"S Airde Beinn and the Crater Lake.
Start. Loch Carnain an Amais.
Route. Loch Carnain an Amais - Lochan's Arde Beinn - "S Airde Beinn - Loch Carnain an Amais.
Notes. It was nice to be climbing again after spending time in the bowels of MacKinnon's Cave, I'd been told the views from "S Airde Beinn were worth the short climb, I just hadn't realized how good they would be, we came across the start of the path by accident the day before after stopping to take photos on the road to Dervaig.
The road between Tobermory and Dervaig passes three delightful Lochs, Loch Peallach. Loch Meadhoin and Loch Carnain an Amais, above Loch Meadhoin on the road side is a ruined cottage, the path rises behind the cottage. We followed the line of the forest then a stream until we reached the outflow of Lochan's Airde Beinn (the Crater Lake), we ascend onto the rim of the crater to be blown away by views in every direction, the further round we wandered the better the views. This was one of those places it's hard to tear yourself away from, eventually we descended on a slightly higher dryer path back to the cottage.
The view from the parked car, Beinn Creagach across Loch Meadhoin.
The path rises behind the ruined cottage, here we have Loch Meadhoin, Loch Carnain an Amais backed by Sron na Beinne Creagaith.
Ascending through thick Bracken with views opening out to the west.
It's just thrown a short sharp shower, I think this chap's too wet to escape the camera viewfinder.
Approaching the outflow of Lochan's Airde Beinn with stunning views over the Sound of Mull.
Sue on the final short sharp pull onto 'S Airde Beinn.
Views back down our ascent route with Speinne Mor rising above Beinne Creagaith.
How's this for a view, Ardnamurchan across Loch Sunart, to the right Morvern over the Sound of Mull and just for good measure top left the mountains of Skye.
Lochan's Airde Beinn the Crater Lake.
Tobermory seen over the extensive forestry plantations of the Glengorm Estate.
Another view into the crater, this time from the north.
On the summit 'S Airde Beinn.
The stunning view to the west, the island is Coll.
The view to Tobermory and Morvern.
Sue scans the horizon.
Here is a view to the south over Loch Carnain an Amais, under cloud the islands Munroe Ben More.
Looking back to the Crater Lake before starting our descent.
From the start of the descent we got a fine view to the three small lochs between Tobermory and Dervaig.
The ruined cottage on the road side above Loch Meadhoin, like so many in the Highlands and Islands, probably abandoned at the time of the Highland Clearances.
Loch Carnain an Amais as seen from the cottage.