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……..But Shhh, don’t be telling everyone now
Surrounded by a mass of well-known, popular and much visited Munros Fraochaidh enjoys relative obscurity as it sits nicely between three glens, Glen Duror, Glen Creran and Gleann an Fhiodh. It had been on my “to-do” list for a little while. I’d originally thought it might make a good long winters walk, but the winter just gone hadn’t provided quite the winter conditions I would have wanted. So it was that it turned into a spring Corbett for me.
Any of the three glens provide access to the hill, but I decided on the WH route via Gleann an Fhiodh from Ballachulish
I had wanted to go Munro bagging further afield this weekend, but the length of journey and the reality of work on Monday meant common sense prevailed as I decided on something a bit closer to home. I can’t deny I was a bit grumpy on the drive up, given the plans I had had. Even the stunning view of Black Mount, Buachaille Etive Mor and the Notched Ridge struggled to lift my spirits as I passed the half dozen coaches spewing walkers readying themselves at the first of the Bidean nam Bian parking areas
I really needn’t have worried. Fraochaidh delivered and delivered in style
The walk starts as for the impressive Beinn a’Bheithir, heading south out of the village toward the school. A little further on and a couple of gates later and I was on a good track and very soon feeling well away from the hustle and bustle as the village disappeared from view behind me.
Overall the track was good to firm, if a little soft in places and even a little softer and slightly boggy in other places
- Sgorr a’Choise
- The ruler of all they survey
The path is quite open for the most part. The Graham Sgorr a’Choise dominates the view initially, with my ultimate target remaining hidden beyond its snaking ridge. It was another warm Sunday and my follicly challenged bonce was starting to feel the heat early on
So it was nice to take advantage of the few occasions when the path dropped down through the trees, affording some respite from the sun as it crossed over a number of small burns running down off the flanks of Stob Bhan
- Pano of Sgorr a’Choise and the Thunderbolt
- Route ahead
It seemed to take no time at all really to reach the point where the fording of the River Laroch was required. In spate I’m sure this can be an issue, but today it was easy going and crossing occurred without incident
Then the climbing began
- The "path" up the flank
The initial climb up the flank isn’t long, but is a bit steep and the path in places appears to only be in places
Higher up a proper path appeared again, making light work of the final climb onto the Mam Uchadaich. Here the path up from Glen Creran is joined and the walk up and along the snaking ridge to the summit commences!
- Sgorr a’Choise from the bealach
- Pano back toward Glencoe
- Zoom to Cruachan
Initially the path was a bit on the boggy side, but this seemed to improve as height was gained. It’s an undulating ridge, a fact which is clearly best seen in descent. Up or down the path follows a line of old fence posts, so even in mist should be easy enough to follow. The lower reaches has a new fence recently erected, which crossed the route up with seemingly no stile in place. Let’s hope a stile is included at some point soon, as I don’t much like climbing fences, even if like this one it was just a case of getting a leg over.
- The ridge ahead
The up and down of the route continued, always heading more up than down, until a section of quartzite slabs was reached. The dropped down nicely to the Bealach Dearg, where I located a seat sized and shaped rock to stop for lunch. A lovely position, with views back toward the might of Glencoe, the Mamores, the likes of Beinn Sgulaird, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, Sgor na h-Ulaidh as well as the mighty peaks of Beinn a’Bheithir
- Pano of the Thunderbolt
- Pano of the ridge to the summit
- Toward the final climb
- Pano of the ridge behind
The view down Loch Linnhe toward Lismore, Mull and out to sea was also opening up nicely too
Suitably fed, watered and rested it was then a case of the final steep climb up onto the summit ridge
Looked steep from the bottom, was steep in the climb, but a good path made pretty easy going of it
Then it was the short walk to the cairn resplendent in it’s shroud of old fence posts
And the views
What views
360 degrees of just stunning
Glencoe, Mamores, Grey Corries, maybe Meagaidh even (not so sure about that), the Etive hills of Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor, Cruachan, across to Garbh Bheinn and the hils of Ardgour and Morvern, Ardnamurchan, Mull and some Cuillins (Rum rather than Black I think)
- Zoom to the Notched Ridge
- Glencoe
- Cairn
- View down Loch Linnhe
- Lismore
And in the distant haze even the twin Paps of Jura were on show
Oh yes, I was spoiled for views
Shortly after reaching the summit I was joined by a couple of chaps, who were equally surprised to find anyone out on this secretive hill as I was to see them. Sat on the summit for about 20 minutes just enjoying the views in the sunshine before saying my cheerios and heading back the way I had come.
I don’t usually like straight up-straight down routes, but for Fraochaidh I will make an exception
You get to see the great ridge you’ve walked up to its best effect on the way back down
- Pano of return ridge and Glencoe beyond
- Garbh Bheinn
- View back to Loch Creran
- The Ben
- Loch Linnhe and Ballachulish
Despite the cloud building up a bit as the afternoon wore on it remained sunny and warm for the route back, ensuring my head had a nice red glow by the time I got back to the car. The IRN BRU ice lolly I chose as my reward for my efforts never tasted so good
A perfect end to a perfect day on a perfect hill
But let’s keep it for the discerning hill walker shall we? We don’t want the masses arriving in their coaches now, do we
