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Much in the same way as I am impressed by people who do the Ring of Steall, rather than picking off the Mamores in ones and twos. The over achievers who do all five Tyndrum Corbetts in one round have my unadulterated admiration. However, to quote Dirty Harry, 'It's important for a man to know his limitations', so it is not how I chose to do these things. Ticking off these hills one or two at a time, even when some considerable effort could probably have been saved including a second one, has been my
Modus Operandi for these peaks.
The only time I have ticked off two Corbetts in one day was when I took in Beinn Chaorach and Cam Chreag, which can only attributed to a bad case of over enthusiasm. It's not all base laziness on my part (buy mostly), their close proximity to home means that I tended to save these hills for shorter winter day or times I simply couldn't be bothered driving any further.
Anyway, the result of this strategy, was that Beinn nam Fuaran ended up being the last slightly awkward tick of the Tyndrum five.
Adopting a bike/walk plan, I rendezvoused with my accomplices for the day at the side of the A82, just above the turn off to the Auch estate. After a short cycle on the main road we skirted off towards the Estate, following the route usually used for Beinn Mhanach. Following the decent track under the viaduct, the bikes made for good going. Remembering my last trip up this way to Mhanach, I took the time to get off my bike at some of the fords of the the river. Some are deeper than they look and I had ended up with wet feet previously when the front wheel of the bike had hit a submerged rock, coping me over.
Continuing past the old croft buildings we continued East towards Loch Lyon, before abandoning the bikes at the bottom of the North side of Beinn Nam Fuaran.
It's a mercifully short ascent from this side, but also lung burstingly steep most of the way. Following the fence line we gained altitude quickly, with views over Loch Lyon towards Creag Mhor and the meaty Beinn Heasgarnich. The gradient lessens for the last 100m, much to my relief, and we enjoyed a sandwich at the top, before the easier, but knee jarring descend the same way.
Recovering the bikes, an easy cycle back to Auch was welcomed. It doesn't feel like much ascent cycling in, but the difference of speed on the way back, would suggest otherwise. There is a little sting in the tail with the climb back to the A82, where we opted to push our bikes rather than brave the traffic at a snails pace on out bikes.
As is tradition on these hills , it was then off to the Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum for a fish supper.
