walkhighlands

Fraochaidh From Duror

Corbetts: Fraochaidh

Date walked: 12/02/2017

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 15.2km

Ascent: 1136m

I Know there are a few reports of this hill but they mostly say that going from Duror is a bit of a bomb scare and really I felt that the reports were a bit unfair :? I realise that a couple of years ago when most of the felling was taking place it would be a mess, but not now. I read the reports and made my decision, while I liked the Ballachuilish route the lack of daylight and suffering from a bout of cold I thought the Duror route might not be so bad :thumbup: So after an uneventful drive other than a full setting moon that I had to use my sun visor to block out :shock: (how many times do you have to do that)?? And the odd stop to play with my new box of electronics and glass.
P1000012.JPG
Bridge of Orchy moon lit hills
So I arrived at Duror and soon was on my way with a cool but dry wind, it had the feel of a good day in the hills so following the route plan I was soon on the forestry tracks and it was steep-ish but really not bad at all
P1000027.JPG
The start of the forestry roads
P1000031.JPG
A wee look back to Ardgour
. All was frozen so I guess that the walking was maybe a bit easier than if it was wet and soggy, its a good couple of miles walk but soon enough you come to the end of the main track,
P1000033.JPG
The start of the new path up to the hill
while I was walking I was thinking of the ramble up through the felled forestry via stumps etc etc and not really looking forward to it at all when at the end of the road there was a really very steep but new path roughly going the direction I wanted :wink: It was going a wee bit more west than ideally I would have liked but as I had made good time this far I decided to follow it and sure enough after maybe 30-45 mins I was out of the trees and exactly where I wanted to be
P1000036.JPG
Getting there
.
P1000034.JPG
Nearly at the end of the new path
P1000038.JPG
*
P1000040.JPG
Great views all around :-)
The views were all starting to open up all around especially to Ardnamuchan and into Ballachulish and the Aonach Eagach area, Stunning!
P1000047.JPG
*
So I was where I wanted to be so I continued up the obvious ridge heading for the lochans that are marked on the maps, I headed for the S/West end of the first lochan just to get around it but if it is misty at all be careful as there is a bit of a drop into the lochan and I guess you could get caught out if not paying attention, once past this wee issue there is no more problems that should trouble you, if its clear just follow the obvious ridge,
P1000057.JPG
The fairly obvious ridge to the summit
P1000062.JPG
A wee break just to take in the views
P1000068.JPG
Ardgour again
P1000070.JPG
*
P1000074.JPG
Beinn a` Bheither etc
but if a bit claggy the old fence line will take you to the same destination. I had it very good so I just soaked in all the views and took numerous photos in every direction. It was a fairly easy walk and in around 2.5-3hrs you should be at the summit and oh the views are some of the best I`ve seen in this part of the world :D
P1000076.JPG
Final ridge to the summit
P1000080.JPG
Summit selfie
P1000088.JPG
*
P1000094.JPG
Summit Pano :-)
Once you`ve had your fill of photos
P1000101.JPG
I love this type of thing, on my way down now.
P1000102.JPG
Once wee were out of the wind we stopped for tea, and what a view!
its just a simple matter of re-tracing your steps back to the forest track and back down (the fairly steep and new un-consolidated path) till you meet the forest roads and eventually back to the welcoming committee
P1000204.JPG
The welcoming committee when you get back down (never noticed on the way up) !!!
P1000202.JPG
One last view back to Fraochaidh
soon after back where you started in all it took me just over 5hrs so I guess 5-6hrs is a fair estimation for most folk
P1000205.JPG
Stats for this walk
Go on a clear day if possible and I`m sure you will mostly enjoy this wee kind-of out of the way Corbett :D

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: 6



The Merrick and Shalloch on Minnoch plus 2

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Merrick, Shalloch on Minnoch
Donalds: Kirriereoch Hill, Merrick, Shalloch on Minnoch, Tarfessock
Date walked: 02/01/2017
Distance: 24.8km
Ascent: 1444m
Comments: 2
Views: 3772


Polands Tatra Mountains - Eagles Path

Attachment(s) Date walked: 08/09/2016
Comments: 7
Views: 3120


Summer Sunset on Ben A`an

Attachment(s) Date walked: 28/08/2016
Comments: 3
Views: 1978


Jbel Toubkal - Morroco`s Highest

Attachment(s) Date walked: 20/08/2016
Distance: 40km
Ascent: 2700m
Comments: 7
Views: 2821


Orval and Ard Nev

Attachment(s) Sub 2000s: Orval (Rum)
Date walked: 11/09/2015
Views: 1575


Corbett bashing on Skye Day 2

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Glamaig
Fionas: Beinn Dearg Mhór (Sligachan)
Date walked: 17/08/2015
Distance: 15.2km
Ascent: 1441m
Comments: 1
Views: 2891


Skye Corbett bashing Day1

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Garbh-bheinn (Skye)
Fionas: Belig
Date walked: 15/08/2015
Distance: 9km
Comments: 6
Views: 3359


Two out of Three ain`t bad I suppose ?

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Beinn an Òir
Fionas: Beinn Shiantaidh
Date walked: 06/08/2015
Distance: 23.6km
Comments: 10
Views: 5926


Vrackie Sunrise

Attachment(s) Corbetts: Ben Vrackie
Date walked: 28/12/2014
Distance: 9.3km
Comments: 3
Views: 4478

tall-story


Location: Doune
Activity: Walker
Pub: Clachaig
Mountain: Bidean nam Bian
Place: Glen Etive
Gear: Rab Phantom Fleece
Ideal day out: My ideal day out is probably a fine summers day doing a ridge walk somewhere like Knoydart or maybe a cold frosty clear day with loads of firm snow to walk on. I dont mind the wind,cold or snow but I do not like the rain from any angle.
Munro rounds: 1

Munros: 158
Corbetts: 222
Fionas: 37
Donalds: 22
Wainwrights: 21
Hewitts: 21
Sub 2000: 1



Filter reports


Statistics

2017

Trips: 2
Distance: 40 km
Ascent: 2580m
Corbetts: 3
Donalds: 4

2016

Trips: 3
Distance: 40 km
Ascent: 2700m

2015

Trips: 4
Distance: 47.8 km
Ascent: 1441m
Corbetts: 3
Fionas: 3
Sub2000s: 1

2014

Trips: 6
Distance: 36.3 km
Ascent: 1320m
Munros: 3
Corbetts: 11

2013

Trips: 7
Distance: 114.4 km
Ascent: 7857m
Munros: 15
Hewitts: 11
Wainwrights 11

2012

Trips: 4
Distance: 61.9 km
Ascent: 1995m
Corbetts: 3


Joined: Jan 16, 2010
Last visited: Mar 27, 2024
Total posts: 295 | Search posts