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Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich


Postby jester » Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:33 pm

Route description: Creag Mhòr and Beinn Heasgarnich

Munros included on this walk: Beinn Heasgarnich, Creag Mhòr (Glen Lochay)

Date walked: 25/06/2012

Time taken: 11 hours

Distance: 14.7 km

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At the car park, the go no further sign peeking out from the nettles

I had some great plans for this summer. Multi day, multi summit walks, perhaps a few high camps, waking up to sunshine and the mists burning off the valleys below. Then it rained. Then it rained some more, and has continued to do so ever since. Apart from the 25th of June. On that day it was sunny. By happy coincidence Myself and my mate Jim were both off work that day and had decided to get away for a bit of walking. Nowhere too far though, so I had a look to see if there was anything within a reasonably short drive which I hadn't done before. I quickly set my sights upon Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich. These two Munros are tucked away in Glen Lochay, near Killin. I'd been in this glen once before on an ill-fated attempt on Sgiath Chuill with Glasgow HF. This was in February or March a few years back, and after the walk along the riverside and the subsequent fording of the river at Lubchurran, we had climbed up through the snow to the ridge above Creag an-t Searraich where we were hit by 50-60mph winds. The snow was whipped up reducing visibility to a few metres. The walk leader abandoned the attempt on the hill and we headed north down the ridge. Passing over a flat section of the ridge I went straight through the snow into a bog, where I would still be today had it not been for two club members who managed to pull me out.
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The old car park. Go uphill here along the hydro track.

Today the weather was to provide a challenge of a different kind. We parked the car at a small space in woodland between High Botaurnie and Kenknock. Previously you could park further along the glen, but a now sign hidden amongst the nettles asks you to go no further by car. We didn't hang about, being plagued by midges and flies, and after slapping on the suncream we headed along towards Kenknock. There is work going on here, possibly hydro-electric related, and the old car park is now in use for contractors. At this point you have the choice of the low road or the high.
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Wheatear

We chose to go along the higher path, and headed uphill, through a gate, climbing steeply, feeling the heat. We were joined by some of the local residents. First we were shadowed by a Wheatear, hopping from perch to perch, before we were then distracted by a large bird of prey which we at first took to be a Golden Eagle, until after a few minutes it began mewing, revealing itself to be a Buzzard instead.
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The hydro pipeline and bridge

The path climbs for just under 1.5km, to a point where it diverges, the left path crossing over a huge hydro electric pipeline.
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Ben Challum and unidentified plant...

We would return to this point later, but for now we were contouring the hill westwards, towards Ben Challum, a hill I did may years back on one of my few outings with the Monklands Ramblers. We did it from the Crianlarich side, and I recall much bog-trotting was involved. From this side however it looks entirely different, a fine silhouette which cuts a different figure to how I usually think of it.

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Beautiful Glen Lochay, spoiled by some fanny!

Above Batavaime we crossed a bridge over the Allt Batavaim and had a break above a small dam. The heat was starting to take effect on me, but worse was to come. We had a choice of routes up Sron nan Eun (The ridge of the birds?), either left or right. I had planned to go up the left side, but on seeing it on the ground the right looked feasible and we set off over some boggy ground littered with Butterworts. As we climbed we noticed another pair of walkers ascending parallel to us on the left side.
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Bridge over the Allt Batavaim, the dam visible right of centre

We began the steep up between the crags. Jim was ahead of me and seemed quite comfortable in the heat. I on the other hand began to slow down, taking a few paces then stopping. I'd take a drink of water, pause, then climb a bit more, then stop. More water. Stumble on. Stop. By now Jim was out of sight. I sat down, then lay back. Sleep, just a little sleep then I'd be okay. We were in no hurry. I could grab a quick nap... I forced myself up, and carried on. Crossing a small burn I stopped and soaked my Buff headscarf in the water and stuck it on my head. In the army there is a phrase, chinstrapped, to be utterly done in. That is how I felt. The tank was empty and I felt I'd be lucky to complete one hill today. I guzzled water, trying to prevent the pounding in my head. Off to my left I could see Jim sitting on the hillside waiting. I stumbled in his direction. The process of walk, stop, drink continued. I arrived at where Jim had been sat to find he was gone.

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Beinn Heasgarnich

I turned and headed uphill, pausing after every few steps, until at last the steep slope eased off to a flatter area, and I saw Jim waiting up ahead. I caught up with him and we stood while I shoved a Mars bar down me to try and raise my energy levels. A raven soared around us as we took in the view down into the Coire-cheathaich. Break over, we turned and headed south, along the ridge, before taking on the final climb up to the summit. As we climbed we looked back to see where the other pair of walkers were. There was no sign of them. For quite some time and we had been getting concerned. Our minds now put at rest, we carried on up the rocky path and plopped down at the cairn. I was done in.

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Ben More and Stob Binnean from Creag Mhor

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At the cairn

We had an extended tea stop on the summit, and after around 15 minutes we were joined by the couple we had seen earlier. They were from Dundee, and having completed their Munros years ago were now just doing the ones they fancied. It became apparent during the conversation that the reason they had not been seen for some time was that they had taken an extended break as it was too hot for walking. I wished I'd done likewise. We talked about the view, as for once it was pretty good. In the foreground Loch Lyon and Ben Mhanach, off to the north west were Beinn Dorain, Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Achallader, and beyond that Ben Nevis. The Lawers range, Ben More, Stob Binnean, even Ben Alder could be seen from this vantage point. That moment felt like a vital piece had been placed in a huge jigsaw puzzle. All these pieces that I had been to or seen, linked by line of sight. Usually if I think of Beinn Dorain for example I would think of how to get there by road. M8 to Glasgow, A82 from Glasgow, up Loch Lomond, Crianlarich and Tyndrum, yet here it was from a journey I would consider to be in the totally opposite direction, which I would approach from Stirling and Killin. To reinforce this view even further we were joined by a walker from the west. As he approached I called out “Hello Robert!” Amazingly the man who approached was a fellow member of Glasgow HF! I hadn't seen him for some time, and this was a real surprise. What are the chances of bumping into an old friend on a remote hilltop on a Monday afternoon I wonder.

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Beinn Heasgarnich from Creag Mhor

Robert remained at the summit, the Dundonian couple headed off south, while we headed north, dropping steeply down past some dirty snow clinging on to the hillside for grim life at the mid point of the year. We curved down below the rocky cliffs, the going wet and slippery. We took our time and could soon see Robert catching up. He was also heading for Beinn Heasgarnich, but unlike us was staying the night before heading out for the train. Walking together down to the bottom of the corrie I asked Robert if he wanted to join us for the next part. He set off to find a dry bit of ground to pitch his tent while Jim and I replenished our water, then headed up what looked to be a reasonable line up the steep ridge to Stob an Fhir-Bhoga, the lower top of a long ridge which makes up the summit of Beinn Heasgarnich. Within a short space of time we had found a path, but I was again flagging, the steepness and heat combining to knock the stuffing out of me. Again I soaked a buff and covered my head, the cold water running down my back. I could feel the strength draining from me, and told Robert who had caught up with me to go on. I'd plod along alone.

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Creag Mhor

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The final ridge up to the summit

Shortly after this though I was pulling myself over the top of Stob an Fhir-Bhoga, just behind Robert. I could see Jim strolling towards the summit. Off the steep slope I found the going easier and we arrived at the summit cairn to find Jim scanning the horizon with his binoculars. We could pick out more hills by now, Ben Cruachans familiar silhouette lay to the west just below a bank of cloud, but the most amazing to me was that of the even more familiar Meikle Bin, way back home in North Lanarkshire, 38 miles off south east. The jigsaw had just acquired another piece.

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Jim, Robert and me at the summit of Beinn Heasgarnich

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Ben Nevis in the far distance

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Meikle Bin- hello North Lanarkshire!

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Ben Cruachan and Loch Awe

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Ben Alder, Beinn Bheoil and Loch Ericht

We left Robert to make his way back to his tent. By the time he would be getting his dinner we would still be ploughing along on the other side of the mountain. This side of Beinn Heasgarnich is more boggy, streams and lochans, peat hags and tussocks. For that reason there appears to be no path, as there is no logical route.

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No paths on this side.

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Avoid the bog-if you can

We could have went down Coire Ban Mor and followed the Allt Tarsuinn, but this took us off north of where we wanted to be. Instead we bee-lined straight across the moor. I say straight, I mean we bog-trotted from dry point to dry point as best we could, until finally we clambered down the northern outcrops of Creag nam Bodach, and dragged ourselves onto the hydro road which would lead us back to the car. I think I prefer this as a way off. At least in reasonable conditions you can see where you want to go. In reverse it's a case of trying to pick a rough line and going for it through bog and crags.

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The hydro track- almost there!

The hard work done, we took it easy on the path back down. As we went down, so did the sun. Glen Lochay dipped into shadow while the tops of Sgiath Chuill and Meall Glas bathed in the last of the sun. My repeated soakings of my buff, which helped combat the heat, came at a price. The water which had ran down my back had combined with my rucksack to give a nasty case of 'bergan rash', nippy stuff! I spent the last kilometre trying to hold my rucksack off the bottom of my back to stop it rubbing any more.

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Meall Glas and Sgiath Chuil

Our later start had come at a price, no beer. It would be touch and go as to whether we could get back to Linlithgow for my train, a by now all too familiar feeling. Pursued out of the glen by the midges and flies, once again we were tied to the lines of the road, the line of sight home long gone behind us.
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jester
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby gammy leg walker » Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:44 pm

Good to see these two in somewhat dryer conditions than when I/we visited them,that bog near done for jonny616,he fell in & took us over an hour to get him out.
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby Johnny Corbett » Sat Jul 21, 2012 1:47 pm

Did you check the area for a drunk lying in the vicinity of that Irn Bru bottle? :lol: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=23502
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Johnny Corbett
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby jonny616 » Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:12 pm

Must get my pals together to do this walk it looks lovely. Great photos :clap:
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby jester » Sat Jul 21, 2012 8:50 pm

Johnny Corbett wrote:Did you check the area for a drunk lying in the vicinity of that Irn Bru bottle? :lol: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=23502

:lol: If there had been at least someone would have had a drink that day, because we didn't.

Many years ago myself and two two mates walked from Loch Lubnaig to Loch Earn via Glen Ample. What should have been a fairly short walk turned into an epic because unbeknown to us, one of our party was sipping on a hip flask as he went. He ended up severely disorientated with hypothermia, and caused a major headache for myself and my other sober mate.
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jester
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby Graeme D » Sat Jul 21, 2012 9:17 pm

jester wrote:That moment felt like a vital piece had been placed in a huge jigsaw puzzle.


That's one of the things I like most about a nice clear day on the summits - the whole country just starts to fit together like a big jigsaw as you said, in a way that you cannot appreciate just driving around it. 8)
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby Bod » Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:57 pm

Nice report there, and how great is it just bumping into people in the hills. Strangers and friends alike :D :D :D
Love the photo of the wheatear, lovely wee birds :D
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby aliceandrew » Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:41 pm

Looking at doing these two in September, very helpful report and cracking pictures. Thankyou !! :clap: :clap:
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby akamini » Fri Nov 30, 2012 3:25 pm

Your Wheatear is actually a female Whinchat - much less common, good spot!
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby jester » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:25 pm

Thanks for that. They are pretty similar. I was fairly sure that we saw the white flash on it's rear as it flew ahead of us though. Does a Whinchat have that?
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby akamini » Tue Dec 04, 2012 1:12 pm

Yep they are quite similar - the prominant white stripe above the eye in your photo has it pegged as Whinchat for me though, a female wheatear does have a thin less prominent white stripe above the cheek but it goes through the top of the eye. The body shape is also slightly different - the Whichat is a slighter, sleeker profile while the Wheatear is a bit plumper (and a bit bigger). However, a whinchat doesnt have a white rump...it is pale but not white.
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Re: Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich

Postby jester » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:30 am

Just to note that Beinn Heasgarnich is now listed on OS 1:50/1:25,000 maps as Beinn Sheasgarnich.
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