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As part of my quest to climb each Munro individually I'm always on the lookout for an obscure little used route.
I'd climbed Beinn Mhanach the previous year and cycled round Loch Lyon from Pubil, I noticed how close the track at the head of the loch came to Creag Mhór.
I had considered bivvying overnight in the byre on the south shore of the loch then tackling the hill in the morning but I found out that the track from Auch up Glen Kinglass was in pretty good condition so settled on biking in and climbing it in a day.
- Beinn Dorain from Auch Lodge
We parked up in the rough layby near the Auch road end on the A82 and set off down towards the lodge on our bikes, this is a great bit of tarmac track and you can pick up a good bit of speed (try not be too distracted by the views of Beinn Dorain though), however as soon as you pass the lodge it turns to hardcore.
- Auch Viaduct
As you pass under Auch Viaduct make sure you follow the left track up Glen Kinglass, the track is rough but the gradients are easy, after a short while you pass by a byre at Ais-an t-Sithean, as it's still in use avoid the urge to go exploring inside.
- Ais-an t-Sithean
There are lots of fords to be crossed, when you are on a bike it's not too much of an issue (unless you hit a boulder in the middle), if you're on foot you might need to consider bringing wellies.
- One of the numerous Allt Kinglass fords
After an hour or so you'll reach the hydro channels at the top of the glen, when building Loch Lyon dam the hydro board built concrete channels to divert water into the new reservoir, as the area is slightly terraced this is a great place to leave your bike out of view.
- Watercourse diverter at the top of Glen Kinglass
From here it's downhill to the Loch Lyon track, cross the ford follow it up to the head of the loch.
- Loch Lyon
At the head of the loch the track fords the Abhain Ghlass over to a private hunting lodge and byre, continue up the burn for about 150m and cross it there.
- Crossing Abhainn Ghlas
Continue up the glen for about a kilometer to a disused sheep fold (marked on OS map), from here start your ascent up the hill.
- April Snow at 700m
The gradient is pretty steep and consistent the whole way up, depending on your fitness you'll reach the top pretty quickly, if visibility permits you can judge your height against Beinn Mhanach across Loch Lyon
- On the summit
- Mike on summit
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Follow the same route back to your bike (unless you want to climb Beinn nam Fuáran across the Glen), the return down the rough Glen Kinglass track on a bike is pretty fast and exciting.
- Speeding down the glen
Caw canny though as hitting a rock at speed will no doubt result in damage to you and the bike!!
The route
