Get Lost Mountaineering

Creag Liath from the end of the public road in Glen Banchor

Start/Finish

End of the public road in Glen Banchor at NH 692 998. From the centre of Newtonmore, follow “Glen Road” past the car park. Once past the houses, the road becomes narrow and ends 2 km from Newtonmore where there is parking for about 12 cars. This is also the usual starting point for the Monadhliath Munros.

Distance/Time

9 km      Approx 4 hours

Peaks

Creag Liath, 743 m, NH 663 007.      OS sheet 35.

Introduction

In good weather, this walk gives good views of the Feshie hills and the Cairngorms not to mention the Monadliath which are adjacent. The going higher up is generally good but lower down can be peaty and boggy.

Route

(1) Fromthe end of the public road in Glen Banchor, continue, crossing the bridge over the Allt a’ Chaorainn and continue along the track to the bridge over the Allt Fionndrigh. Cross the bridge to Glenballoch and follow the grassy track around the last building. Continue on the track to the E end of a wood (not shown on 1982 map) and follow the track across the front of the wood. Once past the wood, the going may become boggy for a while. Try to follow a path which, once past the boggy section, can be seen to climb uphill to the right of a prominent outcrop. This path can be followed to join the crest at the dip to the right (N) of the left hand (S) top. On a clear day, this dip will have been apparent from the start. Once on the crest, turn right (N) and follow a faint path up easy slopes of close cropped heather to a top with a small cairn then down a shallow dip and up to a medium cairn which is the summit of Creag Liath, 743 m. There may be other points on the small summit plateau of equal height, all within 10 m of the cairn.

(2) Descend NNW, on a reasonable path, down a well defined gentle ridge to a prominent dip to meet the path coming up from the Allt Fionndrigh, the burn crossed at Glenballoch. Follow this path down to the bridge over the burn then up the other side to join a good track which leads back to the bridge at Glenballoch and the outward route.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 15^th April, 2003 and 28^th October, 2010.

(b) This walk could be easily combined with the round of the East Monadliath Munros. Including it would add about two hours to the round of the Munros.