Cam Chreag is a Corbett on the north side of Glen Lyon, with a steep-flanked summit ridge defended by a few small crags. Its ascent makes for a short hillwalk from Innerwick; keen baggers can combine it with neighbouring Beinn Dearg.
Good approach track, then steeper final ascent with some pathless ground.
None to start.
Innerwick, Glen Lyon.
Park at the Meggernie Estate car park (toilets) at Innerwick in Glen Lyon. The walk begins by heading up the track from the top end of the car park. Soon it passes through a metal gate, then another. Ignore any paths or hydro tracks off on either side, and pass through a turning area. The track ascends gently with dense forest on the left and more scattered larches and pines on the right at first.
Stay on the main track which soon dips and crosses a bridge over the Allt a' Choire Uidhre. On the far side take the main left branch to continue up the glen, with the southern end of the ridge of Cam Chreag visible in the distance. After a little under 1km the track recrosses the burn at a second bridge and continues climbing; ignore a newly-bulldozed branch heading down to the right.
Eventually the track curves northwest towards a hut high on the moor, with the ridge of Cam Chreag prominent to the west. Just over 100m short of the hut a rough path branches left towards the ridge. Take path track which soon climbs steeply; it becomes faint and peters out as the vegetation turns from heather to grass. Continue uphill steeply, passing through or alongside an area of peat, to gain the ridge.
Once on the ridge the walking becomes much easier once more, and there are grand views in all directions, with Meall Ghaordaidh looking particularly fine from this angle.
Follow the ridge northwest to soon reach the summit cairn of Cam Chreag.
The views are surprisingly extensive, particularly to the northwest over Rannoch Moor to Ben Nevis in the far distance. Options for continuing the walk include a link with the neighbouring Munro Meall Buidhe, but the route described here returns the same way. Corbett baggers who wish to combine this route with Beinn Dearg can retrace their steps but then stay on the track on the north side of the Allt a' Choire Uidhre before the final bridge, fording the Allt a'Mhuic at the confluence unless the water levels are very high - saving 2km of walking to and from Innerwick. This is easier than traversing all the heather moorland between the two hills, which has a great deal of ascent and descent.
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