Walk: Beinn Dearg - a really remote Red Hill

October 06, 2018

Perth & Kinross | Atholl | Full day walk | ★★★

[Snow showers over the high Cairngorms, seen from Beinn Dearg summit]

This Munro's pink granite summit dome gives rise to its name, which translates as Red Hill. Beinn Dearg is a long way from any settlement or road, but a useful network of estate tracks makes the hill achievable in a single day from Glen Tilt - and as a circular walk too. Long barren stretches are broken up by a few intensely beautiful spots such as Allt Scheicheachan Bothy (where you could stay overnight), with attractive woodland lower down. Views from the top are of a lonely and empty landscape: this a great walk on which to "get away from it all".

[Allt Scheicheachan Bothy]

📌 Walk: Beinn Dearg - a really remote Red Hill ★★★
▶ 29 km / 18 miles | ▲ 1000 metres
Summits: Beinn Dearg (1008 metres, Munro) | Features: The Den; Allt Scheicheachan Bothy; Lower Glen Tilt & Falls of Fender
Start / finish: Car park for Glen Tilt on minor road a mile north of Blair Atholl, G.R.: NN 875663 ///treetop.explored.luxury

Route: Car park - The Den - Glen Banvie - Allt Scheicheachan Bothy - track junction at G.R.: NN 849750 - Beinn Dearg - return to track junction - Allt Slanaidh - Lower Glen Tilt & Falls of Fender - start
Terrain: Good tracks or paths for majority of the route. Final approach to summit is on a mostly clear path: steep at first and with one boggy section later on. Path through The Den is a little overgrown with a couple of fallen trees, though can be avoided by using the (less scenic) track above.
Wildlife today: Lower down: a couple of red squirrels, buzzard, pheasants, cows and sheep in fields. High up: large bird of prey, a few grouse, furry caterpillars.
Weather today: Sunny at first and at finish, but cloudier during the middle of the day, with a very brief snow flurry on the summit. Just below freezing at start and on summit; moderate wind.