Beinn Odhar Bheag is a rather underated mountain - a very fine and rugged peak towering above the west side of Loch Shiel. In combination with Beinn Mhic Cedidh it makes for an enjoyable, rough round.
Bog Factor
Rough and rugged mountain terrain, largely pathless. Lower slopes very boggy in places.
Parking layby at NM856813 .
Buses run along the Road to the Isles en route to Mallaig.
NM856813
There are numerous parking laybys along the A830 between Glenfinnan and Loch Eilt - the correct one at NM856813 has a gate leading to a bridge over the river with the railway line beyond. The traditional route in guidebooks heads through the gate to cross the bridge and railway, but new signs from Network Rail forbid this. The only alternative is to get across the river if possible at the W end of the layby and head through the trees and up on rough ground to where the railway heads into a tunnel. Cross above the tunnel and then bear left downhill to eventually join a faint path from the far side of the railway - follow this around the foot of the grassy mound and craggy bluff on your right. Once beyond this continue up grassy slopes - with one short section above a gorge - aiming directly for a notch in the ridge visible on the skyline.
From the notch there begins a lengthy ascent of a broad ridge which leads up south towards Beinn Odhar Mhor. As height is gained, good views open up - especially looking back west over Loch Eilt. The summit of Beinn Odhar Mòr is marked by a cairn - the trig point shown on OS maps has been smashed. At the top there is a sudden superb view down to Glenfinnan and Loch Shiel.
Despite the 'Mhor' name - Beinn Odhar is not as high as Beinn Odhar Bheag which therefore is the Corbett. Begin the walk between the two by heading south along the ridge - an initial line of crags can be turned to either side. From here the walk along the intervening ridge towards the great peak of Beinn Odhar Bheag is a rocky delight of ups-and-downs and twists-and-turns.
There are some stunning views of rocky buttresses dropping steeply to Loch Shiel. Continue up the ridge to reach the summit cairn of Beinn Odhar Bheag. Almost the whole of the loch can be seen far below, from just a few paces from the cairn.
Descend the northwest ridge towards Bealach a' Choire Bhuidhe. The descent is a long one, down mostly grassy slopes with just a couple of rockier sections before the peaty pass is reached at around 485m. From here begins the straightforward climb up Beinn Mhic Cedidh.
The tiny summit cairn is another good viewpoint - the outlook towards the Rois-bheinn range being particularly fine.
The descent is down the rocky north ridge - the finest feature of Beinn Mhic Cedidh. Once down below 600m descend grassier slopes NNW towards the bealach below Sgùrr na Paite. Once down to this, a muddy and faint ATV track leads east down the corrie.
The ATV track leads to a bridge over the Allt a' Choire Bhuidhe - unmarked on OS maps. Continue along the boggy track, which eventually passes beneath the railway. It leads down towards the eastern end of Loch Eil then continues east through the birchwoods. Finally it turns north and fords the burn to head up to the A830. Turn right along the verge - and take great care on the blind bends on the walk back to the start - traffic can be very fast along here.
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