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We had climbed Aomach Shasuinn's adjoining Corbett, Carn a' Choire Ghairbh a year or so ago from Glen Affric, and had decided that adding the other one was a bit too much for one day (plus we had biked a long way up the glen). So it was with some interest that I noted that Aonach Shasuinn could be climbed from Glen Moriston, although it seems that no-one on Walkhighlands has produced a walk report from this start point.
The road up to Ceannacroc Lodge is a public road, and when I 'drove' up on Google maps beforehand, it seemed likely that we could park somewhere before the big house. But the Google images here are over ten years old, and when we actually got there, we were greeted by the usual 'Access Only' and 'No Parking Beyond This Point' signs that we have come to expect in recent times; the era of Staycationers has definitely changed attitudes and perhaps with good reason.
- Just off the A887 at NH226105
However, as soon as you turn off the A887 as in the picture above you reach a 'T' junction, and turning left here (our route goes right) you reach a good-sized car park on the right in about 150 metres. Here we parked and got the bikes ready. (BTW, for the observant, you will perhaps notice that most of the photos were taken on the way down, as we were concentrating on 'getting on with it' on the way up!).
- Parking area
Returning to the 'T' junction and taking the right-hand turn, we cycled up the glen on tarmac to begin with. Go around the right-hand side of the big house, and after passing a few cottages, a gate on the right leads up beside the river.
- Lodge
The SMC Corbetts guide notes that this route is possible, but doubts that the surface is suitable for biking. I had hoped that the recent Hydro work might have led to an improvement in the surface, and certainly for the first 4km it was rough, but doable. But shortly after two large flat cleared areas on the left, which I guess had been used for construction equipment, the track became much more loose and rocky. As it happens this is only for about a kilometre before it improves again, but we weren't to know that, and so parked the bikes at about NH203131. It is certainly bike-able all the way to the new Hydro buildings at NH180147, if rough at times, but my wife understandably didn't fancy any more bouncing around on the stones, so we faced up to slightly less biking - and more walking!
- Left bikes here
- Further up the track
- Approaching the new Hydro buildings. Carn a' Choire Bhuidhe on the right.
From the new buildings there is a new bridge across the main flow of water, and a much older, decrepit bridge over a side stream.
- Decrepit bridge - in no way do I guarantee its safety!
From here the main effort of the day took us up a fairly straight-forward slope to Carn a' Choire Bhuidhe. From here the views are superb, especially of the Munro group centred around Sgurr nan Cobhairean to the west.
- View west
There follows about 1.5km of undulating ground to get to the main aim, Aonach Shasuinn. With excellent visibility, this presented no problems, but I imagine it could be quite confusing in mist, as there is no real definition to the route.
- Confused ridge
- Final pull up to Aonach Shasuinn
- Summit view towards Glen Affric hills
We decided that we could shorten the descent by returning to the bealach between the two hills and dropping to an old track in the glen. Actually this is quite steep, and required care (map only shows upward route).
- Bealach
- Plenty of new tracks in this view
- Steep route down, looking back
It took longer than expected back to the new Hydro buildings. We took an old route across the hill - very surprisingly disturbing a badger along the way - only the second time I have seen one high in the hills in twenty odd years of walking. Actually at a new bridge it looks possible to follow a new track down and round to the Hydro buildings, which might have been longer, but easier going. I must say that these blend in quite well, and the track looks as if it has been there a long time; there is no sign of left-behind equipment, just the hum from the sheds.
- Hydro shed
All that remained was 4km to reach the bikes, and a very pleasant coast down the hill to the car!
Overall, I would recommend this route if just tackling this Corbett; adding the other one would be a bit of a mission from this start!