The Auch Corbetts

[Benaden887]

The Corbetts of Auch. 22.1km 2120m 9hrs 27/ 07 / 1996

Having completed my Munros over five years I`m taking a more leisurely approach to the Corbetts and will regret in future years not clubbing the Grahams along with them but in my defence, Dempster is still writing his book. This was a dayshot the KMC having no meet this month, so seemed like a good time to up the ante with this cluster of five near Bridge of Orchy. Despite attempts to put her off, Allison wants to tag along so I`m already resigned for a solo return to complete some of the five. This is the tale of how she proved me so wrong.
Park off the A82 at the road end and walk down past Auch once farmed by Rob Roy, for the Auch glen. Follow the river NE beneath a railway viaduct to where our track crosses the Kinglass river. Strike E uphill for the Mam Lorn col between Beinn nan Fuaran and a` Chaistell. A rough climb gains this, then grassy slopes for the somewhat bald top and blocky cairn of Fuaran @806m. A rest here, good views over Loch Lyon and the glen beyond. A range of done munros hems this area in, the longest glen in Scotland. So down to a boggy 550m col, missed on the way up and follow a fence over tufted grass to another blocky cairn of Beinn a Chaistell@886m. Crags fall here into the glen below, a train passes over the viaduct, then disappears around the base of Beinn Dorain. We head S E down a ridge into Glen Coralan, easy walking, for a break at the burn. Here I suggested we could go back ifn she`d had enough.” Do you want me to carry your rucksack for you ? she inquired. Stung, yet relieved, we geared up, crossed the burn for a 638m col, drop the sacks and walked out for the craggy top and cairn of Cam Chreag@ 884m. A brief survey of Glen Lochy then back to a boggy col for the long kilometer slope of Beinn Chaorach cairn and pillar trig point. We pass what proved to be a rusted wind generator complete with an aged battery still wired up. From Beinn Chaorach @818. a drop W of 380m to the Allt Cumhang incurred a further steep climb to the 700m mark before the going eases at Odhar`s Lochan Choire Dhubh. A splash an soak here then over stony ground to the large cairn of Beinn Odhar. Great views again, a wee break then down W steeply to cross the railway and take the WHW trail back to Auch and the car.

A great day, new team player, great weather, plenty deer sheep and birds, lots of up and down av. 310m on each of this group.