14-15/03/25 Weekend Meet: Glenfinnan School House Where There Are Ups and Risings

Back to the bunkhouse at Glenfinnan, formerly a school, set in classic highland scenery located at the western end of Loch Eil on the northern shore, see; https://independenthostels.co.uk/members/glenfinnanbunkhouse/.

First up, on Friday 14/03, on route to the Glenfinnan meet, MMcE parked at Pattack Falls car park, NN 56640 90361, and climbed the unnamed ‘Hill Top’ (565m) at NN 57372 92014, as a precursor to climb Fiona Creag Ruadh, NN 55806 91402. Pic taken from ‘Hill Top’ looking east.

From ‘Hill Top’ looking WSW to Creag Ruadh, centre pic.

Having battered her way through some forest a clear view tot the SW of Loch Laggan could be seen from the shoulder of Creag Ruadh.

Finally at the top of Creag Ruadh, looking SW.

Some Devil’s Matchsticks.

As there was plenty of time left in the day MMcE retraced her steps, heading ENE to visit the Pictish Fort of Dun-da-lamh, NN 58214 92953.

There is a surprising amount of the fort still intact.

…but not quite good enough to stay the night! She returned to the car, through various tracks and cleared fell completing a very interesting walk in great weather.

Also on Friday 14/03, ARob On Friday, crossed the Corran ferry and climbed the Ardgour Corbett, Garbh Bheinn, 885m, NM 90428 62227. Pic shows the view looking ENE along Loch Linnhe from the summit of Garbh Bheinn.

The weather was mostly dry and bright except for one white-out snow shower, which wiped out visibility and all signs of a path for half an hour. A fine day out.

Next up, on Saturday 15/03, AS & PF had an epic west to east walk around Coire Thollaidh, NM 91467 87495, by first ascending Sgurrr a Coire Riabhach, followed by Sgurr nan Coireachan, Meall nan Tarmachan, Beinn Garbh, then finishing with the outlier Sgurr Thuilm. Pic shows the burn at the junction of the main track, NM 91680 84955, as they approach the Sgurr a Coire Riabhaich ascent.

PF enjoys a cuppa before they hit the steep slopes of Sgurr a Coire Riabhaich, via a wee stalker's path.

Pic shows AS ascending Sgurr a Coire Riabhach on the western end of the Coire Thollaidh horseshoe.

AS at the trig pillar on summit of Sgurr nan Coireachan. Mist just clearing.

Coming off the eastern shoulder of Meall Tarmachan looking NNW to Carn Mor, NM 90313 90999, above Glen Pean.

The view NW to Loch Morar.

PF on the final top of Sgurr Thuilm. Pic faces north towards the Glen Dessary Munros. Descending SW to the track they arrive back at the car after a walk of eleven hours 45 mins. A long day out.

Also on Saturday 15/03, IH, ARob & MMcE headed to the awkwardly named Corbett Braigh nan Uamhachan, NM 97532 86668, lying between the snappily named Streap, and the magnificent Gulvain. Pic shows the ever-interesting flow of the Dubh Lighe on their march NE from the carpark at NM 92945 79850.

Out on the open hillside they have a fine view to the north up Gleann Dubh Lighe, Streap on the ridge, deceptively just right of the centre.

Early Primroses on the slopes.

Looking back SW to the forest.

Despite getting onto the ridge there is still work to do, looking NNE to the summit.

Looking down to the NW and Lochan Chromhlain.

…and to the NE, lies mighty Gulvain.

Team Tired.

On their way back down, they stopped off at the bothy, encountering some Crocii.

The Gleann Dubh Lighe bothy, NM 94475 81979.

…comfy inside with a cuppa - but they have to get back to the bunkhouse where they can celebrate a grand day out!

Finally on Saturday 15/03, TF & SP hiked up Gulvain, NN 00276 87596, parking their car just a couple of minutes’ drive down the road from the hut to the A830/A861 junction. It's an 'out-and-back' route, with a good path all the way, featuring a nice walk, amongst lots of woods (and birdsong!).

The first ~6km is along a wide track, of which the first ~4km or so of which would have been good for mountain bikes if they had been handy. Pic taken from the track looking NE up the SW shoulder of Gulvain, promising a steep ascent.

TF on the last few metres of the first peak, already bathed in mist.

The actual summit is at 987m and pictured here with a stone cairn. It is about 1.25km to the NE of the trig point at 961m and is sometimes missed out by walkers duped by the concrete pillar!

Sadly, there were no views from the top of Gulvain but it cleared on the way back through the woods, which were full of nature finding ways to survive. A very rewarding day out.

On Sunday 16/03, SP & TF headed up Stob Coire Sgriodain, NN 35652 74390 and then Chno Dearg, NN 37741 74106, from Fersit, NN 34975 78242, near Roy Bridge. The path seemed to disappear on a regular basis – recovering it was always a pleasant surprise. It took them about 2.5 hours to reach the first peak. Pic taken looking south towards the summit of Stob Coire Sgriodain.

SP & TF on Stob Coire Sgriodain with Loch Treig on the left.

When looking SW they were treated to fabulous views of Loch Treig below.

On the shoulder of Chno Dearg with Loch Laggan in the NE, right of centre pic.

Mists came and went, although it cleared on their way down, treating them to a lunch-time rainbow! The first part of the descent was a lot easier than the latter half which was over tough hummocky ground before they re-joined to track about 1km from the car park. An enjoyable round trip in just under 6 hours.

Also, on Sunday16/03, MMcE did a solo trip up the nearby Fiona Aodann Chleireig, NM 99461 82541. a 5 min drive up the road from the club’s accommodation. On route to the SE shoulder, she passes extensive felled timber neatly stacked.

On the shoulder, looking ESE along Loch Eil with Ben Nevis in the distance, skirted with cloud.

At the summit looking north with the centre right peak being Gulvain and centre left, in the distance, the lower peak of Corbett Braigh nan Uamhachan with Glen Mallie lying between them.

A little while later, a closer view of The Ben, lurking at the end of Loch Eil, nearly clear of cloud but refusing to give up its wintry crown.

On returning to the outbound compacted track a quad track is discovered that might have been a better route choice earlier! Mature forests can be complicated affairs. Another great day out for MMcE.

Lastly on Sunday 16/03 ARob drove back into Ardgour and climbed the two-hill circuit above Ardgour village, the Fiona Drum na Sgriodain, NM 97838 65621 and Sgurr na h-Eanchainme NM 99637 65845. Pic taken from the wee cairn at the top of the Fiona, a point hard to locate amongst many outcrops.

To the SE from Sgurr na h-Eanchainme we see the Corran Ferry.  

Having stayed in Ardgour on Sunday evening, ARob started the final day, Monday 17th, of his four day weekend break by travelling through Strontian into the lovely, remote Glen Hurich, where he undertook the long ridge up to the summit of Carn na Nathrath, NM 88682 69896, at 827m. This was the third Corbett of the weekend. Pic shows a strange item found in glen Hurich – probably for forestry workers.

Looking ENE up to the Carn na Nathrath ridge grom Glen Hurich.

Looking back WSW down the approach ridge from Carn na Nathrath summit, with Loch Doilet centre left and the southern end of Loch Shiel centre right.

Yes, it’s definitely the top of Carn na Nathrath!

From the top looking NW to the Rum Cuillin.

Looking to the SE, the adjacent Corbett for another day, Sgurr Dhomhnuill, NM 88961 67887, and now time to go home.

The day’s walk had been a longish trek in and out on forest roads which would have suited an MTB but sadly left in Linlithgow. However, there was compensation by way of an intense rainbow on returning to Corran! Overall, ARob had completed four dry and bright days in March covering 60km on the hills with 3600m of ascent, a very fitting end to the Glenfinnan Meet Report.