A Post about a Missing Cairn
Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 8:46 am- A short distance in and the view back to Lochgoilhead with The Cobbler in the distance.
- It is not too long into the walk when corbett Beinn Bheula comes into view
- The signpost on the track where you take a left Sruth Ban waterfall. Beinn Lochan is in the background which you will have a good view of on the ascent to Beinn Bheula.
- Once off the track the path is slightly boggy but is short. Soon the waterfall comes into few and the path rising alongside continues to be boggy.
- The view back from the top of the waterfall where you can see the track taken donwhill. The level track that joins it from the left is for the return.
- The path then follows a burn until you reach a fence running uphill on the left. You follow the fence line until it joins another fence rising from the left. At this point you can cross the fence you have been following as the wires are on the ground at the last section. You continue uphill until you reach another fence. This can be crossed using some planks of wood that have been left as a deconstructed style. The picture is the view back of the route taken.
- Next is a series of crags to be negotiated and they dont provide any real difficulties. I avoided the first one by heading left bi-passing it but then immediately walking behind it. The picture is taken looking back down. The next crag I continued my journey right until I found a grassy slope to continue my ascent. I may have made the ascent too early as there was no path and also when I was nearing the top I could see a path further on below me. With time on my side I decided to continue on the route and I did not lose much height as I continued towards the path that was I was going to rejoin me on the right.
- The path leads you to the foot of a grass gully where you walk up. Around the half way point the path was above the main set of crags in the middle of the photograph. To continue on the grass gully it looked steep at the top so I walked along the wide grass section above these crags and found a wide slope up to the ridge.
- Soon I was at the trig point and windshelter cairn. The first time I have seen a trig point with a warning from OS that it is an offence to damage the trig point and requesting to report to them on any damage. At this point a decision has to be made - return the route of the ascent or continue with the circuit. To continue the views and challenges improved.
- Heading towards Craig Sgoilte the views just improved. In the photo Beinn Bheula is on the left.
- Headed over Creag Sgoilte was good as there was a path. However the decent off Ceann Garbh was pathless as was the route to the Lochan na Cnaimh. However with the target of Lochan it was relatively straight forward although boggy at times. Again there was another fence but was easily crossed at the point of the large metal support The photo is the view back to Ceann Garbh.
- Once at the lochan it was a nice place for a spot of lunch and I though 3 hours gone, 3 miles to go I thought I was making good progress. Little did I know what lied ahead.
- Following the left side of the outflow burn from the lochan a final fence had to be crossed. A quick scissor step over and then the the forest joins the path at the side of the burn. It was a matter of concentrating on foot placement. When there was little space between the forest and the burn you were forced to go through the trees. Still being mindful of foot placement.
- Stage 7 in my Walkhighland notes you have to look out for a cairn on the opposite side of the burn. Unfortunately the cairn has been removed however the good news is that there is a post on the left side of the burn. This was after exiting the forest for the second time. It is at this post that you cross the burn and follow a boggy path along a firebreak.
- Once free of the firebreak you are in land reforested. It doesnt look like it in the photograph but the ground is covered in young saplings. The path continues although at times I lost it as again my eyes were focussed on the ground as there was plenty of branches from felled trees that had to be negoitiated.
- There was even a felled tree across the path that had to be negotiated. After 1.5 miles from the lochan the track was reached and all the challenges were done. A great day out.
