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Fionn Bhein off-piste...

Route: Fionn Bheinn, Achnasheen

Munros: Fionn Bheinn

Date walked: 06/01/2013

Time taken: 3.75 hours

Distance: 10km

Ascent: 815m

I'd been wanting to do this for a while as it's close to home and a fairly short walk. The weather promised to be good all morning so i parked the car in Achnasheen and started walking at 8.20am just as it was starting to get light.

Fionn Bhein 010.jpg
Red sky over Achnasheen


I followed the Allt for the recommended two kilometres and then headed for the hill but it soon became apparent that i had gone wrong somewhere as i spent ages dragging myself through bog and ended up with a fairly steep climb up the wrong side of the first shoulder. From here it was fairly straightforward although still very wet underfoot until not long before finally reaching the ridge.

Fionn Bhein 013.jpg
The final walk along the ridge to the summit


The views from the top definitely make this walk worth it, although it somehow just didn't feel like a Munro to me. It wasn't the best day for light as it was clouding over by the time I reached the summit at about 10.30. There were still good views to be had of the Fannichs, the Torridon hills and the Achnashellach hills.

Fionn Bhein 015.jpg

Fionn Bhein 017.jpg


On the return walk, I tried to stick to the recommended route and knowing that I wasn't going to avoid the bogs at this time of year I just went for it and found it much easier than the route i took on the way up. I walked down the shoulder of the lower hill until I reached two wooden posts (a handy landmark) then turned back towards the burn. Once I reached the burn and followed it back to the gate off the hill, I realised what my mistake this morning was - I'd followed the wrong burn on the way up.

On the way down, I saw two walkers heading up the same way I had gone and I wished I could somehow signal them to go up the way I was coming down as it would be much easier for them. I hope they had a better ascent than me.

To anyone else doing this walk, I'd recommend looking for the wooden gate onto the hill and not the metal gate just after it which I went through. From there, cross and follow the burn uphill until you see those two wooden posts and head for them. From there, it's a straight walk up top the ridge.

Overall, not a bad morning's walk and I got back to the car less than 4 hours after setting off and just seconds before the rain started.

A good wee walk which would be much more enjoyable after a warm, dry spell. 2/5


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tnt_Brian


Location: lochgilphead
Occupation: Asset Inspector
Interests: walking, photography, camping
Activity: Hill Bagger
Mountain: Beinn Liath Mhor
Place: Sandwood Bay
Gear: midge jacket
Member: none
Camera: Canon 350D

Munros: 7
Corbetts: 3
Fionas: 2
Sub 2000: 1



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Statistics

2013

Trips: 1
Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 815m
Munros: 1

2012

Trips: 3
Distance: 40.2 km
Ascent: 2763m
Munros: 2
Corbetts: 1


Joined: May 19, 2012
Last visited: Jul 05, 2023
Total posts: 7 | Search posts