Carn Breac, Beinn na Feusaige and Meallan Mhic Iamhair

Six of us assembled at the designated spot, having optimised the cars in Contin.  There isn't actually much parking, since the old road is gated at one end and a quagmire at the other.  Peter and Marion did their own thing up Meallan Mhic Iamhair (McIvor's round hills?), while Helen, Sharan, Caire and I headed for Carn Breac.  There's a hydro track for a bit, then an argocat track, and bits of stalkers track, becoming rather squidgy.  It's then straightforward along the ridge to the summit cairn, a substantial wall surrounding the trig point.  We had some drizzle, enough for cags, which took the edge off what is probably a fine view.

Back along the ridge and on to  Meallan Mhic Iamhair, where two 'rocks' got up and moved and we met Peter and Marion.  More squidgyness around the lochan (the south side may be drier, but it's further) and then up Beinn na Feusaige (several possible translations, but the most likely is probably Mountain of the Beard). 

On the ascent up is the site of an aircraft crash - a B26C Marauder on 3 June 1943 - lost in cloud and all five American crew killed.  It clearly caught fire because there is a lot of melted aluminium, but most of the big bits have now gone. https://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/scotland/martin-b-26c-41-34707-beinn-na-feusaige/

In contrast to Carn Breac, neither of the two summits of Beinn na Feusaige has very much by way of a cairn.  The western summit has the spot height but there's not a lot of difference between them.  The weather cleared up and there is a good view, although Carn Breac obscured some of it. The way down involved re-tracing our steps, before peeling off down the side of the hill, strategically avoiding the forestry.  It gets rather steep and the streams have waterfalls, so don't use the gullies.  And so back to the car along the hydro track.  Peter and Marion won, but not by much - back at their car as we got to the track.

Taking part: John, Helen, sharan, Peter, Brian and prospective member Caire

Words and photos: John