Ulog 3: Camping trip and a return to the Tarmachan Ridge

The Tarmachan Ridge is often described as a great introduction to ridge-walking. It's situated in Perthshire, near Ben Lawers, the 11th highest mountain in the British Isles, at almost 4,000 feet.

The narrowest part of the ridge

The Tarmachan Ridge starts at a mountain called Meall nan Tarmachan, a Munro at 1,043m (3,422 feet). Meall nan Tarmachan is one of the easiest Munros to climb, because the walk starts at an elevation of over 400m.

The summit of Meall nan Tarmachan

Most people walk along the ridge to a mountain called Beinn nan Eachan, but the walk can be extended to take in another top, Creag na Caillich.

I did the whole traverse, including Creag na Caillich, almost exactly a year ago, on my own. But when I reached a notoriously tricky descent, known as "the Bad Step", I got a bad attack of nerves.

The "Bad Step" – this photo fails to show how steep it really is!

There is a bypass path, but I had heard about the Bad Step before, and I was determined to do it! I decided to take my backpack off to steady myself… but as I was trying to set it down, it tumbled over the edge and rolled right down the hillside, scattering my walking poles and water bottle as it fell!

My backpack (the turquoise blob) rolling down the hill.

I was horrified, imagining that it might have been me tumbling down the hillside! Anyway, I managed to very carefully edge my way down the least exposed side of the "Bad Step" on my bum, and then I had to go down the hill to pick up my backpack, water and poles.

While there, I noticed more debris. I probably wasn't the only one to have lost stuff on the way down the Bad Step.

After that occasion, I made a decision to return some time and practise going up and down the Bad Step. I organise a Meetup hillwalking group, and if I do the Tarmachan Ridge as a group walk, I want to feel confident about doing the "Bad Step" (which, by the way, isn't exactly a step – it's more of a rocky incline).

So last weekend, with my first outdoor climbing trip planned for the Sunday, I decided to re-visit the Tarmachan Ridge, as it was quite near the climbing location, and then camp on the Saturday night. My friend Dawn decided to join me for the Tarmachan Ridge.

The day was overcast and very windy, unlike last year's trip, when I was treated to strong sunshine.

When we got to the Bad Step, we practised going up and down it a couple of times, till we felt comfortable on it. The video of me climbing up it doesn't give a good impression of the steepness of the scramble, so it looks as if I'm doing a silly walk!

We had a lot of fun, and some friendly conversations, as the ridge was pretty crowded that day.

After our walk, Dawn returned home, while I went to the Cruachan Farm Campsite near Loch Tay, to camp for the night. This was my first camping trip in 10 years.

Luckily the tent was very easy to put up, although once erected I realised that it was on a slight slope, so I moved it to a more comfortable spot.

I made "Macaroni Mush" for dinner, a simple camping recipe that my mum used to make when we went on family camping trips. You just boil up some pasta and add a tin of mushroom soup, a tin of tuna and a tin of peas or sweetcorn. Delicious!

That night I slept like a baby for nine hours.

Sources

Video photo of Chris Packham

Music: "Commonplace" by BrvtVs, released by FreeBackgroundMusic

My video is at DLive