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A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2018 9:36 pm
by rockhopper
I’d had various plans for the hills in Ardgour for some time but just hadn’t managed to find the time to get over there. One involved a big camping loop for four of the corbetts but I just wasn’t sure enough about whether I could manage the section between Sgùrr Dhomhnuill and Carn na Nathrach with a big camping pack so, in the end, I decided against that plan.

Set off early from Glasgow on the Thursday morning hoping to make the 0730 Corran ferry but arrived just as it was departing. No great issue as the next one is only 20 minutes later so wandered about and took a photo.

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Thursday 17.5.18
Beinn na Cille [G], Fuar Bheinn [C], Creach Bheinn [C]


After getting off the ferry, I drove down to Glengalmadale and parked in the designated parking area. Got ready and set off along and up the road to the west before branching off uphill at Ceanna Mòr.

Uphill on grassy slopes beside the trees to the top of the graham, Beinn na Cille.

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Westwards

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A bit of a drop heading northwards before the walk up to Fuar Bheinn. The weather was good as forecast but it was rather hazy in the distance.

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Up and over Fuar Bheinn then another drop prior to the ascent of Creach Bheinn.

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Despite the haze, there were some reasonable views out to the islands.

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And over towards Glencoe.

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On the way down from Fuar Bheinn, I came across some dry stane circles and adjacent walls – no idea of their purposes though. I then dropped down via grassy slopes strewn with rocks into Glen Galmadale and walked south to the car.

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Puddock

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Back at the car, I then drove west then north to Loch Sunart before heading east to an off road parking spot near the SE base of Garbh Bheinn and camped for the night.

Friday 18.5.18
Garbh Bheinn [C], Beinn Resipol [C]


Early start and headed up the track for Garbh Bheinn. Nice weather early in the morning but the forecast had worsened a little for the afternoon.

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Followed the track although managed to lose it then regain it from time to time as it quite faint in places. Eventually got sight of the cliff face.

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Impressive sight but a few more ups and downs before reaching the bottom of the final section.

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Unfortunately it had clouded over by the time I got to the top but it was till dry.

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Headed back down to the car then drove along to Resipole camp site; stopped off in Strontian en route and phoned home as I hadn’t had a signal earlier.

Light rain by the time I got to the camp site; checked with the guy in the office that it would be OK to park. Donned waterproofs and set off up the track towards Beinn Resipol. I followed what looked like a fairly recent track until up into open hillside then just headed east towards Beinn Resipol.

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Further on I followed the side of a stream NE to the 770m point then up southwards to the summit.

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Big cairn at the summit and some rather low clouded views.

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It wasn’t going to clear so headed back down the same route. Removed waterproofs as the rain had stopped. Drove back up the A861 to Inverscaddle Bay and set up the tent for the night in a wooded area.

Saturday 19.5.18
Carn na Nathrach [C], Sgùrr Dhomhnuill [C], Sgùrr a'Chaorainn [G], Beinn na h-Uamha [C]


Drove round to the parking area just off the A861 at the start of the Glen Scaddle track. Unloaded the bike and set off up the track to the private bothy at Tighnacomaire. The track is quite loose in places and there are a lot of ups and downs; it took me quite a lot longer than expected before arriving at the bothy and there’s only about 100m net gain in height.

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Locked up the bike and set off on foot up the track towards the bridge. The bothy had signs in the window indicating there was an overnight shelter about 10 minutes away. I passed an open corrugated iron shed which I took to be the shelter; not sure I’d volunteer to spend the night in it.

Eastern shoulder of Carn na Nathrach on the right

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Crossed the bridge then left the track a little later and headed up the shoulder of Carn na Nathrach over Sròn Beinne Mheadhoin. I really wasn’t sure how I was going to drop down from Carn na Nathrach to get up Sgùrr Dhomhnuill so was having a look over to the latter much of the way up. It looked as though one way would be to drop down into Gleann na Cloiche Sgoilte then ascend steeply to Glas Bhealach just to the NW of Sgùrr Dhomhnuill (see next photo).

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The higher I got, the more likely this looked as a suitable route especially when I saw the amount of rock on the more direct route.

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Got to the top of Nathrach looking west towards Beinn Resipol.

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I then retraced my steps until I got to the top of a steep grassy slope which I’d noted on the way up and headed directly southwards down to Gleann na Cloiche Sgoilte. Although I was going to lose more than 100m more than the direct route’s drop to the bealach before ascending Druim Garbh, I wouldn’t have the drop down to the bealach from Druim Garbh. I probably still had a bit more reascent but was much happier with the route.

On the way down.

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Inquisitive or confused ?

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As is frequently the case, the ascent didn’t look that bad from down below.

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Just picked my way uphill to the bealach before the rather steep climb up to the top of Sgùrr Dhomhnuill.

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I was planning to head for Beinn na h-Uamha next and skirt round the base of the graham, Sgùrr a'Chaorainn so set off down to the south crossing a gorge en route to the bottom in Gleann Mhic Phàil.

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Got down into the glen then had a rethink and decided just to go up and over the graham anyway as I could see a way up albeit quite steep and some crags to avoid at the top.

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Got to the top.

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Looking back.

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I then set off eastwards down to 556m before ascending Beinn na h-Uamha. With all the ups and downs I reckon I probably lost a bit more than the 200m or so suggested on the map.

Nice day on the final summit.

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Glen Gour

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Fairly direct route NE back down to the bothy but skirted to the east of Meall nan Ruadhlag.

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Managed to cross the river at some stepping stones a little to the west of the bothy. The cycle back again took a little longer than expected but it had been a good day. Back at the car, got ready and set off for the ferry then home via the chip shop in Ballachulish.

Day 3 route:

Carn na Nathrach, Sgurr Dhomhnuill, Sgurr Chaorainn, Beinn na h-Uamha 19may2018 activelog.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 11:49 am
by Chris Mac
"reasonable views"... :lol: :lol: :lol: a tad better than reasonable I would argue!

Great photos and as always an enjoyable report, the view over to Glencoe is a belter, great close up of the Toad too! :clap:

Ardgour looks like a great area for exploring.

Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 1:09 pm
by PeteR
A lovely area and well captured.

Your day 3 route looks interesting rockhopper. Out of interest, how long did it take you?

Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 6:57 am
by Collaciotach
'S math a rinn sibh :) .... Grand country indeed. The ruins on the bealach on Creach Bheinn are the remains of an old Colby camp to do with measuring and such like from 1847...probably my favourite hill here i usually take the ridge Meall a Choirein Luachraich from Glen Tarbert.

Good going a' bhalaich :)

https://canmore.org.uk/site/23114/creach-bheinn

Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 2:48 pm
by Alteknacker
Stunning pics (the high res really helps at full screen viewing) . Ardgour looks fantastic - rough, gruff and wild. Looks like it would stand a couple of days exploration....

Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 6:12 pm
by Jaxter
Oh fantastic!! This area is one of my favourites (partly because the lack of munros make it so quiet 8) )

If you go back to Garbh Bheinn, go up over the two grahams to make it a circuit - the views are even better 8) 8)

Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 11:32 am
by rockhopper
Chris, Pete, Colla, Alteknacker, Jaxter - thanks for the comments, much appreciated :)

PeteR wrote:Your day 3 route looks interesting rockhopper. Out of interest, how long did it take you?
I'm slowing up in old age :shock: Think it was about 13.5 - 14hrs, ie moving 10hrs, stops 3.5 - 4hrs and approx 2,350m and 40km

Jaxter wrote:If you go back to Garbh Bheinn, go up over the two grahams to make it a circuit
Absolutely - did consider it but didn't think I'd have enough time on this trip

Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:37 pm
by past my sell by date
Great walks in a great area. Haze is aggravating - better than pouring rain, but the odd shower does clear things up :lol: . I find a UV filter helps

Re: A few (rather steep) days in Ardgour

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 12:08 am
by rockhopper
past my sell by date wrote:Great walks in a great area. Haze is aggravating - better than pouring rain, but the odd shower does clear things up :lol: . I find a UV filter helps
Yes, I have tried UV and polarising filters in the past. Problem is that my current camera for the hills is a compact so I can't screw on filters although I do occasionally just try holding filters in front of the lens but they don't really work that well - cheers :)