Glas Bheinn and Beinn na Cloiche - Kinlochleven.

[MacAoidh]

Hills Climbed : Glas Bheinn (Corbett), Beinn na Cloiche (Graham).
Date : Saturday 17th October,2009.
Distance : 26 km (16.1 miles).
Time taken : 9 hrs 20 mins.
Weather : Warm and sunny. Cool on tops.
Attendees : MacAoidh and Robin.


The forecast was for high pressure and a cracking day looked promising; so we decided to head for the Corbett Glas Bheinn. We had been keeping this one for a day when the weather was set fair as it has a fine panorama from its summit. I left home at 05:25 and drove to Balloch to meet Robin. We had a pleasant drive up to Kinlochleven in the early morning light.


Looking back towards Kinlochleven from the track leading to Loch Eilde Mor.


We parked at the Mamore Lodge Hotel (NN186630) above Kinlochleven and set off from there at 08:45 and followed the track which leads to Loch Eilde Mor.


Looking towards Aonach Eagach from the SW ridge of Glas Bheinn.

On reaching Loch Eilde Mor a path strikes off from the track and crosses the dam and then continues to the Meall na Cruaidhe shoulder on the broad SW ridge of Glas Bheinn.



Looking towards the Mamores from the SW ridge of Glas Bheinn.




Looking towards Glencoe from the SW ridge of Glas Bheinn.

It was a pleasant walk up the SW ridge and we arrived at the summit of Glas Bheinn at 12 noon.


Looking towards Stob Coire Easain and Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin from the summit of Glas Bheinn.

We sat for 25 minutes to have a bite to eat and marvel at the surrounding panorama; the sun was shinning, but there was a cool breeze. As it was still early we decided to head for the Graham Beinn na Cloiche which lies to the east of Glas Bheinn.


Looking towards Ben Nevis from the summit of Beinn na Cloiche.

To avoid the steep eastern side of Glas Bheinn we headed down the north eastern ridge and then descended to the watershed just north of Lochan Tom Ailein. From here it was a nice easy plod up the slopes of Beinn na Cloiche and we arrived at the summit at 13:45.


Looking towards Stob Coire Easain and Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin from the summit of Beinn na Cloiche.

The view from this summit was even better than that from Glas Bheinn.


MacAoidh on the summit of Beinn na Cloiche.

We sat for 45 minutes to admire the panorama in glorious sunshine and we were reluctant to leave, but as we had a long walk back we had to force ourselves to leave this lovely spot. So we set off down the south west ridge and joined the path at NN267627 which led us back over Meall na Cruaidhe to Loch Eilde Mor. We enjoyed the mellow lighting on the Mamores and down Loch Leven as we walked back along the track; but by the time we arrived back at the car at 18:05 the sun had gone and the light was fading. The darkness quickly fell as we headed homewards. I arrived back home at 21:30.

[Paul Webster]

I'd always thought that Glas Bheinn looked one of the less interesting Corbetts but you've sold it to me with that one.

[John Burgess]

I'd always thought that Glas Bheinn looked one of the less interesting Corbetts but you've sold it to me with that one.

Me too! Makes me regret the number of times I've walked round those hills rather than over them

Beautiful photos.

I seem to remember reading somewhere (might have been in the Staoineag bothy) that in the days when families lived at Staoineag and Luibeilt they would sometimes get together up at Lochan a Chuirn Dherg - just for a bit of a day out I suppose.

Thanks for the report,

All the best,

John