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I had a day off work on Friday so decided to head out to corrour on the Caledonian Sleeper, or the deerstalker as I found out it was known as, and do this trebble. Initially I was going to drive to Crianlarich and catch the train there but after I factored in fuel costs I was the same price to take the train from Dalmuir instead which is 5 mins from home. The overall journey time would be 30mins longer but I figured it was worth it as I could relax on the train.
I caught the train at 6:01 and was off. I was pleasently surprised with the sleeper train and the big comfy seats and not before long I was sitting having a coffee enjoying the lovely views with the sun already out. It looked like it was going to be a really nice day. The journey was 3 hours long but It was far from boring.
At 9am I was off. Unfortunately the clear skies I was enjoying on the journey up had changed to patchy cloud. A pleaseant walk up towards Lake Ossian was followed by the first bit of uphill of the day.
By the time I was nearing the top the cloud had came in and I wasnt getting much of a view.
- Nearing the top
First top reached
- First top
Next it was a gentle descent and across to Sgor Gaibhre. 2nd top and it was t shirt weather again
After the second top I started my descent down towards the top of the Loch. This is where things got a bit crappy for a bit. The whole area was a squelchy bog with no visible paths. It had also started spitting ever so slightly. I just got the head down and headed in the direction of the Loch. After a bit of splodging The loch came into view and I could see the forrest at the top that I was heading towards.
Once I recehd the forrest I came across a massive fence. According to my map I was still on the route but I couldnt see a stile to cross so ended up having to climb it. A nice walk along the far bank of Loch Ossian followed although the weather had changed since the start of the day and it was still a bit grey and dull.
I eventually reached the point on my route where I was to cut through the forrest and head up Beinn na lap. I couldnt see any sign of a path but headed in anyway. The next 30 mins was sheer hell. The whole area was a swamp and I was having to force my way through thick tree branches. Then this happened!!
After a lot of cursing I emerged from the other side of the forrest and thought I would have a break and something to eat to recompose myself. I then set off up Beinn na lap. For a hill that is supposed to be "easy" it really took it out me. The route I had followed was also quite steep at times. I was glad to reach the top!
On the way down towards Corrour station sods law the sky started clearing up again and by the time I reached the path there was blue in the sky again.
I got back to Corrour station at 4pm and my train wasnt until 6:25pm so I headed into the restaurant for a cup of coffee. To my surprise/delight/relief they sold lager and since I didnt have to drive I thought why not?
I can now highly reccomend Corrour Gold and the sheepshaggers ale wasnt too bad either. I also got talking to two fellow walkers in the bar who had been up the corbett at the other side of the tracks, one of which who was on my train in the morning and had travelled all the way up from London. Good company indeed and a great way to finish off my day, even to the point where I was seriously considering missing my train and getting the next one! With my wife at home I thought better of it
