The Garbh Bheinn Horseshoe

[foggieclimber]

Hills: Sgorr Mhic Eacharna (Graham), Beinn Bheag (Graham), Garbh Bheinn (Corbett)
Date: Tuesday 28th June 2011
Company: Just myself
Distance: 12km, Ascent: 1265m
Time: 7 Hours

The Met Office forecast for yesterday looked pretty-good so I booked the day off and travelled down to Ardgour/Sunart on Monday evening. I spent the night at the Ariundle Bunkhouse - a superb independent bunkhouse.

On waking yesterday morning, and looking out the window, I was somewhat disappointed.
The Met Office forecast was wrong - instead of sun there was clag.
There was no mention of rain at all in the forecast and yet I got soaked twice .

I tried to stay positive, thinking perhaps the weather would improve in an hour or so.
I therefore set off as planned to undertake the Garbh Bheinn horseshoe.

Approximate route undertaken:

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

I ascended the nose of Sgorr Mhic Eacharna. Views were quite good below 350m.

Coire an Iubhair:


Ascending Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


By the time I reached Lochan Druim an Iubhair, I was walking in thick clag. At this point I got my compass out and used it very frequently during the next few hours. Decided not to use the GPS - good to practice using good old map and compass.

Lochan Druim an Iubhair:


Looking back to Lochan Druim an Iubhair:


No views at all during the two kilometre walk from Lochan Druim an Iubhair to Sgorr Mhic Eacharna .

A fleeting glimpse of Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


Twin-cairned summit of Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


I didn’t spend long at the summit, just enough time to work out the distances and bearings for the next two legs.

Nearly three hours today spent walking in this:


The clag was worse than it appears in the photos - most photos I took during very brief views.

The descent from Sgorr Mhic Eacharna was quite steep.

A fleeting glimpse down Coire an Iubhair:


During the ascent of Beinn Bheag, the clag disappeared for a couple of minutes .
The clag would soon be back but it was definitely lifting.

Looking back to Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


Ascending Beinn Bheag:


As the summit of Beinn Bheag was also in clag, again I just spent enough time there to take bearings.

Summit of Beinn Bheag:


From the summit of Beinn Bheag, I continued along the ridge to the 696m top.

Descent from Beinn Bheag:


At last, a view of Garbh Bheinn:


Until now, I had been a bit apprehensive about ascending the back-end of Garbh Bheinn. I knew there were a couple of steep gullies but I didn’t fancy ascending them without seeing what I was ascending into!

After passing the 696m top the clag started to lift permanently – great timing .
I could see across to the gullies and decided that the one on the left looked easiest.

Looking across to the gullies on Garbh Bheinn above Lochan Coire an Iubhair:


I descended steeply to Lochan Coire an Iubhair and then started my ascent of the steep gully. The grass was very wet and slippery, however, it was much easier close-up than it looked from a distance.

Looking back to Lochan Coire an Iubhair from gully:


It didn’t take long to reach the top of the gully.

Looking back down the gully:


I didn’t have a clue how to get to the top of Garbh Bheinn from the top of the gully. The grassy line looked good so I made my way up it.

The next section of Garbh Bheinn above the gullies:


On reaching the top of the grassy line, I was left with an easy walk to the summit .

Easy walk to summit:


Was great to get some views .

View towards Loch Sunart:


Summit of Garbh Bheinn:


Beinn Bheag from summit of Garbh Bheinn:


From the summit of Garbh Bheinn, I followed a distinct path to the col between Garbh Bheinn and its 823m top.

823m Corbett Top of Garbh Bheinn:


Looking back from the col, Garbh Bheinn looks seriously impressive – a very rocky mountain.

Very rocky Garbh Bheinn:


Garbh Bheinn:


En-route to the 823m top, I nearly stood on a frog that was sitting on the path.

Frog:


I ascended to the top of the 823m top, just in case it was a HuMP - it isn’t .

Looking back to Garbh Bheinn from 823m top:


Loch Linnhe:


Loch Linnhe:


I then descended Sron a’Gharbh Choire Bhig back to the starting point.
I was a bit surprised that there were a number of scrambling sections during the descent. Ascending the back-end was definitely technically easier.

Descending Sron a’Gharbh Choire Bhig:


View towards Ballachuillish and Glen Coe:

[malky_c]

A little unlucky with the early weather, but a stunner of a hill . I see you decided to leave Beinn behind - was wondering how he might cope with the full horseshoe.

Some hellish drops between the first two hills. I vaguely remember doing this route on a scorching day about 16 years ago - must've been some of my earliest Corbetts and Grahams. I think we started up the right-hand gully in your photo, before moving rightwards onto the easier-angled rocky face higher up. Could be wrong though.

Closing in on the end now

[kinley]

Think this is a cracking way of doing these hills - a really good day.

A bit of a mixed bag weather wise but hay-ho

[foggieclimber]

Think this is a cracking way of doing these hills - a really good day.

A bit of a mixed bag weather wise but hay-ho

Thanks Kinley. I enjoyed your report of this circuit.

[rockhopper]

That looks a great route foggie - pity about the weather though [you have my sympathies ]. The ascent routes you arrowed certainly look steep

[foggieclimber]

The ascent routes you arrowed certainly look steep

Wouldn't be a good place for a slip .

[ChrisW]

Great walk Foggie and a cracking report, some of those pics are stunning, I particularly like the two of Loch Linnhe - really good looking walk this one

[rohan]

Thank-you for this excellent and helpful report. If I hadn't read it I may have bottlled out when it came to the ascent of the "back-end of Garbh Bheinn" as it certainly looked steep. However I had better conditions than you and the climb up is not as steep as it looks and has lots of flat "steps". I kept to the left once out of the gully (I could see where I was heading!). The rocks were pleasant and offered some limited but very easy scrambling to the summit. Certainly the Horseshoe gives the finer approach to Garbh Bheinn with great views all the way.

[Collaciotach]

Garbh bheinn a crac ing hill and grand report glad the ceo lifted for you. I ve only be on her in Winter snow and half the horse shoe (clockways), did nt fancy the drop down onto Bheag in ice n white stuff, you'd be better roped even with cramps and axe

Now i will follow your route before Winter its only 15mins from my front door i live across from the bunkhouse up the hill a wee bit ...ain't i lucky a bhalaich ?

[kevsbald]

Only just saw this. Looks mighty tasty.

[foggieclimber]

Thank-you for this excellent and helpful report. If I hadn't read it I may have bottlled out when it came to the ascent of the "back-end of Garbh Bheinn" as it certainly looked steep.

You're welcome. I didn't expect to see this report popping back up again.