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Quick trip up what must be one of the steepest of Corbetts at least if you go by the voie normal as recorded in the SMC Corbett book.
I'd been putting this one off for a while, a lot of excuses getting in the way, and then the bridge was washed away and then there was lochdown but most of all it's steep.
I'm happy to report that the bridge has now been replaced and a very fine structure it is too ! I suspect that a little more work is needed to construct the off ramp on the South side but it's a fine bridge.
I didn't find a noticeable track on the other side of the bridge, there may be one higher up the hillside as farmers where gathering sheep and bringing them down , so I traversed to the foot of the north facing corrie, crossing a burn and a wire fence with a garden gate and started the long pull up the hill searching in vain for a path, deer, sheep or rambler.
- views opening up
Across the valley the Crianlarich hills looked impressive with their tops in cloud
The going was damp but the grass not too tall or tussocky and not the botanical-fest I'd hoped for and it started spotting rain as tails of cloud curled into the shallow corrie. 750m later I broached the ridge and the top came into sight.
- the top coming into sight
The views from the top are superb, while the northern aspect is truncated by the Crianlarich hills the panorama was impressive. Worth the effort in the climb and a good point to link recent adventures.
While enjoying the views I was joined on the top by a young shepherd and his dogs who had been gathering sheep, his colleagues had the lower path across the bealach. We chatted for a while as he caught his breath before continuing his hill sweep. I'd heard voices, dog whistles and the cackle of walkie-talkies while climbing but was unable to pin-point them, an acoustic effect in the corrie. It was reassuring to know I hadn't been hearing the fairies..
A quick bite to eat and then a bimble along the nobbles to descend the NE ridge and a line of old iron fence posts. Here for the first time I found a light path, broken in places but useful none the less. A final rest overlooking the glen above the new bridge and then down steep slopes to reach the river and the estate track.
- Overlooking the bridge on descent
All that was left was the yomp along the road back to the car and navigating the single track road back to Balquidder! A sound day out and a real cherry, certainly a candidate for the steepbbbbest route up a Corbett as well as a fine viewpoint.