Kinlochleven Corbetts

[weaselmaster]

Second week of recovery from my hand surgery so decided to keep the walks simple and straightforward - hopefully without the deep water crossings of last week's trip to Galloway So decided to nip up to Kinlochleven, stay at Blackwater Hostel site and enjoy the hills either side of the loch. Arrived sometime around 7 on friday night - Hostel was booked out for a private function but no other campers around, so had a quiet night apart from some noise from the Ice Factory bar and roaring deer from the surrounding hillsides. Awoke to sunshine and high clouds on Saturday morning and took the car up to Mamore Lodge - closed, but the car park makes a useful start to the day. The views along the still Loch Leven down to the Pap and Beinn a'Bheither were superb. Set off along the track that passes various derelict shacks then meets with the WHW. Here we encountered a grizzled old timer with a very large backpack who - for some reason - reminded me of a lizard in human form. So for much of the walk we expected to see lizard-man following relentlessly behind us intent on some nefarious purpose

Blackwater Hostel
P1040116 by 23weasels, on Flickr

View just past Mamore Lodge
P1040120 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040121 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Route up Beinn na Caillich
P1040124 by 23weasels, on Flickr


We headed off to the R from the WHW at a small cairn and followed a path down to the river and a gate - then it's along a good stalker's path up the shoulder of Beinn na Caillich, the top of which was still swathed in cloud. Across to our right Stob Ban and the Ring of Steall flitted in and out of the puffy clouds. We reached the cairn on Beinn na Caillich the set off along a grassy ridge towards Mam na Gualainn, noting tyre tracks - which Allison reckoned were trail bikes - travelling along the ridge. It's easy going to the top of MnG from here and we stopped at the trig point - with memorial to marine Anthony Callow - for our lunch. Unfortunately the clouds were down preventing much of a view as we sat, bit chilly out of the sun. We could see the way ahead over to the Graham Tom Mheadoin. As we set off down the grassy slopes towards the bealach the clouds started to lift and the pointed tops of Beinn a'Bheither poked impressively into sight.This mountain truly dominates the skyline from this end of the glen. We reached the small cairn marking the summit of Tom Mheadoin and gazed down on Glencoe, looking at the road ribbon its way up to the east. Followed our ascent route back down to the bealach - marked by a pile of stones, then headed northeast down another stalker's trail towards the WHW, meeting a couple of guys on trail bikes heading up. An easy river crossing then onto the WHW proper and a brisk march back along to Mamore Lodge. A quick pint in the Tailrace Inn before back to the tent and chili for tea.

View over to Stob Ban/ Ring of Steall
P1040128 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040129 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Ridge from BnC to MnG
P1040132 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Beinn a Bheither
P1040133 by 23weasels, on Flickr

View back along the ridge
P1040135 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Approaching top of MnG
P1040138 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040142 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Summit Mam na Gualainn
P1040144 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Tom Mheadoin
P1040147 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040151 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Beinn a'Bheither
P1040152 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Glencoe
P1040156 by 23weasels, on Flickr

B'aB again
P1040158 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Mamores in background
P1040160 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Path down to the WHW
P1040161 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040167 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040168 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Shack
P1040172 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Mamore Lodge (shut up)
P1040173 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040174 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Sunday brought another sunny morning. We had a late start, enjoying breakfast on the picnic benches in the sunshine. Garbh Bheinn was the target today - a wee short walk by all accounts. Had almost changed plans and headed for Bidean nam Bian to do tops, but hadn't brought my proper boots and didn't fancy Bidean in trail shoes. Parked by the stone bridge and set off along a muddy path, initially following the Allt Gleann a'Chaolias before heading east for Stob Coire Sgoilte. Once onto the spine of the ridge it was a pleasant walk towards the steeper nose of Garbh Bheinn, views of the Aonach Eagach to our right catching the eye. Looking back there were great views down past the Pap. The final section up Garbh Bheinn is steeper and rocky, bringing us out onto the flattish summit. Unfortunately the sun hid behind a cloud as we sat to eat our lunch, making it much cooler than on the ascent. We gazed over to the Aonach, watching ant-sized figures making their way along the ridge - the AE was a busy place to be today alright - at one point it looked like they'd be able to form a conga line over it, the number of folk coming up

Garbh Bheinn
P1040175 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Pap
P1040177 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Stob Coire Sgoilte
P1040178 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040183 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040184 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Final section up Garbh Bheinnn
P1040188 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Summit
P1040190 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040191 by 23weasels, on Flickr

View over to the Mamores
P1040195 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Aonach Eagach
P1040196 by 23weasels, on Flickr

View up to the Ben
P1040197 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Another Aonach shot
P1040198 by 23weasels, on Flickr


Back down the way we came up, slipping onto my rear end a couple of times on the slippery grass. Enjoyed a pleasant drive back down the road in the sunshine, although did see the yellow copter out hovering over the Clachaig Gully, which didn't look good - hope it was only a training exercise but given the number of climbers up on the AE I suspect it wasn't.

P1040199 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Wee rocky section
P1040200 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1040202 by 23weasels, on Flickr

[goth_angel]

Some lovely pictures.

Quick q about the car park, any signage? Last thing I heard was they (Alcan?) can now block off the car park and there was a notice to that effect?

[weaselmaster]

Some lovely pictures.

Quick q about the car park, any signage? Last thing I heard was they (Alcan?) can now block off the car park and there was a notice to that effect?

Yeah - there's a gate near the start of the road up to the Lodge that has a notice on stating it can be locked at any time.
Did cause a mild degree of anxiety But nothing to say don't use the car park.

[robertphillips]

well done wm, good report and great pictures garbh bheinn is a cracking hill.

[rockhopper]

Another good weekend for the two of you - good to hear your hand's recovering
Cracking views from these hills - cheers