Remote Corbett from Rannoch on a road!

[The Rodmiester]

Started off at 0750hrs from the roadside near the Bridge of Ericht on the B846 to the North of Loch Rannoch, about room for 2/3 cars.

Car parking area just to the East of the main entrance gates to the estate and the track to Corrievarkie Lodge

Main entrance gates are kept locked but the side access gate allows pedestrians and cycles through. Today I was on a mission to hopefully find a missing dog and also pick up a remote corbett, with this in mind I decided to walk in

The first section of track is probably in the worst condition, it heads on through trees, but after a few hundred meters your out in the open hillside. You are heading for the forestation of trees on your left and the track although looks to be heading to the right, turns back towards the trees, so just stay on the main track climbing steadily

All the interest is on your left at this stage as you can see down to the river and also all the low lying ground nearby. Soon you come across a pipeline from the power station crossing over the river.

Straight ahead you see the Loch Ericht Dam, that is the West Dam as Loch Ericht is dammed at both ends. The Eastern end dam is no longer used I am led to believe. The outflow of the dam runs inro the River Ericht the river on your Left as you walk along the very good track

The long and winding road, excellent surface even for a road bike. It's a very warm and sunny day and I'm constantly looking down towards the river to see if there is any sign of Benji the dog. One good thing is that there are lots and lots of water sources about around here

Looking back down the track. The track appears to go on and on. After passing the link road which crosses over the Allt Ghlas to the Dam the main road continues East and starts to climb again, its about here I bump into a wild camper who has biked in to this spot beside the river on the left of the track. I asked him if he had seen any sign of the missing dog, but he has not seen or heard anything

Question time now, what do you get when its Hot and your walking on a tarmac road, answer, Blisters. Should of brought my trainers but I'm carrying enough weight, rucksack full of water as I thought it might have been sheep country so decided to bring all my own. At the high point of the track just at a bend there is a pile of stones on the right which indicates where you head on up the East side of Stob an Aonaich Mhor 855m, its a welcome from the hard tarmac surface. 2 1/2 hrs to this point.

In half an hour you have reached the summit cairn, and what a view in all directions, This one looking North East up Loch Ericht

Looking North over Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil

Looking down Loch Ericht South West

Another to the NE

Another, it really has made this rather long walk worthwhile seeing such views at the top

I had intended to head on down to have a look at Corrievarkie Lodge but my feet were requiring some compeed first aid and I new that a club meet awaited me at the weekend at Glen Shiel so I headed on back the way I came. This was the camping spot, looks ideal. I see that over 50 WH members have done this Corbett, I wonder how many took their bicycles, if doing it again I would certainly cycle, a really good surface for most of the way and I reckon it would save you at least three hours, so you have been told! On my way back out I met up with fellow Walkhighlands member Rohan who was about to climb the same wee corbett as myself, so after a wee chat I headed back down the track. It was nice to meet up with you, hope to meet again sometime Rohan, hope you got some nice photographs from the summit as well!

A long walk but with a lot of interest with grand views all round. Apart from the pipeline, Dam, ruin cottage there was this bridge crossing, its seen better days!

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[Graeme D]

Very nice Rod, and done in authentic purist spirit too!

[The Rodmiester]

Very nice Rod, and done in authentic purist spirit too!

Hi there Graeme, the views from the summit made it all worthwhile , maybe see you on Skye in August.

[jmarkb]

Nice report!

I see that over 50 WH members have done this Corbett, I wonder how many took their bicycles

Not me! We went in from Drumochter via the Coire Dhomhain track. We were expecting some serious bog and heather bashing but actually it wasn't too bad....

[The Rodmiester]

Nice report!

I see that over 50 WH members have done this Corbett, I wonder how many took their bicycles

Not me! We went in from Drumochter via the Coire Dhomhain track. We were expecting some serious bog and heather bashing but actually it wasn't too bad....

Good on you jmarkb, as the previous week I had done Beinn Mholach and the Graham Creag a Mhadaidh and walked in from Dalnaspidal Lodge, but like you I had heard that the underfoot conditions between BM and Stob AM were pretty hard going so decided to tackle from the Rannoch side as the area was all new to me as I had not been there before. I see that the lodge has been re-named as on my old OS map it is referred to as Coire Bhachdaidh Lodge, I don't know when the name changed. I must give your way a go sometime as I would like to see the lodge complex since it has been all done up. I see the weekly rent as a mere £2000.00

[jmarkb]

I'm no purist, though: I confess to using bikes for a couple of the Corbetts (Leathad an Taobhain and Carn Ban).

I must give your way a go sometime as I would like to see the lodge complex since it has been all done up.

I don't remember much about it, though I guess we would have been able to see it from the head of the coire. If I recall correctly, there is a trace of path from the end of the Coire Dhomhain track as far as the col between Sgairneach Mhor and Beinn Udlamain. Once over the col, the easiest going is next to the burn, until you can cut across and contour just above the steep ground on the W side of Glas Mheall a'Chumhainn.

I see the weekly rent as a mere £2000.00

Ouch, though I suppose it's not too bad if you split it amongst 12 folk!

[Johnny Corbett]

Got this earmarked for this year. I'm a great believer that roads are for driving or cycling on, so i'll be biking this one. Views are good from the summit.

[The Rodmiester]

Got this earmarked for this year. I'm a great believer that roads are for driving or cycling on, so i'll be biking this one. Views are good from the summit.

Save it for a clear day (your type of day) JC, and enjoy the views, once off your bike, a half hour to the top, I guess you will be back at the car in about 45mins once your on the bike

[Gordie12]

Hi Rod

Nice walk and great weather.

This is another one I'm keen to do as I haven't walked in to this area from Rannoch before.

Enjoy your weekend walking.

[The Rodmiester]

Hi Rod

Nice walk and great weather.

This is another one I'm keen to do as I haven't walked in to this area from Rannoch before.

Enjoy your weekend walking.

Thanks Gordie, no doubt you have something planned also, but Friday looking the best day for the West, fingers crossed as camping at Glen Shiel campsite, I bet you will walk also from Rannoch!

[Gavin99]

That looks like a nice wander , fairly bog free too . I hope your feet recovered in time for your meet

[The Rodmiester]

That looks like a nice wander , fairly bog free too . I hope your feet recovered in time for your meet

Hi again Gavin, lots to look at along the way, Compeed packed for the meet this weekend at Glen Shiel

[rohan]

Good to meet you too Rod, I took my time using the excuse of butterflies, hawkers, lizards etc. I was also so busy talking to the Belgiums (4 of the 13 that are staying there) from the lodge on the summit I didn't take many photos. The views were something and this hill needs clear weather to make the trek worthwhile. I had intended going off the road and up over Carn Dearg to make the actual hill walk and views a bit longer but in the end stuck to the road. At least meeting the Belgiums meant that I was able to confirm that they knew about Benji. They also raved about the lodge which apparently still has a lot of its original fittings.
The bike zoom back was great. I am sure the road is worse at the start to put off any unauthorised cars as the gate was unlocked when I went out and was still unlocked when I returned at 5.30. A road bike would cope with it fine. I parked at car park at the power station as there were already a couple of cars on the verge and my campervan although small is still larger than the average car.

[The Rodmiester]

Good to meet you too Rod, I took my time using the excuse of butterflies, hawkers, lizards etc. I was also so busy talking to the Belgiums (4 of the 13 that are staying there) from the lodge on the summit I didn't take many photos. The views were something and this hill needs clear weather to make the trek worthwhile. I had intended going off the road and up over Carn Dearg to make the actual hill walk and views a bit longer but in the end stuck to the road. At least meeting the Belgiums meant that I was able to confirm that they knew about Benji. They also raved about the lodge which apparently still has a lot of its original fittings.
The bike zoom back was great. I am sure the road is worse at the start to put off any unauthorised cars as the gate was unlocked when I went out and was still unlocked when I returned at 5.30. A road bike would cope with it fine. I parked at car park at the power station as there were already a couple of cars on the verge and my campervan although small is still larger than the average car.

Hi again rohan, glad you met up with the Belgiums on the summit. Checkout the website for the Lodge under the existing name not the old name on my very old OS map Coire Bhachdaidh Lodge, it's something special, right enough. Thanks for posting the lovely butterfly picture , I have never seen one of these before, are they common? I must check it out.

[rohan]

I have never seen one of these before, are they common? I must check it out.

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=selene You probably did on this walk!. They are more widespread than the pearl-bordered http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=euphrosyne but this is the first time I have managed to get any photos.