Mostly, when walking Munros and Corbetts, the most direct route tends to be the preferred option. There are times when you might detour a little, to then head up to the summit, or walk a long glen to then climb slopes to a mountain top, but the walk of the Corbett, Beinn Enaiglair, was quite different.
From the car park at Braemore Junction, near Corrieshalloch Gorge, with my friends Ben and Caroline, we completed a full circuit around the mountain, including a shorter, steeper climb to the 889m summit. The route follows an easy-to-find stalker’s path.
The beauty of the circuit – we went clockwise – was that the trail that contoured the west side of the Corbett, gradually, but very gently, ascended. It didn’t feel like much of an ascent at any point but after several kilometres it was obvious that the top of the mountain was not that far above us.
Walking the circuit around the lower slopes of Beinn Enaiglair also offered us fantastic views of the north side of the mountain. The high crags of the corrie are magnificent.
At the north-eastern side of the Corbett, we joined a path that headed up the side of a burn and then zig-zagged to the fairly flat top. It was rarely strenuous and mostly easy-going.
The views as we climbed extended across this beautiful area. In the distance we could see low cloud hanging in coastal glens and a vista that extended out to sea and across the coastal town of Ullapool.
An Teallach was easy to spot in the west, as was Beinn Dearg in the east. We could easily identify many Assynt mountains, such as Suilven, too.
Read about my packraft, walk and summit camp on Suilven.
The Beinn Enaiglair route then descended to the south-east, before rejoining the amazing stalker’s path. We walked the path, heading back to the west, to complete the circuit and then walk downhill back to the car park.
It was Caroline’s first Corbett and the third Corbett in two days for Ben and I.
It was a triumph of wonderful weather, superb views, a brilliant path and a great outing for a Corbett bagging newbie.
Distance: 17km
Ascent: 780m.
Note: We headed too far west following a wide track at the start. This ended at a high deer fence. To gain a gate through the fence, we had to return east. See the start of the route map.
Corbet bagging tally: 61.