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As my husband often says, we are known for making easy routes difficult and turning simple hills into epics
The way I see it, nothing wrong with choosing the longer approach if it's more entertaining. In case of Beinn na Lap, I always dreaded the Corrour route, as very dull and not really appreciating the best side of this shy mountain. So I started to look for alternatives and the idea of walking in from Fersit came to mind. Following suggestions and information from fellow WH members (thanks a lot again, everybody
) we plotted our route, beginning from the car park in Fersit and using the old Corrour Forest path around the eastern flanks of Chno Dearg. It's possible to add the latter to the walk to make more of circular, but we have already climbed Chno so there was no need to go over the top with distance/ascent. Even as a simple walk in-and-out, this route came down to almost 30km and over 1000m of ascent (GPS data), took over 10 hours, but we had a splendid day, weather out of dreams, we spent lots of time enjoying the views
It turns out, the path from Fersit to Loch Ossian is a right of way, so we assumed the path had to exist all the way - and it does. It's actually an ATV track, wet and boggy in places and a bit "untidy" in the forest, but nothing that can't be tackled by a determined walker
No stream crossings that could be a problem, the only pain in **know what** is the bog, but we walked it on a sunny, warm day with a lot of snow melting - it must be much drier on a nice summer day.
The final ascent to Beinn na Lap is pathless but very easy - all on grass/low heather and gentle angle.
We arrived in Fersit at 8am, giving ourselves 11 hours of daylight, more than enough to complete this walk. There were other walkers getting ready, probably to climb Chno and SCS. The morning looked superb already, blue sky and little wind, wow, perfect walking weather!
We walked through Fersit and past the last house, through a gate, then onto the access track, wide and dry at the moment:
We found the right of way - a wet track, easy enough to follow:
Lochan nan Caorach and Beinn a'Chaorainn:
The track follows the edge of the forest for about 1 mile then it enters the woods. The gate is padlocked, but a stile is provided for walkers:
Just past the gate, the track splits, an indicator points the right hand turn as "Right of way to Corrour station". Walking was pleasant in the forest, with no wind and birds singing around, that until we encountered our first stream to jump over
Ehmmm... Getting ready fro Pole vaulting
Joking aside, yes, the track has a few of those puddles to negotiate, but it's far from drastic. Soon we stopped for a short break by the ruins of an old cottage:
Next, after crossing another gate (this one wasn't locked) we encountered some more quagmire...
Snorkel ready?
At 390772 the track meets a wide firebreak which could be mistaken for a path - the right way is straight ahead, uphill. We found ourselves up to our ankles deep in melting snow and finding our way around/over fallen trees:
I was very relieved to leave the forest behind, though the track out in the open was somehow squelchy:
...but forget the wet ground if you have views like that around you!
I must admit, the walk over the high moorland was one of the highlights of the day. You may only be 500m above sea level, but views are unbelievable. Back north, behind us, the bulk of Creag Meagaidh and sidekicks dominated the pano:
To the east, Binnein Shuas and Ardverikie Munros:
Zoom to Binnein Shuas, only a Graham but a superb hill by its own means. We had one of our best days ever on this one (and its twin B. Shios behind):
One more snap. We kept stopping every 10 minutes as we walked over the moorland, eventually Kevin began to worry, if we didn't hurry up, we'd never get back to Fersit in daylight! But how could we run fast if we were surrounded by this...
Happy Panther posing with Beinn a'Chlachair behind:
I was particularly fascinated by the step western flanks of Beinn Eibhinn, mirroring in Loch Ghuilbinn. The next Munro walk on my "to do" list is Beinn Eibhinn - Aonach Beag traverse from Moy - another one from "paths less traveled" book, but I'm desperate to avoid the train for this duo as well!
A small cairn marks the highest point of the moorland path, great views down to the glen:
The right of way descends to the Loch Ossian road. I say road because it looks more like it... Just in front of us, Beinn na Lap loomed, looking very inviting now:
We crossed Allt Feith Thuill on a bridge and turned right along the river, where we spied a faint track.
Beinn na Lap and Allt Feith Thuill from the bridge:
We reached the bottom of the Munro and took a longer break by a large boulder. The final climb didn't seem difficult, maybe a bit steep-ish in the initial 100m. We were already mesmerized by the views around and to think that we'd get more of that mountain pornography later on,it was hard to believe!
Some snow, some heather, a few lumps and bumps - fine by me!
After the first 100m, the ground became even easier and it was more like a Sunday stroll than Munro bagging! There was a faint path to follow (where snow didn't obscure it). At some point, Kevin stopped and said Shhhh! We have company!
Oh, deer!
I was pinching myself. Such a fantastic day we had, views getting better with every step, I was so glad we decided to do this walk on a good day, to fully appreciate the landscape. And with the last touch of winter on the summits, simply breathtaking.
More Sunday strolling - towards the summit. What I'm gazing at here, is not the true summit but the top of the shoulder at 855m. The summit of BnL is about a mile further along the ridge, but I didn't mind. More ridgewalking, more porn!
More panos to the north and east. Loch na Lap:
Loch Ghuilbinn and the surrounding peaks:
As we gained height, more views to the south and west appeared. The Mamores and Aonach Eagach:
Crazy Cat!
It would be hard NOT to get crazy when looking at this...
Ben Nevis, what a beauty:
Full view to the Mamores:
The true summit of Beinn na Lap was in sight now:
Western pano:
Eastern pano:
Bewildered, gobsmacked, so much in love with this landscape...
Back to Chno Dearg and Stob Coire Sgriodain:
The final short, steeper section took us to the summit of Beinn na Lap - our first new Munro in 2017... Wee Lucy had an additional reason to celebrate
Hard to believe she's such an experienced mountain lamb now
Me and Kevin on the summit - Munro no. 201 for me, no. 209 for my husband.
We had undisturbed views in all directions, fantastic weather, so no wonder we couldn't resist a longer break here?
Time to relax and adjust your boots!
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 243Time to record the mind boggling views...
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 257Time for another photo session, including fluffy lambs and mountain peaks
DSCF8195Now to what we saw...
1. South:
DSCF8198 ............
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 2422. West:
DSCF81973. East:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 271 4. North:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 237 A few interesting details. Zoomed AE:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 252 NW towards Loch Lochy hills:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 231 Shios and Shuas:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 235 Zoomed Nevis:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 247 Big Buachaille:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 264 Lawers ridge:
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 270 We left the summit at half past two, it took us less than 1 hour to get down the north ridge, even including some fun and games on the way
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 296 Descending the slopes with such views around was pure pleasure!
DSCF8223 Kevin gazing into the secretive Coire nan Cnamh, the less known side of Stob Coire Sgriodain:
DSCF8226 The return walk to Fersit provided more fun, despite having to negotiate more wet ground (snow was melting like mad), we simply couldn't understand, why so many people opt for the Corrour route - this was the way to fully appreciate BnL!
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 321 Back in the forest, we discovered that most of the snow on the track in the woods has now melted, too, making the ground even squelchier
but we had so many fantastic memories, that some boggy underfoot wasn't going to spoil the day
2017-03-25 beinn na lap 334 I can't imagine a better way to visit this remote yet underrated Munro. A long day, maybe, but well worth the effort.
.........................
One more TR to come from me, this time an awkward Corbett in Kintail area. What a difference in a week - all snow gone!