Photographs, map and route description of Beinn a Ghlo in the Eastern Highlands of Scotland

Location: Perthshire
Map: OSLandranger 43
Distance: 13miles / 22km
Time: 6 - 8 hours
Terrain: hill paths

Collectively known as Beinn A’ Ghlo, the triumvirate of Cam Liath, Braigh Coire Cbruinn-bhalgain and the highest of the three, Cam nan Ghabhar ( 1121m; 13678ft ) lie within the Caimgorms National Park.
In clear weather the walk over Beinn A‘ Ghio is a delightful high-level stravaig over some of the best ridges in the Grampians, but when the cloud is down and visibility is reduced navigation becomes complex.
There are no fewer than 19 corries on Beinn A’ Ghlo and the summits are formed by the apexes of an elaborate system of ridges and interlinking shoulders.
After climbing north-east on the path up Carn Liath to the summit cairn, the complexity of Beinn A’ Ghlo’s corries and ridges became evident. A broad ridge falls away northwards before narrowing appreciably and swinging to the east to end abruptly on what appears to be the blunt nose of Beinn Mhaol, an intermediary top. What you can't see from Cam Liath is the ridge twisting north again beyond Beinn Mhaol before dropping down to a high, pinched col below the south-west ridge of Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain. The route climbs steeply from here, joining the hill's south ridge, before rising gently to the rounded summit. Despite its wonderful name and the beautifully sensuous lines of its ridges, the meaning of Braigh Coire Chruirm-bhalgain is disappointingly prosaic - the upland of the corrie of round blisters, Cam nan Gabhar ( the hill of the goats ) at ﬁrst looks isolated from the others by a deep, steep walled glen, but less than a kilometre from the summit of Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain a high bealach, like a mighty drawbridge between the mountains, gives easy access to the col between Cam nan Gabhar and another of its
outliers, Airgiod Bheinn ( the silvery hill ). From the col it’s an easy walk over quartzite boulders to the ﬁrst of three eairns. The highest is the furthest away, beyond the OS trig point. Return by descending the steep south-west nose of Airgiod Bheinn and following the footpath back over the moors to the Loch Moraig track.

Route:

Leave the parking place, go through a gate and follow the track for about 2km to a couple of small huts,
Crossa boggy area and climb NE to the summit of Cam Liath.
Follow the twisting ridge initially N over Beinn Mhaol and down to the narrow col.
A well-worn path continues NE, then N to the summit of Braigh Coire Chminn-bhalgain.
Continue NE for 1km before dropping down grassy slopes to cross the bealach Na Fhiodha.
Climb roughly E to reach the high col between Airglod Bheinn and Cam Nan Gabher.
Climb the latter, retrace your steps to the col and climb Airgiod Bheinn, descending its steep SW ridge to a rough path which takes you across the heathery moors to a track between Glen Gimaig and Loch Moraig.