Beinn Odhar Bhearg and Beinn Mhic Cedidh

[Verylatestarter]

On the Saturday of the WH meet at Laggan I opted for a couple of Corbetts in Moidart which were likely to be snow free and which I could complete early enough to get back for the all-important quiz. I’d never been to the West side of Loch Linnhe and imagined the area to be a retirement home for Corbetts, there being such a density of them. What beautiful country. I followed the WH route fairly closely so no route map in this report. If I did this again I’d probably find a different exit route off the North ridge of BMC, but more of that later.

The gate at the back of the layby - go straight on then right up a shallow gully

I parked at the layby by the sharp bend in the main road, there was clearly no one else around despite it being Saturday. I went over the gate, the bridge and the railway, the fancy train to Mallaig went by (almost empty) and I turned right up the slope. The ground was wet but not excessively so; the weather good with no sign of rain – Summer hits Scotland! After about 1.5Km of pathless, wet tussocky grass I came to a small bealach with steep slabs on the North side (at NM845 807) and headed due South. Another 2 Km of relentless pathless wet tussocky grass (this is a Corbett after all).

Follow water course, acres of tussocky grass.

The bealach at NM845807, cliff on right, North ridge of BMC straight on

looking back towards Glenfinnan along road and railway line

Looking West towards Loch Eilt and Rum

More tussocky grass towards the summit of Beinn Odhar Mhor - oh joy!

The North ridge with Rois Bheinn round beyond

Beinn Odhhar Bheag on left BMC on right

The summit of Beinn Odhar Mhor

I reached the summit of Beinn Odhar Mhor, having taken two hours if what seemed like interminable drudge. Still the weather was improving and the views had opened up to reveal Loch Shiel up to Glenfinnan, and the West coast together with more Corbetts than you could shake a stick at. These hills sit between the Rois Beinn round and the Guibhsachain round so are in great company, to the South Resipole and Ben More on Mull and to the East Ben Nevis and Glencoe.

First view of Glenfinnan and Loch Eil

Rocky summit of BOM

The bealach between the two Beinn Odhars

Beinn Mhic Cedidh, with 300m drop to the bealach

The cliffs below BOB, the small dome is a great viewpoint, Loch Shiel below

Glaciated slabs on North slope of BOB

The best part of the walk is the ridge and shallow bealach between Odhar Mhor and Odhar Bheag and then the peak of the latter, undulating and rocky with great views both East and West. The drop off O M is a little tricky as it’s on steep grass but there are a couple of weak spots to find the way down. At the low point of the bealach I drifted off to the top of the mound on the East side of O B called Sgurr an Tuirc; this has great views up and down Loch Sheil and of the steep rocky side of O B, a fine looking hill.

The view North along Loch Shiel

Across Loch Shield to Sgurr Ghiubhsachain

The stately peak of Beinn Odhar Bheag

Looking West to BMC, The Druim Fiaclach looms behind

The small lump of Sgurr an Tuirc provides an excellent viewpoint

Cliffs looking South along Loch Shiel

The summit pyramid

By the time I’d got to the top of the first Corbett it was lunch time and the weather had improved further, so picking a nice dry spot out of the Northerly breeze and with wonderful views to the South, I had my tea and sarnies. On my way again I found actual human footprints in the remaining snow, something of a surprise as I’d seen no evidence of walkers up till them, still they were clearly not fresh. The descent of OB was fairly straightforward, only 400m down to the Bealach Choire Bhuidhe (looking around deep bealachs seem to be a feature of this area) but the 300m of ascent to Beinn Mhic Cedidh on (you’ve guessed it) wet tussocky grass seemed to go on forever.

Footprints in the snow

The view from my lunch spot, over Beinn a Chaorainn and Lioch Shiel

The Rois Bheinn round to the West

The summit cairn, Ben Nevis in far distance

Last view along Loch Shiel

Looking East from BMC at the long descent from BOB

If you are a fan of summit cairns, Moidart is not for you, both these Corbetts had cairns that must have taken all of 15 minutes to build; Rois Beinn the same. From the easy to forget cairn I headed down the North ridge as directed; this was rocky/grassy with plenty of big steps to negotiate through and down; in good weather not much of a problem. The worst section was just before the bealach at 244m, which has a steep drop, I worked my way to the West then back to the low point.

The North ridge of BMC

The summit of BMC

The lumpy, bumpy North ridge

The ground down and disrupted sandstone of the Moidart hills

Looking back up the North ridge

The exit route , boggy with a poor ATV track

The exit route off the bealach was fairly obvious, an ATV track down though boggy moorland to a bridge and then parallel to the railway line, under a bridge and then along the flat area between the railway and river. The whole way was wet and boggy and the ATV track badly maintained, I’m not sure I’ve seen a worse one still in use. The ford wasn’t difficult to cross and the road a pleasure to walk after the bogfest, there is a reasonably safe verge and traffic wasn’t heavy. It took me an hour from bealach to car.

A couple of good hills and Beinn Odhar Bheag was very enjoyable. Having looked at the maps, photos and Black Panther’s report from June 23 I would be inclined to avoid the exit route via the ATV and strike a line across the valley from the North ridge(say at NM829 793) to the small bealach at NM845807. I would also be inclined do this route in reverse, the North Ridge would be easier to navigate and the exit off Beinn Odhar Mhor an easy descent .