This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
1819 m
An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.
Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.
Route Time
12.5 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
46.70 km
The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.
You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.
Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.
Notes
This long route (with some scrambling) is more of an expedition. If you cycle to Loch Pattack the remaining route is 7h, 22km, ascent 917m which can be completed on a long summer day. Otherwise take a tent.
Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.
We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.
Travel Information
Head to: Dalwhinnie
At Dalwhinnie (A9) park to commence route. This is a very long walk but there is a good track to Loch Pattack which can be cycled.
Route Waypoint Map
The total ascent is 1,819 metres. Allow 12.5 hours to complete this 46.70 km route.
In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.
The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.
Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.
The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.
Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.
Route Information
Waypoint Detail
Start from the village of Dalwhinnie (A889)
NN63408470
Distance
Altitude 360 m
1
Cross railway and cycle/walk SW on west shore of Loch Ericht to branch in road near Ben Alder Lodge
NN57587915
Distance 8.55 km
Altitude 390 m
2
Follow right road SW uphill turning W towards Loch Pattack
NN54847868
Distance 3.06 km
Altitude 446 m
3
Head SW on path (cycling is difficult but possible) to Cultra Bothy
NN52497643
Distance 3.54 km
Altitude 450 m
4
Follow path SW by river and then S
NN51667425
Distance 2.80 km
Altitude 660 m
5
Follow path south of river SW towards Bealach Beithe
NN51297382
Distance 0.62 km
Altitude 665 m
6
At 600m altitude head WSW across river to reach north ridge of Coire na Lethchois (Long Lethchois)
NN50387365
Distance 1.05 km
Altitude 765 m
7
Ascend SW through crags to summit plateau
NN49907316
Distance 0.69 km
Altitude 980 m
8
Head S to Ben Alder Summit
NN49637184
Distance 1.38 km
Altitude 1148 m
9
Head SSW around corrie
NN49397141
Distance 0.52 km
Altitude 1111 m
10
Continue SE round Garbh Choire to Sron Bealach Beithe
NN49887079
Distance 0.82 km
Altitude 1095 m
11
Descend SE to Bealach Breabag
NN50677019
Distance 1.04 km
Altitude 835 m
12
Continue NE passing minor top to the NW
NN51137058
Distance 0.64 km
Altitude 940 m
13
Continue NNE to summit of Beinn Bheoil
NN51707170
Distance 1.32 km
Altitude 1019 m
14
Head NNE down ridge
NN52177370
Distance 2.12 km
Altitude 835 m
15
Descend NW to rejoin approach route and return
NN63408470
Distance 18.58 km
Altitude 360 m
A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.
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Rating & Reviews
Rating & Reviews
Rated:
from 5 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by
Martin Joyce
on 18 Sep 2007:
The thin path heading off the (excellent) track to the Bealach Beithe might be easy to miss in mist. It's marked by a startling white boulder, so look out for this.
The burn is awkward to cross too. It's full of large slippery boulders. Be prepared for trouble after heavy rain!
Written by
Peter Lang
on 10 Sep 2007:
Superb end to weekend, cycled in on fri night and camped at bothy, 4 munros on Sat. Sunday morning 8am to 1430 fantastic circuit via long lethchois (no real difficulties) and superb descent down grassy ridge of Bheinn Bheoil, cycled out in late afternoon. Highly recommended.
Written by
David Brown
on 28 May 2007:
My advice would be: cycle between Dalwhinnie and Culra, choosing the path before Loch Pattack; stay at the great Culra bothy; do the mountains anticlockwise to use the Leachas as an ascent.
I did none of these things. I did 24 miles from Dalwhinnie (which would have been 29 without the luck of a passing vehicle on the walk-in), and this was a little too much for comfort; I refused a night in the Rolls Royce of bothies in favour of a 3hr silent evening march to the car; I slithered down the Long Leachas after rain, then trapped myself between burns and had to wade. Still, the views were great!
Written by
Craig Dunderdale
on 30 Sep 2006:
Ben Alder has an awesome presence! Bike in to Culra bothy nr Culra lodge fm Dalwhinnie it takes about 1.5hrs, climb the hills the same day. Stay in the bothy and climb the remaining Ben Alder 2 the next day, I biked back and drove home! I climbed the path upto 5167 7427 and headed for the Bheinn Bheoil ridge. At the bealach are vague paths, find your way up keeping the choire rim in sight, follow it round to Ben Alder summit or you'll veer onto the other ridges. It seems to take ages to get to the summit. Walking back I thought coming down the NE ridge although very steep may have been great.
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map,
a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
Summit
