There is a bit of a theme developing with my mountain hikes: Where possible, when walking to Munro summits, I also like to add in any local Munro Tops. Munro Tops are summits that are Munro height or more (3000ft/914.4m) but not on the official list of 282 Munros.
My friends are well aware that they will be cajoled to reach Munro Tops where possible as part of a Munro bagging trip. This time, in mid-October, Cath and Victoria had Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair on their list of Munros to bag. I had already been to the summit during my first round of Munros but I was keen to add a new Munro Top, Meall Dubhag.
Walk to Meall Dubhag
We decided to start the walk from a parking spot just past Auchlean at Glen Feshie. We followed a track and then a path easterly as it rose towards the summit of Carn Ban Mor. This is actually a subsidiary top of nearby Munro Sgòr Gaoith, which I’d already bagged.
At one point there were two paths that ascended in the same direction but parallel on the hill. We stuck to the higher path and enjoyed a mix of sunshine and cold wind. It felt like winter in the air and I was grateful for my fleece-lined Flanci tights, Inov-8 hiking boots, DexShell waterproof socks (which are great for keeping my feet warm), gaiters, plus long-sleeved baselayers and Berghaus Gore-Tex waterproof jacket.
Just before Carn Ban Mor, we headed south off the path and tramped over rough vegetation, at first, descending and then ascending to reach the Munro Top, Meall Dubhag at 998m elevation. It offered a great viewpoint of rolling mountains and moorland, as well as a place to stop for a quick bite to eat.
Meall Dubha to Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair
After checking the map, we decided to follow the contour line south-east for a short while before dropping a little into Fionnar Choire.
Skirting south and around the top edge of a steep drop-off (westerly), the landscape started to rise again but mote gently this time. After a while, we spotted a wide track that ascended like a rough motorway to the summit of Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair at 1019m elevation.
We retraced our route north on the same wide track and then turned left (west) to continue on the wide Landrover track back down into Coire Caol. The route seemed to become steeper and steeper but it was easy to follow, if rather rough underfoot at times.
Eventually we returned to the base of the glen and joined another track that followed the eastern shore of the River Feshie. A detour at one point, away from the shore and a landslip, took us through beautiful woodland. The path has been well laid and maintained and was a joy to walk, especially as the sun had come out.
Surprisingly, when I check my GPS watch, we were still at about 350m elevation, although the start and finish point were also 320m. The path alongside the river, which travelled north, eventually took us back to the car.
Route details: Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair and Meall Dubhag
Distance: 22km
Total elevation: 990m