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Anyone who says climbing Corbetts is easy has either never climbed one or is a liar
Every Corbett I've climbed so far has been hard work. Which leads me to a revelation I had today, but more about that later
Due to a switch over of hours I had ended up with a free Monday and Tuesday which was especially welcome because I had missed out on the bulk of the good weather thanks to working and knee issues. But it looked like my luck was to turn
Plans were made and things were packed, but then thanks to a tip off I discovered that the A82 would be closed at Bridge of Orchy from 9pm-7am...this screwed with my plans significantly. Maps were studied and plans altered
And so it was that my alarm went off at 3.30...2.5 hours sleep was all I was getting
Into the car and off I went. The "long way round" up the A9 and via Laggan was actually only 25 miles further than the diversion through Connel but it felt long, as if I was going in the wrong direction, which I was! As I drove over the Drumochter pass and made the turn off to Dalwhinnie it was spitting with rain and there were plenty of tops in clag. But it all got better the further West I got (obviously
)
Even the Ben was clear – as good an omen as anything!
I was beating Google so figured I'd better stop for some photos
Loch Eilt
And finally I arrived at the parking area. It was quite windy but the sky was blue and I was in Moidart
I set off along the road towards the cottages, took the grassy track and passed through the gates. I had a choice of a hydro track or a boggy path...wasn't likely to be very boggy after the recent weather so it was a no brainier. It was a bonny wee path with a couple of squidgy bits but it was easy to see how it could be very wet! Coming out the top of the path I reached the hydro track but I barely noticed, I was blown away by the mountains ahead of me. This part of Scotland is AWESOME!
I followed the track a short distance before branching off (too early as it turned out and I had to bushwhack way across some hummocks) and eventually meeting the bridge. It was an impressive gorge and although the bridge moved
I was very glad it was there!
An Stac
Meall Damh – the route ahead
Across the bridge I followed an ATV track for a while before striking off uphill. It wasn't much after 9 but it was already baking hot and I could tell that this was going to be tough. Taking my time, I headed towards the steep pull up Meall Damh and gradually meandered my way up. There were smatterings of path and it was nowhere near as bad as I'd expected. It didn't hurt that the views were fabulous either.
The views open out – Sgurr na Ba Glaise, Rois-Bheinn & An Stac
Meall Damh cracked, I headed more directly up the steep rocky ridge onto Druim Fiaclach. Although this isn't a summit in its own right it was an absolutely fabulous viewpoint, and in terms of effort required to reach it, it fully deserved the cairn on top
The 3 Corbetts from Druim Fiaclach
I felt wonderfully alone as I stood admiring the 3 Corbetts ahead of me, the views out to the islands and back inland towards Ben Nevis with a wee cap of snow. It was very tempting to dawdle and I spent some time taking it all in.
An Stac with Eigg & Rum behind
Meall Damh with the Glenfinnan hills behind
Loch Shiel & Ardgour
Ben Nevis
Route ahead
From here it was a case of following the ridge of Druim Fiaclach before descending steeply off the end down to a bealach. Steep pathless descents are not my favourite and it's where my knee is most vulnerable, but with care I was safely down.
Sgurr na Ba Glaise from An t-Slat Bheinn
The ridge continued over An t-Slat Bheinn to the final pull up Sgurr Na Ba Glaise, my first "summit". Over 3 and a half hours and 1000m ascent just to get to the first one
Tough going - but it was worth every ounce of effort.
Rois-Bheinn
An Stac & Skye
The long and winding road – back to Druim Fiaclach
Standard Jaxter
I enjoyed the views for a while before heading off. It was windy and I didn't want to stop too long and get cold. The route from here to Rois-Bheinn was obvious from here and there was a more obvious path here too.
The glen and Meall Damh from Bealach an Fhiona
At the bealach I met the wall which led me all the way to the rather unimpressive summit of Rois-Bheinn. However following the ridge to the western top provided much better views and a more splendid cairn.
Eigg & Rum
The amazing West Coast towards Ardnamurchan
Not quite the summit but a better view
Definitely a better cairn
I enjoyed the views here for a while before returning to the true summit and then retracing my steps down steeply down to the bealach.
Time for a bit of silliness on the way
Here I followed the wall for a short distance down very steep ground before continuing down towards the bealach. As it turned out I should have followed the wall a bit further as I descended a bit too far. Too busy watching my feet
Looking back up
But it didn't matter; I cut across some impressive rocky slabs and looked at the ascent up An Stac ahead of me. It looked unrelenting so there was nothing else for it...off i went! I managed to zig zag my way up it, easily bypassing the crags and scrambling over some of the smaller ones, just for funsies
It didn't actually take as long as I'd thought it would and sooner and easier than I expected I was at the top. And oh the views....
Skye
Rois-Bheinn
Spoiling the view
Eigg & Rum
An unspoiled view down Loch Ailort
It was well past lunchtime so after a few snaps I skirted around some big rocks and found somewhere sheltered to sit in the sun with my sandwiches. The views out to Eigg, Rum & Skye were just breathtaking.
I also spotted a train (well heard it first) on the Glenfinnan/Mallaig line but my zoom couldn't manage to get any closer!
I closed my eyes and lay back on the lovely warm rock for a while, relaxed in the knowledge that I didn't have a long drive home and could chill as long as I liked!
It was still a bit hazy over to Skye but the Cuillin ridge was clearly visible. I'd be there in 2 weeks time but weather as good as this is probably too much to hope for
Skye again
Figuring I'd probably run out of water or sunscreen if I stayed up any longer, I couldn't put off the descent. It was very steep but the crags were easily avoided. After my rock climbing adventure the other day I actually felt a lot more confident scrambling down some of the crags and although some of the moves weren’t exactly textbook I was having a great time
Eventually I was down to the bealach and some more weird slabby rocks which provided a nice frame for the islands.
Dropping down into the glen
From here the gradient eased a little and I dropped down grassy slopes to the ATV track along the Allt a’ Bhuiridh. I gladly refilled my water before an easy walk along the Glen...until....I put my foot into the only bog in Scotland...doh...
A nice refill spot…tempted to jump in
Looking back
Once back on the hydro track it was a few minutes back to the wooded path which led me back to the salmon farm. As I came out I spotted what I thought was a Rhododendron bush...very pretty but a bit random...
Then I turned around and it turned out there were hundreds of them...how I missed this on the way up I don't know
I cut across the field and was back at the car...pretty tired but absolutely exhilarated! I met a guy there who asked me if I'd seen the other two...I hadn't seen a soul all day
From the car down Loch Ailort
I had thought about a high camp tonight but didn't really fancy another walk that evening, or carrying a heavy pack the next day in this heat
The problem was being back in time for work... what to do...
Mr Mystery on the other end of a phone said "follow your gut." So I took the decision to cancel my students (being self-employed has its advantages
)
Hopping in the car I drove down the road a short way to find a wonderful camp spot.
After pitching the tent I did some sunbathing (naebody around to judge me!) before cooking up some dinner and hot chocolate and settling down to watch the sunset.
Just as I was heading for bed the wind dropped and I hate to say it but there were a few midges around... and so it begins
So the sun had set on a place that had already become a firm favourite. Moidart is absolutely magical and one of my best ever days on the hills
It was time to get my head down and see what the morning would bring...
Link to part 2Link to part 2