS) maps.

By Ronald Turnbull

Ronald Turnbull writes regularly for TGO, Lakeland Walker, Trail and Cumbria magazines. His previous books include Across Scotland on Foot, Long Days in Lakeland and Welsh 3000ft Challenges. He has written many other Cicerone guides, including Walking in the Lowther Hills, The Book of the Bivvy and Not the West Highland Way. Ronald's weekly newsletter on mountains, hillwalking and history is at https://aboutmountains.substack.com/

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