Over The Hill

I think it is fair to say that Beinn nan Imirean is generally regarded as a "Corbett Bagger's" hill; i.e. who else but someone looking for that "tick" would make the effort for a hill that is surrounded by mightier mountains, and one that is by-passed on a regular basis by those returning from a round of Sgiath Chuil and Meall Glas. Even amongst my illustrious companions on today's walk, there were only a few who could claim to have previously climbed this lonely mountain.

However, on these less frequented hills you are not drawn to tread where others have blazed a trail, but are free to find your own route over the hillsides as was the case today as we left the woodland track above Auchessan and spread ourselves across the deep heather and rough grassy hillsides and headed in the general direction of the small knoll of Creag nan Uan, our first point of reference on the skyline. Around us, across the open moorland and peat hags Sgiath Chuil, Beinn Cheathaich and Beinn Glas dominated the views to the north, while to the south, Ben More was blanketed in low cloud.

Beyond Creag nan Uan, a very broad and ill-defined ridge rises towards some prominent rocks marking the summit of the minor top of Meall Garbh at around 700m height, and it was towards these that we headed weaving our way around the small lochans and peat hags that are dotted around this hillside. Finally, as we reached the rocks, we had our first view of the summit of Beinn nan Imirean, until now hiding behind the top we were now standing upon.

And, it is at this point that Beinn nan Imirean takes on the features of a mountain, the broad ridge giving way to a conical peak rising above a series of minor crags, the steepest of these to the north and north east as the slopes drop away to Lairag Riairein and the bealach between Beinn nan Imirean and Meall Glas.

Keeping to the higher ground above the peat hags and small lochans we crossed a section of fairly level ground to the west of Meall Garbh before making a short, steep climb up a grassy slope to reach the flat summit area of Beinn nan Imirean, at 849m. As we have experienced on a number of occasions this summer, the mountain tops have been cold places given the time of year, and Beinn nan Imirean was no exception, with a cold, fresh breeze blowing as we tried, and failed, to find any reasonable shelter for a lunch spot, and had to make do as best we could on the open, flat summit - nothing like at touch of Al Fresco dining to round off a fine mornings climb.

We descended pretty much as we had on the ascent, basically by line of sight towards the prominent points en route, until we re-joined the path below Creag nan Uan where we descended on the opposite side of the river to our ascent, this time taking the rather picturesque path that runs above the small tree lined gorge through which the burn flows down passed Auchessen and onwards to the River Dochart.

A fine hill, in great company - Thanks Ian