Sgorr Craobh a' Chaorainn

I had decided that after the last ultra-marathon that I would get back to enjoying the hills again by slowing things down. In that sense, a wild camp late on a Sunday night, high up on a mountain would provide just the ticket and I decided to head somewhere new. I chose Sgorr Craobh a' Chaorainn, a relatively small Corbett at 775m on the off chance that if the weather was good, I could tag along Sgurr Ghuibhsaichain. I decided to have dinner in the Glenfinnan House Hotel and I have to report that the food was excellent - chilli squid to start followed by a nice breast of chorizo chicken, washed down with an Innis and Gunn half pint. Yummy.

I reluctantly bade farewell to the roaring fire and headed out into the drizzle - a night of discomfort for me! I drove along to Callop and parked up, while adopting the heavy pack - ooft! It had been a while and gone was the 10-litre rucksack with the 40-litre topped up with comfiness and beer. The path was excellent and I made good progress until the steep walk up on to Meall na Cuartaige, a shapely bump that separated me from the bealach before the final climb to my objective. It was raining more persistently now but my new waterproofs were doing the job. At 2000, and at grid reference 903762 (approximately), I found a flat area and got the tent up in minutes. I settled down for the night, called my wife and listened to the elements. Bliss. I read a great quote recently "To be alone on a ship's bridge at night, forging through blackness, is to experience almost at knifepoint the mysteriousness and overwhelmingness of the universe." This felt very similar and I contemplated life while supping on some Chew Chew beer. It was lights out at 2230 and off to sleep.

The next morning, it had settled down and I had a decent view back to my camp, with Meall na Cuartaige towering behind it. The walk up on to the Corbett proper was bliss as I left the pack behind and I decided to leave the 2nd hill for another day, as the cloud cover wouldn't permit a view. Of course, on the return back to the car, blue skies emerged but I was satiated with another great wee camping experience and my 105th Corbett.

Beinn Liath Mhor a Ghiubhais Li

Phew! What a mouthful. After having finally managed to take in the summit of A-Ghlas Bheinn, then the Falls of Glomach, I drove up to Lochcarron and enjoyed some food and a wee half pint of the local ale. From there, I was heading to Inverness for the UHI Exam Board but I had business to attend to on this, one of the longest Corbetts (name-wise). By the time I started out, it was 3.15pm and warm, although there was a welcome breeze. I hadn't quite anticipated how much the earlier run had taken out of me and I could only manage a slow jog along the land rover track from Loch Glascarnoch. Eventually, I reached the end of the fence posts with the enclosed trees and had to start the ascent proper. I really struggled up this and once I lipped out on this first summit, I was discouraged to see a field of hags between me and the last climb up the stony summit.

Eventually, after an hour, I topped out and sat in the rounded summit area for 10 minutes, drinking the last of my water. The views were excellent from the Fannaichs to the Beinn Dearg group; although I was quite fatigued so possibly didn't enjoy them as much as I could have. Rather than trace my steps, I descended directly towards the car, then meandered through the copse of trees and back to the car. A 5 mile round trip that took 1 hour 40, with only 505m of ascent. But, very worthwhile wee Corbett all the same.

Corryhabbie Hill

I was staying with my grandfather in Macduff the previous evening on an Aiberdeenshire present drop. With my folks not expecting me until the afternoon of the next day, I had chosen to nip over to Glen Fiddich and take in Corryhabbie Hill. I didn't fancy the walk over the farmland from the West so opted for a longer walk/run from the Cabrach road. Probably wise since there was a tonne of snow in Glen Fiddich further up. I had forgotten my head torch so as I rolled up at 0600, I was solely dependent on the super-moon, which did a grand job of illuminating the way up and down to the abandoned buildings of Glen Fiddich estate. What a pity they have been left to ruin by the London-based land owner, Christopher Moran. According to his profile, he has 'a passion for national and built heritage'. Obvious balderdash. I headed through the dilapidated state and began the walk up the track to Morton's Way. At approximately 400m, the snow became quite deep so it took me a wee while to wend my way round to the path proper. I surprised a gentleman and his two dugs who were out early. I began the final approach along the plateau and the sun began to break over Cook's Cairn to the East. It was bitterly cold at the top and I didn't hand around. I descended steeply down into Glen Fiddich and ran most of the way back. A good 24km run taking approximately 3.5 hours.

Beinn nan Imirean

Another week of hard work, another Sunday where I had permission to bugger off for the day. I had spied Beinn nan Imirean for a while being one of the closest Corbetts to the house (about 75 minutes drive). However, most books and accounts suggested it was very boggy thus I waited for a cold day to head over from Auchessan. While there had been a good drop of snow, I would find that the ground was still boggy underfoot and this made for quite a slog to the top. I arrived at Auchessan, not quite remembering the etiquette about parking. I decided to park well away from the exit, just off the road and on to the verge. Rather than hill running gear, I had decided to take plenty of gear and boots so this would be more of a fast hike.

The approach was exactly the same as for Sgiath Chuil and I vaguely remembered it. I think it may have been 7 years since I had been here. Once up past the farmland fencing, I struck off more or less West-North-West and ploughed through the snow-fields and bogs. The snow began to fall but there was no issues of navigation and when it did at last stop, the view up to the summit was grand. I stopped before the last pull up on the ridge beside the lochain and had a mince pie - sublime. Views over to the Munros were fantastic with wee pockets of sunshine penetrating the Winter grey. I re-embarked upon the ascent and found the wee summit cairn with a great view into Glen Lochay. I had also considered coming at this hill from that approach as part of a 20K run but that could wait for the 2nd round of Corbetts! At 849m, the wind was stiff and I set off back home. Uneventful until a slip on the wee grassy mound just behind the farm, with a 5-yard skite on shitey grass. A quick wash in the burn and a skip back to the car in just under 3 hours for this 11km hike. This might be a boggy affair but one that saw nobody on the Corbett except me, while the Munroists were in evidence across the hills.

Beinn Stacath (and Creag Mhor)

 

I was able to have breakfast with the family before I left this morning. No need to sneak out and be silent. Consequently, I arrived just before Ballimore farm at 0800 and knew that I'd be privy to a cold approach. However, this was to develop into a fantastic run across these two hills, once I was up and on to Creag Mhor, the Graham. From Ballimore farm and the emerging sunrise over Benvane, I began the rise over Creag Mhor (what a steep pad). Eventually I found the two stones sitting on a large boulder (the smallest cairn ever?) and took a moment to breathe in the views. Surprisingly, Lochearnhead was still in shadow and was undoubtedly a few degrees colder than my present sunny clime. 

 

I began the descent down to the bealach between Creag Mhor and Beinn Stacath. There were considerable numbers of deer here and they scattered quickly before I could take some snaps. Then began the last major climb of the day but I felt very fit and things soon levelled off. Once again, the ground hardened and it was a joy to run with views across to Stob Binnein. I even had a fox accompany me up over point 701m. Perhaps a first on the hills. Once up at the trig point of Beinn Stacath, the sky began to change and it was an odd hue, looking over to Ben Ledi and beyond (Dumgoyne and even Tinto in the distance). All that was left was to descend off the Eastern ridge and down the snaking land rover track before a simple run back to the car. 2 hours 55 minutes and 10 miles of trip.

 

Beinn a Chuallaich - the 100th!

The day had arrived - my 100th Corbett would be Beinn a Chuallaich, a solitary hill famed for its views to Schiehallion. I would be accompanied by Ian Clayton, a friend of several years, who would then join me on a trip to Duinish bothy to celebrate. I wanted to do this hill with Ian, as it was a short day out but would provide a nice wee view around Scotland. We parked to the east after a delightful drive down the B road and through Trinafour. From here, we walked steeply up the hill and past the old shelter, which looked robust enough on the inside. Not as 'grand' as most bothies but it would certainly do on a whiteout. The steep ground eventually gave way to flatter terrain, that was lined with boggy moraines. Unfortunately, while the views were pretty, ian's feet had degenerated into stumps and he could no longer continue the final ascent on to the summit. With his permission, I shot off and sped up the hill at haste. I was at the summit cairn and trig point, 20 minutes after leaving him. Great views to the hills and lochs and I decided to contour round off the ESE ridge and then back over the burn. Eventually I located him and we had an undramatic tramp back to the cars, before we eventually walked into Duinish for a beer, dram and some convivial chat. Here's to the next 100.

 

Garbh Bheinn (Kinlochleven)

I was taken by the profile of this hill in the SMC Corbetts book. Also, it wasn't too far from home and as it was a short day trip, I wanted to retain some of the deposit in the emotional bank account. It only looked like a short trip and so it proved to be, although it was very steep up and down. The great thing about this hill aside from the spectacular views back up Loch Leven, is that within 1km, you're already 1000ft up. It's a rather boggy start but once on to the ridge proper, it's sheer joy. The relentless zig-zags only ended at a lovely crag, which was easily skirted and then the final approach to the summit. From here, the views across Rannoch Moor and to the Mamores were outstanding. I took shelter in the small rock hide and had some lunch before a quick and awkward run back to the car. All in all, a 7km walk with 817m of ascent done in 1 hour 40. The thighs today are complaining. This was my 99th Corbett so what next for Corbett 100?