Creag Pitridh

Creag Pitridh, at 924 metres, is the smallest of the three Ardverikie Munros south of Loch Laggan — a pointed little summit that looks like a mere bump on the slopes of neighbouring Geal Chàrn from a distance, but reveals itself as genuinely steep on closer acquaintance.

Reached from Geal Chàrn via a bealach requiring only around 100 metres of reascent, the route crosses the stalkers' path once more before a clear, well-maintained path — a welcome contrast to the largely pathless ground on the other two Munros — climbs straight for the top before dog-legging left and then right across quartzite rocks to the summit. Despite its modest height, Creag Pitridh is widely regarded as having perhaps the most beautiful view of all three Munros, with the twin lochs of Lochan na h-Earba and Loch Laggan prominent below.

The descent follows a path south-west initially, though it disappears fairly quickly into long grass and boulders; lower down the going becomes excellent for a fast descent, with a faint path eventually rejoining the main stalkers' track at the junction of burns for the walk back to Luiblea.

The combined round taking in all three Munros — Beinn a' Chlachair, Geal Chàrn, and Creag Pitridh — from Luiblea is around 20-24 kilometres with substantial ascent, typically eight to ten hours; several regular visitors rate Creag Pitridh as their favourite of the three, both for its views and for offering a proper, if brief, mountain path after the pathless slog of its neighbours.

Though Creag Pitridh is comparatively straightforward with an actual path for its final approach, the connecting ground between all three summits remains remote and largely pathless — this should still be tackled as part of a serious mountain day with full navigation skills.

The A86 layby at Luiblea is free; there is no public transport to the start, though the walk-in track is suitable for mountain biking.