free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Corbetts: Creach Bheinn (Morvern), Fuar Bheinn
Date walked: 23 and 17/03/2009
Distance: 14km
Ascent: 1250m
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Sunny, turning slightly greyer, with a biting wind.
This should be my last bit of nostalgia for this evening! This adds even more weight to my feeling that March is the best month - there always seem to be high pressures about, and there is anticipation for the summer and more daylight. Admittedly last year we had to wait until April for the weather. One of the reasons I thought I'd write this up is that I noticed both
Clova and
Kinley had been in the area within a few days of me, also doing these hills.
Back in December 2008, I had been on site down in Lochaline. On the way home I had managed a quick walk up the Graham of Beinn na Cille. It had been a nice qay to fill an afternoon, although the weather hadn't been amazing. I hadn't had enough daylight to continue round the horseshoe, but it had given me a slightly alternative route idea for Fuar Bheinn.
Luckily for me, another visit to Lochaline was iminent. I tried to cut short the coffee drinking/nattering, but I still didn't get round to the start of the route at Glengalmadale until about 1pm.
Ballachulich Horseshoe from Corran Ferry:
Sgurr na h-Eanchainne from Corran Ferry:
Mull ferry from Lochaline:
I decided to skip Beinn na Cille and head for one of the ridges leading onto Fuar Bheinn - these had looked interesting on my previous visit. A decent track leads to the reservoir in the glen, although there are a couple of large puddles to be avoided. I managed to get quite close to a toad here - unusual for me and my big clomping feet!
Creach Bheinn from Glen Galmadale:
Toad!
Beyond the reservoir, there is little in the way of a path. This was a bit wet, but once I started ascending, it dried up. Just under 600m of steep ascent took me to the level part of the ridge.
Ascent up lower part of Meall Leac an Fhireoin:
Back down Glen Galmadale to Benderloch:
Upper part of Meall Leac an Fhireoin:
The second part of the ascent was great - not really any scrambling, but a lovely grassy promenade led to a steeper, narrower section, which led directly to the summit of Fuar Bheinn. Much as I enjoyed Beinn na Cille previously, I preferred this route onto Fuar Bheinn. Great views west to Ardnamurchan and south to Mull and the Firth of Lorn.
Looking back down Meall Leac an Fhireoin:
Beinn Mheadhoin from Fuar Bheinn:
Ben Resipol from Fuar Bheinn:
The descent was a mixture of grassy sections and slabs of rock which needed to be threaded around, but the re-ascent to Creach Bheinn was smoother.
Creach Bheinn from the west:
On the map, the Creach Bheinn/Fuar Bheinn horseshoe mirrors that of Garbh Bheinn to the north. While Garbh Bheinn probably edges it as the more impressive hill, this route is more pleasant on the feet and scenically just as great.
Ben Nevis, Loch Linnhe and Glencoe from Creach Bheinn:
Loch Sunart, Ardnamurchan and Ben Resipol from Creach Bheinn:
Sgurr Dhomhuill and Garbh Bheinn from Creach Bheinn:
Beinn na Cille and Fuar Bheinn from Creach Bheinn:
Maol Odhar with Garbh Bheinn and Ben Nevis beyond:
On the summit I passed an older couple, the only other people I met. The wind was rather cutting up on the summit, so I only said the briefest hello to them before finding somewhere more sheltered for a break. The eastern side of the summit was rockier, with impressive views down the two northern corries to Glen Tarbert. Any of these three northern ridges would provide a great alternative route to Creach Bheinn, although they wouldn't provide the best route onward to Fuar Bheinn.
Coire Dhuibh:
Coire nam Frithallt:
Maol Odhar again:
Loch Linnhe, Glencoe:
Views back to Glencoe, Loch Linnhe, the Mamores and Ben Nevis get better and better as the eastern arm of the horseshoe is approached. Unfortunately high clouds were moving in, taking the sunshine away. Still, this section was a great promenade overlookin Loch Linnhe. No complications, just a few ups and downs, with the area around Loch a' Choire looking more and more impressive as I worked my way south. No need for any more words, really.
Next summit - Meall nan Each:
Looking down into Loch Linnhe:
Loch Linnhe:
Across Glen Galmadale to Fuar Bheinn and ascent route:
Mouth of Glen Galmadale and Loch Linnhe:
...from slightly further along:
Across Loch Linnhe to Lismore:
Sgurr Dhonuill, Bidean and Fraochaidh:
Last view of Loch Linnhe:
I dropped back down to the road a short way from the car. Definitely an area to come back to - Beinn Mheadhoin, across Loch na Choire looks like another great hill.
