Aonach Shasuinn from Glen Moriston
Corbetts: Aonach Shasuinn
Date walked: 07/05/2022
Time taken: 7 hours
Distance: 23.4km
Ascent: 870m
We had climbed Aomach Shasuinn's adjoining Corbett, Carn a' Choire Ghairbh a year or so ago from Glen Affric, and had decided that adding the other one was a bit too much for one day (plus we had biked a long way up the glen). So it was with some interest that I noted that Aonach Shasuinn could be climbed from Glen Moriston, although it seems that no-one on Walkhighlands has produced a walk report from this start point.
The road up to Ceannacroc Lodge is a public road, and when I 'drove' up on Google maps beforehand, it seemed likely that we could park somewhere before the big house. But the Google images here are over ten years old, and when we actually got there, we were greeted by the usual 'Access Only' and 'No Parking Beyond This Point' signs that we have come to expect in recent times; the era of Staycationers has definitely changed attitudes and perhaps with good reason.
However, as soon as you turn off the A887 as in the picture above you reach a 'T' junction, and turning left here (our route goes right) you reach a good-sized car park on the right in about 150 metres. Here we parked and got the bikes ready. (BTW, for the observant, you will perhaps notice that most of the photos were taken on the way down, as we were concentrating on 'getting on with it' on the way up!).
Returning to the 'T' junction and taking the right-hand turn, we cycled up the glen on tarmac to begin with. Go around the right-hand side of the big house, and after passing a few cottages, a gate on the right leads up beside the river.
The SMC Corbetts guide notes that this route is possible, but doubts that the surface is suitable for biking. I had hoped that the recent Hydro work might have led to an improvement in the surface, and certainly for the first 4km it was rough, but doable. But shortly after two large flat cleared areas on the left, which I guess had been used for construction equipment, the track became much more loose and rocky. As it happens this is only for about a kilometre before it improves again, but we weren't to know that, and so parked the bikes at about NH203131. It is certainly bike-able all the way to the new Hydro buildings at NH180147, if rough at times, but my wife understandably didn't fancy any more bouncing around on the stones, so we faced up to slightly less biking - and more walking!
From the new buildings there is a new bridge across the main flow of water, and a much older, decrepit bridge over a side stream.
From here the main effort of the day took us up a fairly straight-forward slope to Carn a' Choire Bhuidhe. From here the views are superb, especially of the Munro group centred around Sgurr nan Cobhairean to the west.
There follows about 1.5km of undulating ground to get to the main aim, Aonach Shasuinn. With excellent visibility, this presented no problems, but I imagine it could be quite confusing in mist, as there is no real definition to the route.
We decided that we could shorten the descent by returning to the bealach between the two hills and dropping to an old track in the glen. Actually this is quite steep, and required care (map only shows upward route).
It took longer than expected back to the new Hydro buildings. We took an old route across the hill - very surprisingly disturbing a badger along the way - only the second time I have seen one high in the hills in twenty odd years of walking. Actually at a new bridge it looks possible to follow a new track down and round to the Hydro buildings, which might have been longer, but easier going. I must say that these blend in quite well, and the track looks as if it has been there a long time; there is no sign of left-behind equipment, just the hum from the sheds.
All that remained was 4km to reach the bikes, and a very pleasant coast down the hill to the car!
Overall, I would recommend this route if just tackling this Corbett; adding the other one would be a bit of a mission from this start!
Click to mark this as a great report. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Comments: 7
Cauldcleuch Head - Beware of the Bracken!
Fionas: Cauldcleuch HeadDonalds: Cauldcleuch Head
Date walked: 15/08/2021
Distance: 11km
Ascent: 550m
Views: 801
Sgurr an Utha
Corbetts: Sgùrr an UthaDate walked: 07/11/2020
Distance: 8.4km
Ascent: 745m
Comments: 2
Views: 1104
Last Munro - Beinn na Lap
Munros: Beinn na LapDate walked: 03/06/2017
Distance: 10km
Ascent: 562m
Comments: 2
Views: 4127
Perfect Autumn Day in Glen Elchaig
Corbetts: Sguman CoinntichDate walked: 21/10/2016
Distance: 13km
Ascent: 870m
Views: 1515
The Carn Deargs - Glen Roy
Corbetts: Càrn Dearg (North of Gleann Eachach), Càrn Dearg (South of Gleann Eachach)Date walked: 11/04/2014
Ascent: 753m
Views: 1841
Perfect Snow in Glen Coe
Munros: Stob Coire Raineach (Buachaille Etive Beag), Stob Dubh (Buachaille Etive Beag)Date walked: 31/03/2014
Distance: 9km
Ascent: 890m
Comments: 1
Views: 2717
Inversion over Loch Eil
Corbetts: Stob Coire a' ChearcaillDate walked: 18/12/2012
Distance: 14km
Ascent: 789m
Comments: 10
Views: 5574
-
maninblack
- Occupation: Outdoor Education Instructor
- Activity: Munro compleatist
- Pub: Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum
- Mountain: Goat Fell
- Place: Arran
- Gear: Scarpa Manta Boots
- Member: MCofS
- Ideal day out: An Arran Ridge-Walk
- Munro rounds: 1
- Munros: 282
- Corbetts: 197
- Fionas: 70
- Donalds: 87
- Wainwrights: 43
- Hewitts: 33
- Sub 2000: 11
- Islands: 32
- Filter reports
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 23.4 km
- Ascent: 870m
- Corbetts: 1
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 11 km
- Ascent: 550m
- Fionas: 1
- Donalds: 1
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 8.4 km
- Ascent: 745m
- Corbetts: 1
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 10 km
- Ascent: 562m
- Munros: 1
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 13 km
- Ascent: 870m
- Corbetts: 1
- Trips: 2
- Distance: 9 km
- Ascent: 1643m
- Munros: 2
- Corbetts: 2
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 14 km
- Ascent: 789m
- Corbetts: 1
- Joined: Apr 11, 2012
- Last visited: Apr 21, 2024
- Total posts: 21 | Search posts