Walking the Corbetts Vol 2 North of the Great Glen. Brian Johnson

Sweeping generalisations are best avoided, unless they contain an essential truth. Here is a sweeping generalisation which does just that – the best Corbetts are to be found north of the Great Glen.

This second volume of Walking the Corbetts covers Morvern, Sunart, Ardgour and Moidart where no Munros are to be found; but steep and dramatic Corbetts abound. Garbh Bheinn of Ardgour is one of the finest mountains in the Western Highlands and is as rough as its name implies. Sgurr Dhomhnuill, pointed and shapely, is the highest peak hereabouts. Sgurr Ghiubsachain, best seen from the Glenfinnan Monument, throws down a steep and inviting ridge to the edge of Loch Shiel; and the views from Beinn Resipol are among the finest on the western seaboard. Further north, in the area from Loch Eil to Glen Shiel, the long undulating ridge of Streap is a joy; Ben Aden is every bit as rocky and rough as the toughest Munros in the Rough Bounds of Knoydart and vies with Sgurr a’ Choire Bheithe as the least accessible. The latter was for many years regarded as a candidate as a possible undiscovered Munro. Now measured definitively with a huge degree of accuracy it remains, tantalisingly, at 913m – just missing the magic height for a Munro. However, surveyors supported by the Munro Society have recently discovered a new Corbett. Beinn a’ Chlaidheimh, in the Fisherfield Forest, has been found to be lacking vital inches and has returned to the fold of the Corbetts, having previously been promoted to a Munro. Are there more Munros to be demoted or Corbetts to be promoted to Munro status? Almost certainly not. As this volume goes to press all the marginal Munros and Corbetts have been surveyed to an accuracy of ±5cm, and there should be no more surprises.

Further north, superlatives abound when describing the hills of Torridon, Coigach and Assynt. Beinn Dearg and Boasbheinn, on the edges of Flowerdale, represent considerable challenges to get up and down; but the rewards are more than worth the effort. Beinn Airigh Charr and Beinn Dearg Mor, of Fisherfield, are my two favourite Corbetts – the former for the view from the summit and the latter for the view of the mountain from Shenavall. In the east of the northern hills, attention needs to be drawn to lonely Carn Ban, one of the most remote. The great hills of Assynt, mostly Corbetts, provide stunning views of Suilven and Stac Pollaidh, neither of which are themselves high enough to be in this list but which dominate the surrounding landscape like medieval castellated fortifications. And before we reach the north coast, we have the shining quartzite of majestic Foinaven, the double-header of Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh and last but certainly not least the multi-topped gem of Ben Loyal – all hills which never disappoint.

And, finally, this volume includes the islands of Rum, Mull, Skye and Harris – with another half a dozen precious pearls.

Liathach from Beinn Damh, Glen Torridon (Route 57)

The southern hills are perfectly fine; but these are the real deals. And more often than not, you will have them to yourself. Go there.

Lord Haworth was the first member of the House of Lords to compleat (sic) the Munros, many of which he climbed with former Labour Party leader John Smith and Chris Smith, the only member of the House of Commons to have compleated the Munros. Although a Lancastrian, his love of the hills of Scotland led him to take the title of Lord Haworth of Fisherfield when elevated to the peerage in 2004. The Fisherfield Forest

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