Another day with two Corbetts.

[Benaden887]

Another day with two more Corbetts 15/04/2001
Cul Beag and Cul Mor 19.2km 1846m 9.5h.
This pairing of the Coigach group, is as laid out in the SMC book, the Corbetts and other hills, with extra bits tacked on. The KMC are staying at Inchnadamp Caving club hut this w/e, with Rachel wanting a restful day as she puts it I bum a lift with the group heading to Achiltibuie for a trip to the the Summer Isles. SE of Linneraineach Loch Lurgainn, my stalkers path climbs N thro a grouping of Scots pine trees lifting my spirit like they always do, to a flat scrubland and Lochan Fhionnlaidh. So head ESE beside a burn for a lose scramble up heather grass and sandstone ledges. I leave the burn for a steeper section that finds a col on the ridge. Pop a couple of gums into my mouth then tackle the steep 200m and reach the pointy stacked cairn of Cul Beag @769m. A bit of a grunt but worth it. Good views here of the Fiddler and the Coigach peaks of Stacpolly on my todo list, jist can`t find anyone to climb wi – the climbers all want to go to Reiff. Anyhow sit view and eat. Umpteen lochans shine in the sun. A warm midge free day, whit mair could ye ask fur. Across a green glen Laoig sits Mor - dripping with crags on three different levels with a lochan and a waterfall. Should be fun. Gather my gear and about to descend the N ridge when I see a walker on the path from Loch Lurgainn to where I`m heading. Not yet willing to share my day I head E to Meall Dearg a wee wash at the lochan. NE down a dried out water course to the glen below. Find a wee raised island wi plants flowers an stuff so sit for a swallow and enjoy the song of the bees. I hear them before I see them. Some hundred odd deer race up the glen passing on both sides of my island spooked obviously by our walking friend. The deer slow then regroup again lookin back down the glen. Awesome. I sneak from the W side of my island, thus keep the peace and cross the river feeding Lochan Dearg. A large boulder field below this side of An Loagh gives a few slips an scrapes, until a climb beneath its crags gains the Lochain Dearg a`chuil Mhoir. A wee break here then a steep hands knees and feet job follows a west face slant up to the col on Cul Mor. Here I drop off the sac take the water bottle and walk across a broad grassy pitch to Creag nan Calman @ 828m. A wander around the edge finds a small jutting platform not unlike the one on Alligans horns, gives a fabulous viewpoint of the green glen below. Return to my sac for a long walkout to Sron Garbh @758m and Coire Gorm, the blue corrie. Strain to spot the “old man” a standing stone, but can`t make him out, still great views of Polly, Canisp and Sulivan. Mapchk finds its only an extra k so I must be tiring. On to Cul Mor @849m. To sit at the cairns trigpoint. The most northly of the Coigach group, as seen from the road is twin peaks capped with quartzite sit either end of a green saddle. I walk the coire edge to Meallan Domhain and here pick up a path leading down but leave it when it turns S and head straight for the road. I cross fields fences and herd sheep to reach the road then walk back to Elphin for the hut.
The Inverpolly Nature Reserve lies in the northern half of Coigach and contains the peaks of StackPolly Cul Mor and Cul Beag. In 1962 it purchased the 36acres of Knockan Cliff and is 2nd only in size to the Cairngorms.




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