Over The Hill

For the serious Corbett Bagger the challenge is to complete all five of the Tyndrum Corbetts in a single go, which means a 20 kilometre plus distance with a total ascent of over 2000 metres. making it a long day of 8 to 10 hours for the round. On the other hand whenever I have headed for these Corbetts it has usually been for a two summit trip, or for a single ascent of the popular Beinn Odhar. Today, however, I was swapping my “go to hill” Beinn Dubh and upping the stakes from tops of around 600 metres to break into the 800 metre range, all in the ongoing get hill fit programme; and I was grateful to Ian and Mike for their company as we all looked forward to a no pressure, take it as it comes day on Beinn Chaorach.

First surprise of the day, nothing to do with the walk, but as we parked in the usual spot in Auchtertyre was to see a notice that the Wigwams and Lodges there are now closed, as I say, surprising as they always seemed so popular. Anyway, boots on and we were off at a very leisurely pace on the steady climb up the estate track as it leaves Auchtertyre and soon passes under the bridge carrying the West Highland Railway, crosses the bridge over the Allt a’ Chaol Ghlinne to take you to the low point of the broad grassy south ridge of Beinn Chaorach at around the 320 metre height. The temptation is to leave the track here and head directly onto the open hillside. However, staying on the track, you can take advantage of gaining another 110 metres in height as the track takes a rising contour around the east of the ridge before finally leaving the track and taking to the open hillside some 700 metres further on.

Leisurely was the aim of the day, and leisurely it was as we surveyed the glen and hillsides, most still covered in high cloud but with a few promising areas of blue sky beginning to appear giving a hint of things brightening and clearing soon. The initial stages of the open hillside are over a series of small grassy humps, pathless and a little rough underfoot before gaining the fence line which is sturdy and high with a solid barbed-wire topping, so it took us a little to find a suitable crossing point, but find one we did and onwards we trod. (See my comment on route preference at the end of the report). Barbed wire fence behind, we were soon presented with some fine views as Beinn Dubhchraig, Ben Oss and Ben Lui made an appearance as the cloud lifted and the skies brightened, soon to be followed by all round visibility and a multitude of Munros came into view, awesome. So awesome, that we parked ourselves on one of the very few rocky area that there are on this predominately grassy hillside and took a pleasant and relaxing break.

As on previous trips, the approach to the summit is made along a line of very low and disused electric fence posts which rise up and over the summit and continue to the bealach which you follow if you are progressing onward to Cam Chreag; the summit itself being marked by a circular trip point The weather had been improving as we climbed, however, there was a chill to the wind and we found ourselves a sheltered spot for yet another break, and literally just as we sat down we had to grab out waterproof tops as a sudden squall passed by, not heavy rain, but with the wind, a chilling rain, which thankfully did not last too long and interrupt our lunch break unduly.

On previous trips to Beinn Chaorach, we had always continued on to Cam Chreag, or at least to the bealach and made our return via the new forest area to the east of Beinn Chaorach. However, todays buzz word was “leisurely” and so we left the summit heading south intent on retracing our outbound route, that is until we realised as we followed the broken electric fence line that is was heading directly south in the direction we wanted to go, and with the bonus of a very faint but discernible track running alongside it. So, why not, let’s follow it and see just where it goes. As we descended on this line, we were checking our uphill route, and we were never more that 60 to 100 metres away from our uphill track, obviously it was the low height of the fence and rough grass that simply prevented us from spotting it on our ascent, whereas looking down on it on the descent it was easily visible, we of course have never made a southerly descent from this summit. Yet another bonus was awaiting us as we neared the main estate track and that awkward barbed wire fence. This line of electric wire post leads straight to an open section of fence through which the line continues directly to a steel gate on the main estate track at a point a mere 100 metres further along the track than from where we had left it on our uphill climb, and with no barbed wire to cross. Brilliant.

We stopped again once we had reached the main track and concluded that on any future walk up Beinn Chaorach we would use what we decided to call “The Idiots Route to Beinn Chaorach” - Leave car park – Follow main track to big gate – Turn Left and follow fence line and electric fence to summit – Simple!

Back on the main track, and downhill all the way to the car park with a Corbett to boot followed by a stop-over at The Staggers In at Beinn Ghlas. What more could one ask for? Brilliant day, thanks Ian and Mike