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John Mortimer
wrote on July 28, 2011:
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I tried the cycle route from Gallovie but found it difficult with a tent etc. Had to remove panniers for the high stile and the swing bridge. Also there are a number of sandy streches that I could not cycle on the inward journey but just managed some on the return. Probably better for younger, fitter and more proficient mountain bikers.
The Dalwhinnie route has ben resurfaced from above Ben Alder Lodge to the hay feeder. Overall I think this is the better route altghough, if you are travelling from the west you will save road miles via Gallovie.
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Joseph Buchanan
wrote on July 24, 2011:
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Did all six with my wife we cycled in from Dalwhinnie to Culra which took around 2 hours and camped across from the bothy. In the morning we took to Carn Dearg directly behind the bothy. The complete route took us 12 hours it was a glorious day and we took our time and had many stops. With hindsight I would have did the route clockwise and climbed Beinn Bheoil first. This would give you a better approach to Ben Alder with better views
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Richard Goodman
wrote on May 2, 2011:
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If cycling in consider taking the track from the turn off for Galiovie farm on the A86 Laggan road. Parking available at Strathmashie 1km or 2km before the turn off. It is longer than the track from Dalwhinnie but apart from a couple of short steep bits and a boggy section just before Loch Pattack, the gradient is fairly gentle and it gives easier cycling than the track from Dalwhinnie and is scenically more interesting.
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John Mcallister
wrote on April 9, 2010:
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I did these two from Moy, walked in over Creag Pitrech and nirghbour, stayed at culra, ben alder and ben bhieol the next day, another bothy stop then a quick dash out again over Beinn a' Clachair- which was surprisly easy, decent path all the way up. Could easily be cut down to a one night stop though would be quite task.
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Chris Ridley
wrote on August 10, 2008:
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The complete round of all 6 Munros here is possible after an overnight in Culra...its a long day with a drop down below the Bealach Dubh and then steep climb back up to the Ben Alder plateau. Care should be taken in cloud as you follow the crags south then south east to the terminus of Ben Alder above Bealach Breabag. At the terminus the path peters out - head west then south down easy grassy slopes to reach the bealach.
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Peter Lang
wrote on September 10, 2007:
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Camped alongside Culra Bothy, cycle in took 1.5 hrs cyclable all the way via stalkers path at end. 3 bothies in one building all with seperate entrances. Fantastic circuit via long leachas and pleasant walk around plateau rim to summit shelter. Strange to be here a week after someone blown off. Sunshine on excellent grassy descent from Beinn Bheoil ridge walk to finish. superb day and quick cycle back to Dalwhinnie.
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Ben Dolphin
wrote on May 8, 2007:
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For those without a bike it's always going to be a long walk-in. Personally I didn't fancy the long dusty track from Dalwhinnie so opted for an approach from Luiblea in Glen Spean, going over the beallach below Geal Charn and joining the Dalwhinnie track just west of Loch Pattack. It was 3 hours to Culra this way. A long day though, and I don't mind saying it's a tad disheartening to get down from Ben Alder after 7 hours only to realise it'll take 4 more and another 400m of ascent before you get back to Luiblea. A wonderful pair of hills though, well worth the effort. Short Leachas is great!
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Stephen Crook
wrote on August 17, 2006:
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What an adventure! Canoed down from Dalwhinie to shore opposite lower slopes of Beinn Bheoil. We camped on the shore and climbed both Beinn Bheoil and Ben Alder by heading straight for the coll north east of the summit of Beinn Bheoil then going round to Ben Alder. We descended south east from the Ben Alder summit down steep mixed slopes to Loch a Bealaich Bheithe. We followed the path north east on the shore of the Loch until we were able to follow a stalkers path around the northern lower slopes of Sron Dreineach back to our camp on the shore of Loch Ericht. An excellent adventure.
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Ian Maclean
wrote on April 10, 2006:
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Absolute peach of a mountain. My first visit was in 2002 when I walked in from Corrour and pitched the tent beside the Uisge Labhair. Cracking hike in and climb the next day with return via the track from Ben Alder cottage. A truly majestic hill.
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Kathleen Haddow
wrote on August 15, 2004:
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The Long Leachas is a brilliant way up the mountain and there is something of a path once you get onto the ridge. The scrambling is easy, more like large steps although it does look a bit daunting from Culra. The path on the east of Lochan Bealach Bheibhe is boggy but improves lower down.
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Jim Bull
wrote on June 14, 2004:
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A 10 hour day if you cycle all the way to Culra but well worth the effort. The track from Dalwhinnie is very good all the way to Loch Pattack and you can cycle along the path over the wetlands that heads left from the shed just before Loch Pattack and dump your bike just opposite Culra, saves a lot of foot-slogging. Long Leachas is not bad, an easy scramble, but the descent from Ben Alder down to Bealach Breabag requires care, in one part there's an overhang which is definitely not negotiable!
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Alex Bryce
wrote on June 4, 2004:
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Magnificent mountain. Highly recommend exciting Long Leachas ridge and an overnight stay in Ben Alder Cottage to the southwest of the mountain. A cut above the rest of the grampians for remoteness and adventure!
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Craig Coid
wrote on December 27, 2002:
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A quite majestic mountain, which is truly an experience of remoteness. If you do not cycle into to Culra bothy, you will need an overnighter or be prepared for a day of extraordinary length. The cycle in is recommended as it is generally on good paths and not strenuous. Once in to the base of the mountain, take either of the Leachas - long or short to gain the plateau and find the summit cairn - very difficult with nil visibility! If you are feeling adventurous, continue over and stay the night in Ben Alder cottage, an excellent bothy and return via Beallach Dubh (and the plane!) to Culra.
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