Windy Meall nan Tarmachan

After collecting my niece Toni from Forfar, we headed over to the Ben Lawers car park and we were ready to start by 10:30am.

From the car park we followed a path until we reached the track which is the return route from the far end of the circuit. Crossing over the track the path continues west up the slope slowly becoming steeper, and at times with the weather turning wetter and windier.

Once on the ridge we turned north climbing first over a false top, then onto the first target of the day, the Munro top, Meall nan Tarmachan South Top. It was quite windy, but the views towards Ben Lawers cleared occasionally giving some great views.

We continued north west down a small slope before starting a fairly steep ascent towards the Munro. We decided to stop in the shelter of a large rock around half way up to have lunch.

After a fairly steep section with quite a few steps the path skirts around the top, before a sharp turn south into some very fierce wind and driving rain to reach the cairn of Meall nan Tarmachan and Toni's 3rd Munro!! We decided to head back around the corner to take shelter and wait out the weather for a while, along with a couple of other groups.

After about a quarter of an hour, another group of more experienced walkers that had been sheltering with us returned from the cairn deciding the weather conditions were too bad to make an attempt on the full ridge. Taking their cue we decided the same. Disappointing, but the safer option, the hills will be still be there for another day!

We returned via the same route, and after brewing up a nice toasty hot chocolate, headed home.