Steve Fallon’s suggestion of using tracks to cycle in to the Alder Forest area was taken up to allow a relatively speedy access to the Culva bothy. This allowed the six munros in this area to be completed in one long day.  The Alder Forest hills are full of interest with a high plateau, lochans and fine views across to the Cairngorms and Nevis Ranges.

Beinn Bheoil

1019m / 3343ft

Ben Alder

1148m / 3766ft

Beinn Eibhinn

1102m / 3615ft

Aonach Beag

1116m/3661ft

Geal-Charn

1132m/3713ft

Carn Dearg    

1034m/3392ft

date climbed

17/05/2014

time taken

10 hours walking 2.5 hours biking

distance

26km walking 30km bike

ascent

2550m

OS Map

Landranger 42

Weather

Mist on the summits in the morning but good visibility later in the day

Starting point :  Dalwhinnie railway crossing

The Steve Fallon route as guide for the cycle in to the Culva bothy and the walk across the six munros. The cycle ride in was completed without any drama but the final bit of track towards Culva has a lot of large boulders and was not easy for a mountain bike newbie like me to negotiate. Once the bikes were locked up we set off into the hills heading for the north shoulder of Beinn Bheoil. Once on the shoulder the summit was easily reached. The biggest summit summit of day, Ben Alder, was reached via Sron Coire na h-Iolaire and then onto Bealach Breabag followed by quite a long climb to the summit. The Ben Alder plateau is really impressive and finding the summit cairn would be a formidable navigation problem is thick mist. The descent down to the  Uisge Labhair was marked by large snowfields that had to be navigated around to ensure safe passage. Once over the burn at the bottom, the ascent of Beinn Eibhinn was direct turning right onto the summit near its end. The route then continued back east to take in the remaining three munros. The main problem of the day was on the the descent from the Geal-charn's cairn, on reaching the edge of the coire our way was blocked by heavily corniced snow on the path. Without crampons it was dangerous to cross so a long detour was taken on safe ground to eventually make our way to the good path that travels down to the narrow bealach and continues over the wide bump of Diollaid a'Chairn and then the gentle climb uphill over grass then a boulder-field to Carn Dearg's summit with good views back to Geal-charn and towards Beinn a'Chlachair. The descent back to the bothy and our bikes was short, steep and heathery but we were soon ready for the pleasant cycle back to car. A great but long day.