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I arrived on the Corrour Estate and was staying for a week with the intention of tackling some of the more remote Munros normally approached from the Culra Bothy. Looking at the forecast for the week ahead, I thought I had better get on with it. So, early on Monday morning I set off from the lovely little house on the Corrour Estate and headed into the hills.
I followed a rough surfaced road past the small hydro electric power station and east along the Uisge Labhair. A short distance along, just after the sluice marked on the OS map a small wooden bridge crosses a stream. I found a faint path on the far side of this leading northeast into the hills - so off I went...
- Just after this bridge a faint path leads off towards the hills.
Unfortunately, after about 20 paces the path had evaporated and I was left to pick my own way up hillocky heather. It wasn't too bad and I felt like I was gaining height quickly.
- The sun breaking through the clouds over Ben Alder as I gained height up towards Beinn Eibhinn.
From the shoulder of Meall Glas Choire the grass was short and there was a reasonable path, which meant that I pushed on up to the top of Beinn Eibhinn quickly.
The route on to Aonach Beag was easy without a great deal of re-ascent and I pushed on towards Geal-Charn. This all felt quite straight forward and I was making good time. The cloud was starting to clear and I really enjoyed the views down towards Uisge Labhair and Ben Alder.
- Looking down towards Uisge Labhair with Ben Alder and Loch Ericht beyond.
Geal Charn is a huge flat plateau and feels quite different to the other hills. Having crossed the summit I found the start of Aisre Ghobhainn - the ridge that leads on towards Carn Dearg,
- Aisre Ghobhainn and Carn Dearg in the distance.
So - this was a bit of a decision point for me. I had really struggled to find a good route to tackle these 4 Munros and the best I could come up with was to complete all 4 then reverse the route and reclimb the first 3. So far this looked fine - the hills were quite close together without too much descent and re-ascent. This all felt quite possible.
However, looking ahead to Carn Dearg this was clearly a bigger deal. It looked a long way away with a significant loss of height. I felt that an alternative return via Leacann na Brathan would be possible, but this was close to the full height of Geal Charn anyway, so...
I had made good time and felt that whatever lay ahead it would be silly to turn back now. So I pushed on to Carn Dearg and arrived at the summit, on a good path, quite quickly.
- Arriving at the top of Carn Dearg. Now just the small matter of getting back.
Having arrived at the top of the fourth and final Munro of the day, it was still only about 11:00, so I decided that the best (or least worst) return route would be to simply retrace my steps. Once I got back onto Geal Charn I felt that it would be relatively easy going and this seemed more promising than dropping into the Bealach Dubh. Or put another way - better the devil I know...
So I headed back. To break up the re-ascent back onto Geal Charn I stopped for lunch about half way up and I arrived back on the summit just as it was starting to rain. I was certainly beginning to feel a little more tired, but I wasn't too stressed and pushed on back over Aonach beag and on to Beinn Eibhinn.
- The views on the way back to Beinn Eibhinn
Finally I crossed Beinn Eibhinn and the Corrour Estate came into view. So I had climbed all 4 Munros - 3 of them twice! This really wasn't a great choice of route, but it worked out ok and I did it.
- The Corrour Estate and my bed for the night, coming into view.
When I got back to the sluice I was really feeling tired, but it is only a mile or so from here back to the cottage. It was with a huge sense of relief that I arrived back.
So, this was a bad choice of route, but I'm 55 and really pleased that I can do a route of 17.5 miles with 7,500 feet of ascent. I am also really pleased that I will never have to do it again.
Just as I arrived back I got a message from one of my friends on the north coast saying he was getting blown off his camp site and asking if he could come to stay. Oh fantastic! Yes please! Bring beer!
I had a brilliant time in one of the most remote corners of Scotland. Everything just seemed to fit together nicely and I have now completed Section 4.
