Walking the Corbetts Vol 2 North of the Great Glen. Brian Johnson
There are crags on the direct route to the saddle between Fuar Bheinn and Creach Bheinn. Head roughly NW until clear of the crags, then veer NNE to the broad saddle (540m, 85390 57410). Head just left of E up grass and scattered crags to the summit of Creach Bheinn (3hr 55min, 853m, 87070 57640). The summit is marked by a rock wall surrounding the remains of the trig point marked on the OS map.
The descent is NE, veering E, over fairly rocky terrain to a saddle (715m, 87720 58030) from where it would be possible to descend S. Our route continues easily up to the summit of Maol Odhar (4hr 30min, 794m, 88140 57950). Continue down the ridge, SE veering E, looking out for aircraft remains. After about 400m, head SE down grassy slopes, gradually veering SW, to a broad saddle (510m, 88470 56500) and then on to the summit of Meall nan Each (5hr 10min, 591m, 88340 56120).
Continue SSW over several minor tops to Peak 535 (87990 54865) from where a faint path leads down the Druim na Maodalaich ridge. Near the bottom of the ridge head W down steep rough slopes to the B8043 (86700 52900) and turn right back to the parking area (6hr 35min).
ROUTE 3
Beinn Resipol homestead mountain (Old Norse)
| Start | Loch Doilet (NM 79510 67970) |
| Distance | 13km (8 miles) |
| Total ascent | 900m (3000ft) |
| Difficulty | Beinn Resipol is possibly the easiest peak in this section of the guide. There is some rough, boggy terrain but this is mainly crossed on paths. The rocky outcrops on the grassy summit ridge are scattered enough to pose few problems. Care would be needed with navigation on descent in mist. |
| Time | 4hr 20min |
| Summits | Beinn Resipol (845m, 2775ft) |
| Maps | OS Landranger 40 |
| Access | From Strontian follow the minor road N towards Polloch. The maximum gradient on this narrow road is 20% so it is not recommended for large vehicles or caravans. There is a parking area at the W end of Loch Doilet where a forestry track, signed to Strontian, goes off left. |
| Note | The E ridge of Beinn Resipol could also be approached up the ‘coffin road’ from Strontian. The main alternative route is the W ridge, starting from Resipole on the A861. This route is shorter but steeper. If transport could be arranged a traverse from Resipole to Strontian or Loch Doilet would be the best way to climb the mountain. |
Beinn Resipol is an isolated peak standing between Loch Shiel and Loch Sunart to the W of Ardgour. As well as providing fine views of the mountains of Ardgour, it is a good viewpoint for the islands of the Inner Hebrides.
E ridge of Beinn Resipol
In the 7th century St Finan had a cell on the beautiful little island of Eilean Fhianain (St Finan’s Isle) on Loch Shiel. Early chapels would have been built of wood, but a stone chapel was built about 1500, the ruins of which can be seen today. The island was the burying place of the Clan Ranald until the end of the 16th century and the suggested route up Beinn Resipol uses the remains of the old ‘coffin road’ from Strontian to Polloch. Large cairns at the high point of the path on the NE ridge of Beinn a’ Chaorainn mark resting places as coffins were carried across the mountain. In the 18th and 19th century the path was used to access the Corrantee lead mine.
Head up the good track which becomes a maintained path that takes a different line up the Allt Coire an t-Suidhe than shown on the OS map. When the maintained path ends (35min, 220m, 79800 66170), continue up a boggy path which passes old mine buildings and forks right across a small burn at an indistinct junction. Pass more mine buildings and immediately turn right across a bigger burn to reach a deer fence at the edge of the forest (310m, 80010 65750). Cross the fence (at the time of writing the stile is broken, but there is a gap in the broken gate) and follow the path SW until a small cairn at a sharp left-hand bend, just before the top of the ridge (1hr, 385m, 79630 65350).
The ‘coffin road’ continues left, but we head W along a very faint, often boggy path. If you lose the path head roughly WNW to reach the broad E ridge of Beinn Resipol (at about 550m, 78450 65850). Turn left up the gradually narrowing ridge. The upper part of the ridge has many rocky knolls which can be climbed or bypassed on their right. There is a large cairn and ruined trig point on the rocky knoll (2hr 35min, 845m, 76650 65460) which is at the W end of the summit ridge.
Return by the same route to the ‘coffin road’ (3hr 40min) and back to the parking area (4hr 20min).
ROUTE 4
Carn na Nathrach cairn of the adders
| Start | Loch Doilet (NM 81530 67320) |
| Distance | 17km (11 miles) |
| Total ascent | 960m (3200ft) |
| Difficulty | Although Beinn Mheadhoin is a rocky ridge, any difficulties can be avoided. There is a short steep climb through the forest, after which faint paths take the walker easily through the rough lower slopes to the grassy ridge. Other routes on the mountain will be much tougher. Care would be needed with navigation in mist. |
| Time | 5hr 30min |
| Summits | Carn na Nathrach (786m, 2579ft) |
| Maps | OS Landranger 40 |
| Access | From Strontian follow the minor road N towards Polloch. The maximum gradient on this narrow road is over 20% so it is not recommended for large vehicles or caravans. There is a forestry road on the right, signed to Ardgour, at Kinlochan just before Loch Doilet, at the bottom of the steep descent. Continue 350m along the ‘main’ road to a parking area (NM 81530 67320). |
| Note | It would be possible to cycle the first 4km of the route. If you look at the map you might be tempted to combine Carn na Nathrach and Sgurr Dhomhnuill but a closer look at the terrain will probably make you forget the idea. The other easy approach to the mountain is from Glen Scaddle to the E. A traverse from Loch Doilet to Inverscaddle Bay would provide a good walk if transport could be arranged at either end. |
Carn na Nathrach is the highest top on the long ridge of Beinn Mheadhoin. This steep rocky peak in the centre of Ardgour is surrounded by other rocky Corbetts. The recommended approach from the W starts through an area where there are major forestry operations, but the long, gentle W ridge soon takes the walker above the forests into the rocky wilderness.
In 1790, the element Strontium was discovered by Adair Crawford in the ores taken from the lead mines above the village of Strontian (Sron an t-Sithein). Strontium is a silver metal which was used in large quantities in the production of sugar from sugar beet. It was also used to provide the bright red colours required by flares and fireworks and more recently to prevent the emission of X-rays from television tubes.
Return to the forestry road, signed to Ardgour, turn left and ignore side turns. After crossing the River Hurich, turn right and follow the left-hand side of the river past farm buildings to reach another bridge (83700 68170). After crossing the river, immediately turn left and cross a burn to reach a track junction. Fork right and climb the ridge until you reach a small cairn (45min, 120m, 84340 68310) where the track levels out after a switchback.
Turn left up a rough path which takes you up the steep slope through the forest, soon reaching the open ridge. The lower slopes of the ridge are rough, but the path makes progress relatively easy. Further up, the ridge becomes broader, grassy and rockier with many knolls which could make navigation awkward in mist. Continue to a new deer fence (605m, 87000 69660). This fence was still being completed when the author checked the route and there was no stile so the fence had to be climbed. The buttress, just after the fence, can easily be bypassed on its right. Continue up the broad, knobbly ridge to the cairn on a prominent knoll on Carn na Nathrach (3hr 10min, 786m, 88630 69870).
Return by the same route to the forest road (4hr 50min) and the parking area (5hr 30 min).
ROUTE 5
Sgurr Dhomhnuill Donald’s peak
| Start | Ariundle National Nature Reserve |