Strathcarron to Fort William and Corrour to Dalwhinnie PT 2
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:14 pmPart 2. Corrour to Dalwhinnie. Aprrox 21.9 miles
Day 7. Sun 28th.
Corrour to Culra Bothy. Approx 12.7 miles
Weather Cloudy, cool and breezy.
From Fort William I had decided to catch a train to Corrour to start my walk there. (this trek could be extended by walking up Glen Nevis and possibly stopping in Luibeilt Bothy or Stoineag Bothy overnight before heading for Corrour)
With the limited Sunday service I only had 1 option of the 11.45pm train. So I left a hot and sunny Fort William but was disappointed as I was moving into more and more cloud as the train travelled further to the east.. I disembarked at Corrour (12.30pm) and quickly changed from the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing to warmer clothes, with sudden shock in the change of temperature. After 1 mile I passed the YH then walked along the southern side of Loch Ossian, not the best of views here today, with the cloud low down the hillside and hazy visibility. From the east side of the Loch, a good path slowly rises up the glen following the river, at a point high up where the path peters out, a short climb got me to a higher path which then leads up to the pass at 720 metres. Here I met a group of teenage girls doing the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, who looked absolutely knackered as I passed them. By now for some reason my feet were becoming rather painful underneath, so after walking down the excellent path it was good to see a very welcoming looking Culra Bothy, by now it was 5.45pm.
The last time I stopped here was in March earlier this year, when I did a 2 nighter from Dalwhinnie which included a night Ben Alder Bothy also.
This Bothy was also my first ever one that I stopped in around 17 years ago when I was doing the Munro’s, a virgin Bothier am I no more, having since visited or stopped in all but 3 of the Highland bothys.
I decided to camp outside this time, the group of teenagers turned up about 1.5hrs later, (together with there 3 teachers just after) the girls rested for an hour at the Bothy before moving on to camp about 2 miles further on to the east. As well as the teachers only 2 others were stopping in the Bothy that night.
Day 8. Mon 29th.
Culra Bothy to Dalwhinnie Approx 9.2 miles.
Weather. Cloud early but clearing to leave sunny periods, hot.
Up at 7.30am, with a 3hr10mins walk ahead (after doing it in March it was handy knowing this exact time with a train to catch) and my train arriving at 12.27pm; I left the Bothy with plenty of time to spare at 8.30am. After 40mins I passed the teenagers who were busy packing up their tents, I think they were glad it was nearly all over, as I informed them they only had just over 2hrs or so to get to Dalwhinnie, at least their wilderness adventure and D of E medal will look good on their CV. I dropped down to the Disney like Ben Alder Lodge on the shore of Loch Erict.
From the Lodge it’s a long walk along the estate road to Dalwhinnie and the statiom, reaching at 11.40am, in plenty of time for the arrival of the train. So after getting the train back to Aviemore I drove to Glasgow for a night (what a contrast) before heading home early the next day.
And so that was another great trek done.
Day 7. Sun 28th.
Corrour to Culra Bothy. Approx 12.7 miles
Weather Cloudy, cool and breezy.
From Fort William I had decided to catch a train to Corrour to start my walk there. (this trek could be extended by walking up Glen Nevis and possibly stopping in Luibeilt Bothy or Stoineag Bothy overnight before heading for Corrour)
- Ben nevis from Staoineag July 2006
With the limited Sunday service I only had 1 option of the 11.45pm train. So I left a hot and sunny Fort William but was disappointed as I was moving into more and more cloud as the train travelled further to the east.. I disembarked at Corrour (12.30pm) and quickly changed from the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing to warmer clothes, with sudden shock in the change of temperature. After 1 mile I passed the YH then walked along the southern side of Loch Ossian, not the best of views here today, with the cloud low down the hillside and hazy visibility. From the east side of the Loch, a good path slowly rises up the glen following the river, at a point high up where the path peters out, a short climb got me to a higher path which then leads up to the pass at 720 metres. Here I met a group of teenage girls doing the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, who looked absolutely knackered as I passed them. By now for some reason my feet were becoming rather painful underneath, so after walking down the excellent path it was good to see a very welcoming looking Culra Bothy, by now it was 5.45pm.
- Wildcamp by Culra Bothy
The last time I stopped here was in March earlier this year, when I did a 2 nighter from Dalwhinnie which included a night Ben Alder Bothy also.
- Rainbow after passing shower, Culra bothy
- Inside Culra bothy March 2009
- Culra bothy March 2009
This Bothy was also my first ever one that I stopped in around 17 years ago when I was doing the Munro’s, a virgin Bothier am I no more, having since visited or stopped in all but 3 of the Highland bothys.
I decided to camp outside this time, the group of teenagers turned up about 1.5hrs later, (together with there 3 teachers just after) the girls rested for an hour at the Bothy before moving on to camp about 2 miles further on to the east. As well as the teachers only 2 others were stopping in the Bothy that night.
Day 8. Mon 29th.
Culra Bothy to Dalwhinnie Approx 9.2 miles.
Weather. Cloud early but clearing to leave sunny periods, hot.
Up at 7.30am, with a 3hr10mins walk ahead (after doing it in March it was handy knowing this exact time with a train to catch) and my train arriving at 12.27pm; I left the Bothy with plenty of time to spare at 8.30am. After 40mins I passed the teenagers who were busy packing up their tents, I think they were glad it was nearly all over, as I informed them they only had just over 2hrs or so to get to Dalwhinnie, at least their wilderness adventure and D of E medal will look good on their CV. I dropped down to the Disney like Ben Alder Lodge on the shore of Loch Erict.
- Loch Erict 2009
- Loch Erict March 2009
From the Lodge it’s a long walk along the estate road to Dalwhinnie and the statiom, reaching at 11.40am, in plenty of time for the arrival of the train. So after getting the train back to Aviemore I drove to Glasgow for a night (what a contrast) before heading home early the next day.
And so that was another great trek done.
