© Copyright Dominic Rhodes 2014-2017

Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair, in the centre of the shot in the background.

 

Meaning - The Peak of the Stony Plain

Summit Location - NN88291, 92690

Height - 1019m

Munro Number - 114

 

Distance - 20.6km

Total Ascent - 875m

Time - 3hrs up / 2hrs down

Difficulty - 2/5

OS Explorer Map - OL57

 

Climbed - 2007

Weather - Sunny, a little cloud, becoming windy.

 

The start point for this Munro used to be Tolvah, on the west bank of the River Feshie. However the popular access bridge at Carnachuin was swept away in 2009. Access is now from the car park north of Achlean on the east bank, a greatly improved path leads south from there, crossing a number of burns. This is the route described in the instructions below.

 

Now that access is from Achlean, Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair could be more easily combined with an ascent of Sgor Gaoith. The two are linked by a high plateau.

 

After spending the morning shopping in Inverness I drove down to Achlean in Glen Feshie. The last time I was here was in January at the end of a three day epic (see trip report for Monadh Mor for the full details.) I was supposed to have ended that walk on this Munro but it wasn't to be. So I was back for another go!

 

In contrast to the last time I was here the skies were very clear and it was reasonably warm, certainly no snow that had been so instrumental in my failure last time. On it's own, Mullach Clach a' Bhlair looked as if would be a fairly simple walk as a good track led pretty much all the way to the summit. If it wasn't such a long walk up Glen Feshie it would be a very simple Munro to climb, the extra distance really just makes it a bit more of a slog.

 

After walking to the farm and the bridge just beyond it I opted to cross the river to continue along the estate track, rather than the smaller footpath that runs through the forest. After a long fairly dull walk along the tarmac I finally reached the next bridge. This bridge is in a very bad way and care is needed crossing. One person at a time! If the river looks to be in spate I wouldn't cross it - in those conditions you should definitely plan to take the path through the forest, removing the need to cross either of the bridges (NB - this is the route you must take now).

 

After crossing a fairly big Land Rover track leads up the hill. As you reach the plateau another track runs left and right, following it to the right leads pretty much all the way up the summit where it was time to have some lunch. I briefly flirted with the idea of continuing on the track north along the plateau and then descending via the path past Carn Ban Mor. This would avoid much of the long boring walk along the estate track. However a very cold wind had started to blow and I decided to return the way I had come rather than face a long walk into the wind on the plateau.

 

As I approached the car it dawned on me this would probably be my last time in Scotland for a while, as I was to move abroad with work very shortly. Over the last year and a half I'd been to Scotland fairly regularly, I was definitely going to miss the place. My plans for the evening, to go and feast on the excellent Highland buffet in the Cairngorm hotel and enjoy a sample or two of the local Cairngorm beer. What better way to say farewell!

 

Route

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 - Start at the car park just north of Achlean. Walk the 500m or so to the farm, then continue south on the footpath along the east bank of the River Feshie. You’ll pass through some forests / plantations and cross a number of burns. You’ll pass a number of other path, ignore these initially. You’re on the right track if you’re heading south and not east and uphill.

 

2 - Around 4km after passing the farm, as you’re nearing the Carnachuin war memorial on the opposite bank of the river, the path forks. Take the left fork, and around 300m later take a left turn. This will take you on a Landrover track that begins to climb towards Meall nan Sleac and to Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair.

 

3 - On reaching the plateau this track split left and right. Turn right. After another 600m or so you’ll be just to the north of the  summit of Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair. You’ll see a path leading to the summit, marked by a cairn.

 

4 - Return by route of ascent.

 

 

 

Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair

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