Get Lost Mountaineering

Beinn Tharsuinn(NE of Loch Vaich) & Meall a’Chaorainn from Black Bridge

Start/Finish

Black Bridge on A835 Ullapool Road about 3 km N of Inchbae Lodge at about NH 373 708.

Distance/Time

12 km walk + 31 km bike      Approx 9 hours

Peaks

Beinn Tharsuinn, 710 m, NH 412 829.

Meall a’ Chaorainn, 632 m, NH 360 827.      OS map 20.

Introduction

These are very remote hills, Beinn Tharsuinn more so but their position makes them ideal viewpoints for the Beinn Dearg range, Seanna Braigh, Carn Ban, some of the Inverpolly hills and Carn Chuinneag. The first 3 km of the track are on a tarmac road.

Route

(1) From Black Bridge, cycle N, up Strath Vaich, past Loch Vaich. Meall a’ Chaorainn comes into view as a conical peak directly ahead. Continue to the top of the track on the E flank of Meall a’ Chaorain. Leave the main track and take the track E then NE to a small dam where bikes should be left. Cross the dam and head E on a faint path which starts about 20 m above the dam after a concrete runnel. Walk around the N side of Crom Loch and ascend to the summit cairn of Beinn Tharsuinn, 710 m.

(2) Retrace to the dam then cycle back to the main track. Ascend W up the very steep grassy E flank to reach a medium sized plateau on which there is the summit cairn of Meall a’ Chaorainn, 632 m. This ascent is very steep and can be quite unnerving. There are very small terraces here and there which help but if “micro-terracing” is not for you, descend the track and walk around the S flank making a rising ascent to the easy NW ridge.

(3) Descend by the route of ascent, or if you consider it too steep, go NW to find easier slopes to the S then SE back to the track.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 26^th July, 2005 and 11th September, 2009.

(b) According to the map, it would be possible to reach these hills from Alladale Lodge in Strathcarron, cycling up Gleann Mor but access is uncertain as the Alladale estate are slowly fencing off areas to create a nature reserve for wolves, wild boar and other extinct UK mammals.

(c) According to the map, access to Beinn Tharsuinn should be possible from Glen Calvie, also in Strathcarron, but this would not be suitable for Meall a’ Chaorrain.

(d) A very fine backpacking trip could start at the end of the public road in Strathcarron, go into Alladale, ascend Carn a’Chiore Deirg then Carn Ban, cross upper Gleann Mor, ascend Meall a’ Chaorainn then Beinn Tarsuinn then Carn Chuinneag, returning to the start via Glen Calvie.