Beinn a’ Chuallaich & a quiet path to Loch Errochty

Beinn a’ Chuallaich is a rather neglected Corbett in the Southern Highlands, although it is an excellent viewpoint for its famous next-door neighbour, Schiehallion. Maybe that’s because many people are put off the walk due to the rather dull walk back on the main road when using the most common route. To avoid the boring part, the route described here leads down to picturesque (and little visited) Loch Errochty instead. Solitude and peace guaranteed.

You start the walk in the small parking area at the side of the B847 south of Trinafour. Cross the road and head through the gate. Follow the path up the slopes and cross another gate.

Keep to the path until you reach a burn. Head up the pathless heather slopes to the left of the burn . Higher up, the gradient becomes more gentle. Stay left of the burn and cross the moorland, which is boggy and soggy in places. Aim for the top of Meall nan Eun and the ridge to its left .

Walk up the pathless grassy slope to the top of Meall nan Eun . There is a nice view over the moorland you just crossed and Loch na Caillich beyond. Continue along the ridge southwards, following the footpath .

Soon, you reach the top of Beinn a’ Chuallaich . From here, the iconic peak of Schiehallion looks particularly impressive.

To make this walk more interesting than the “default descent”, down the south ridge of Beinn a’ Chuallaich and then back along the B847, descend to the West instead. This is the steepest section of the walk , where you best take it slowly with extra care down the crags. Shortly after, the gradient eases, and you cross moorland again, aiming for the footpath further west .

Follow the footpath , which becomes increasingly soggy as you lose height. Eventually, it disappears now and then. You can cut the corner by turning slightly right and aiming for the track along Loch Errochty .

With some relief, you reach the landrover track. Follow it for about 1.5 km until you cross a bridge and reach a fork , where a very old and rusty van is parked on the verge at its final resting place. Turn right at this fork, leaving the main track and walking uphill once more.

The track becomes a path and eventually disappears. However, you can see another track higher up, contouring around the hill. Aim for this track, cross a burn and pathless heather sections. Soon, you come across a path again, which improves as you gain height and eventually becomes the track you aimed for earlier.

Follow this track which contours around the hill, narrowing to a footpath higher up, and leads you down the other side towards the B847. In case you lose the path (which can happen quickly because it is very faint in places), keep contouring around the hill . You will soon see familiar terrain again, and you can join a footpath , which leads you back to the parking area.