A weekend campervan trip to Glenelg in the north-west of Scotland, coincided with a spell of good early summer weather. I enjoyed the adventure with friends Cath, Rachel Geraldine and D.
There is a car park at the end of the road along the Glenelg peninsula at Corran. It’s fine for a few campervans to park here in return for a donation at the nearby community hall (and toilets).
We enjoyed superb views over Loch Hourn to there Knoydart Munro, Ladhar Bheinn.
On the first day, we hiked the Munro Beinn Sgritheall and a Munro Top. The following day, we bagged the two Corbetts, Beinn nan Caorach & Beinn na h-Eaglaise.
Corbett bagging: Beinn nan Caorach & Beinn na h-Eaglaise.
The weather was starting to turn for the weekend, so we set off fairly early to ensure we would make it back to our vehicles before the forecast drizzle.
To start the walk, we walked back along the single-track tarmac road towards Arnisdale, then turned right on to a track (private sign) to Glenfield Cottage. We walked behind the cottage and continue on a path up the glen, going through a gate and then finding ourselves by the side of a river.
At a bridge, we left the track and walked on to a path towards an old bridge that crosses Allt Uth. An old stalkers’ path climbs uphill along the eastern side of the burn and then tracks easterly on a steep, zig-zagging path.
We quickly gained height – and views over Glen Arnisdale – to reach the top of the Cuingid gorge, where there is a waterfall.
From here we turned north and continued uphill. There were steeper sections and less steep sections but little relief for the legs. We also found bits of trod to follow but mostly we simply kept climbing.
In good weather, it’s obvious which direction to go before reaching a rockier section.
The gradient eased at around 740m elevation and then it was a straightforward and short walk to the summit of Beinn nan Caorach at774m stature.
On to Corbett 2
The route heads off the northern part of the rocky summit, before we turned north-westerly to walk downhill, before turning south-west continuing the descent.
We thoroughly enjoyed the views, especially of the Munro Beinn Sgritheall to the west, which we had hiked the day before, and the second Corbett of the day, Beinn na h-Eaglaise, ahead.
Other notable peaks include the Cuillin ridge on the Isle of of Rum, as well as the mountains of Pintail and Knoydartl.
The ascent to the next Corbett starts at around 550m elevation and it proved to be another steep climb. I could feel the three mountains of day one and two in my legs as we pushed upwards.
In fact, it felt like the climb got steeper and deeper and rockier.
On the north-east ridge there is a crag that looks to be tricky, but you can head around it to the left, before reclaiming the ridge.
The summit of the Corbett Beinn na h-Eaglaise is 805m and we sat for a while to take in the wide-sweeping views. This is a walk for a day of good visibility.
We descended in a south-easterly direction on rough ground towards Beinn Bhuidhe at 639m elevation and passed a high lochan.
The views over Loch Hourn offered wonderful rewards for our tiring muscles. The descent back to the track, where we started the route, is also steep and there was no path that we could find. This felt like typical rugged Corbett ground to me and the sort of hiking I am familiar with. For others in the group, who prefer a Munro path, it did become a bit arduous.
On the track, we walked back to the road and then returned to Corran.
Route of Beinn nan Caorach & Beinn na h-Eaglaise
Distance: 12km
Total ascent: 1080m