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Leana Mhor & Carn Dearg, E of Glen Roy from Glen Roy

Start/Finish

The parking area at the end of the public road in Glen Roy.

Distance/Time

17 km.      About 7 hours.

Peaks

Leana Mhor, 676 m, NN 317 789.

Carn Dearg, 834 m, NN 345 887.      OS sheet 34.

Introduction

This is a pleasant walk on generally easy ground but after rain, the lower ground by the River Roy can be quite boggy and there are two burns to be crossed which can be tricky, especially the one above Brunachan. This walk gives good views of Creag Meagaigh, Beinn a' Chaorainn, Beinn Teallach, the Loch Lochy Munros and the mountains south of Glen Spean including Grey Corries and Aonach Mor. Much of the route is pathless on reasonably good terrain. Navigation will need care in mist. Glen Roy is well known for its “parallel roads” which are essentially “tide marks” left on the hills by retreating glaciers during the last ice age. These are shown on the 1989 OS 34 sheet as “tracks” but this is an over statement and they are often crossed unnoticed and should not be relied upon as paths or tracks.

Route

(1) Walk back along the road for about 600 m then cross the River Roy by the bridge. Cross the burn flowing out of Coire na Reinich which might be awkward in spate and necessitate a short detour upstream towards the corrie. Follow the E bank of the River Roy downstream, on an intermittent path, to reach Brunachan. Cross the burn, not easy after rain (see note below) and certainly more difficult than the first burn. Ascend SE then S up the reasonably well defined ridge where there is an intermittent path. A track appears “out of nothing” on the left side of the ridge about a quarter of the way up. This can be followed until it crosses the crest of the ascent ridge when it should be left and a way picked up the crest. When the angle eases, a large plateau is reached. After about another 300 m, a very small pile of stones is reached which is the summit cairn of Leana Mhor, 676 m.

(2) Continue SSW across the plateau. About halfway to the S peak, 650 m, turn E and descend alongside the burn flowing out of the shallow grassy corrie. When the bealach is reached, ascend E to reach the well defined ridge going NE. There is an ATV track going up the ridge which can be followed for some distance. Higher up, the ridge goes E then NE again with a hint of a path to reach the medium cairn which is the summit of Carn Dearg, 834 m.

(3) Descend NE, on a faint path, heading for Point 677. Follow this ridge NNE. Lower down an ATV track may be noticed which can be followed roughly NW down towards Annat. Alternatively, stay on the crest until reaching the stalker's path (shown on the map) which crosses the ridge and leads down to Annat. The burn to be crossed before Annat may be tricky after heavy rain or snow melt. Bypass Annat on the right to reach a track which soon follows the S bank of the River Roy. After 2 km from Annat, the track crosses the river by a large bridge then soon crosses the old stone Turret Bridge. Turn left, still following the N bank of the River Roy to pass the Brae Roy Lodge buildings and soon reach the parking area.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 30^th May, 2011.

(b) If the burn at Brunachan is too difficult to cross, then a lengthy, 2 km, detour upstream is the only option. Follow the N bank of the burn on an intermittent path. Cross the burn flowing out of Coire Dubh (not usually difficult) and continue S above a gorge. One may have to walk as far as the three tributaries coming from the E to find a crossing point. Once across, bear W up easy grassy slopes to reach the summit plateau.