Carn Dearg is one of four Corbetts accessible from Glen Roy, no less than three of which are called Carn Dearg. This Carn Dearg probably makes the best hill walk of the four; although the summit is undistinguished there is a fine ascent through Coire Dubh with some optional easy scrambling, whilst the descent offers grand views of Coire Reinich.
Summary
Pathless, steep heather slopes with easy scrambling. The summit is on a featureless moorland.
Terrain
NN330909
Grid ref
8km/5 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Users'
rating
Public transport
1. From the A86 in Roybridge take the road up Glen Roy on the west side of the river (NN270814). It is well worth stopping at the little car park marked on the OS map (NN297854) for the view of the parallel roads as they cross the steep slopes of Beinn Iaruinn. Glen Roy is of great geological interest because of its renowned 'parallel roads' which are actually the shores of a large lake of meltwater which was trapped, at various levels over time, by ice in a huge glacier moving up the Great Glen and Glen Spean. Anyone who has looked down on Glen Spean from Beinn Bhan or from the B8008 above Gairlochy will appreciate how vast this glacier must have been! Charles Darwin came here to investigate, and his first published scientific paper was on this subject. On this occasion he got it wrong, however, surmising that the roads formed the shores of an ancient sea. He was mortified on later being proved wrong.
2. Afterwards carry on up the glen until a bridge is reached at NN330909. There is room for one or two cars by the roadside; failing this there is a small car park 700 metres on at the entrance to Brae Roy lodge. Cross the bridge and go past a hut and some ruins then cross the burn and climb up onto a moraine terrace. Head south across the flat surface of the terrace then begin a slanting climb until you are more or less level with the upper (350m) parallel road. Don't expect a usable path here; despite their name and the way they are shown on the OS map the roads slope quite steeply and in fact are difficult to detect close up. You can judge how close you are to them by looking across the glen at the obvious markings on the other side, or perhaps by using the altitude function on your GPS if you have one. Now contour round until you get close to the burn in Coire Dubh then start the steep climb up the coire, keeping the north side of the main burn.
3. Go north to the foot of a steep little ridge and either scramble easily up this or go just N behind it and walk up easier slopes. In either case you will soon find yourself on the edge of a wide basin. Follow the burn WNW across here and ascend the shallow slopes of Carn Dearg, turning north on reaching the ridge.
4. From the summit the great bulk of Creag Meagaidh dominates the view to the east, with Stob Poite Coire Ardair just to its north beyond the Window. Rocky Beinn Teallach lies to the SE and to the north the twin Carn Deargs can be easily distinguished across upper Glen Roy among the jumble of other hills.
5. Now head down the summit ridge, turning north to cross a shallow col, then steeply down to a stony plateau. From here you can descend beside a burn into Coire Reinich if you wish, but it is probably better to continue across the south edge of the plateau then descend directly back to the bridge with a short detour to the burn side to enjoy the view up Coire Reinich.
This walk was contributed by Doug Tulloch
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