free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I arrived early in case car park was busy, but the car park is bypassed old road, so huge. No problem. The field to walk through is basically bog, so followed the farm track round and under the bridge with the railway. Walked up till reached the fence with the gate and turned right, following off and on a faint path indeed as warned on WH route description. Satisfying to pick a course and meet up with the path higher up. Pretty wet in bits up near the top, not sure why path goes through it. Just avoided it. A steep climb, but it gets it over with. Along the ridge is fine walking. Three snow banks to walk over, but short and gentle gradients. The cleft has what amounts to almost a glacier in it, pretty deep looking. Wouldn't want to fall down the side of it.
- The Cleft with its snow bank. The path crosses just in front, thank goodness.
- Cleft snow bank from other side, deep stuff
Up onto the castle crag for a look and then on to the true top. Good views all around, even if it was still dreich. I could see it was clearing up, but after waiting an hour, lunch done, I walked back down the way I came up, mostly. The path is just as hard to stick to going down.
Route to top by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Snow Banks Castle by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
The Castle from the top by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Beinn a'Chroin by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Beinn Chabhair by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
4 Munros by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr