Rising to the north of Cononish, Meall Odhar can perhaps lay claim to providing some of the best views of Ben Lui, Beinn Dubhchraig and Ben Oss, all fine Munros, though Lui stands supreme in this company. The Corbett Beinn Chuirn holds it own though and so does rough Meall Odhar.
Starting from an almost full Dalrigh carpark in slightly cloudy weather, we were soon on the wide track which leads to Cononish farm and the gold mine. Two other walkers were following us heading for Ben Lui we assumed and the three others we met were on the WHW. The track has been widened and resurfaced since we were last here and if this sort of scar can be inflicted on a National Park, there is little hope for other areas in the long run. The River Cononish was very low.
We had to stand aside a couple of times to allow mine traffic to pass and were glad to eventually spot the gate through the deer fence giving access to the hill.
Deep grasses led through a firebreak where we stopped for the inevitable tea. Higher up, firmer ground with small slabs of rock scattered about brought us to the summit where a few more layers of clothing were needed against the cold easterly wind. A clump of moss campion added some colour around the cairn. There was a distinct lack of bird song.
The cloudy conditions had quickly improved as we walked so we took lots of photos of the surrounding hills, both near and far. Much duplication I expect.
It's possible to make a circuit over two small tops down to Tyndrum and back along to Dalrigh by the WHW but we declined. It does avoid a return along the track which is a definite plus.
Nearly back at the carpark there is a small information plaque in the vicinity of the lost township of Newton. Dating from 1867 it is thought to have housed workers from the former Lead Smelting Mill. The horror of working in the lead mines is captured by a photograph of a miner's graffiti. Courtesy of John Pickering Archaeology, it reads: "God save us here or anywhere". You can feel the despair.
2 comments:
We only did this one last year, combining it with Beinn Chuirn, so it's relatively fresh in my memory. I recall a prior intention to go from Dalrigh, but on the day opted for a circuit from Tyndrum, going up via the two minor lumps and back via the track through the forest. It sounds like we made a good call, avoiding all but a mile of that major track (along which I do recall having to move out of the way of huge, laden dumper trucks).
A good round. We’ve got to back to lots of hills in that area and do them in summer, having climbed them in winter on day trips from home.
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