Get Lost Mountaineering

Sgor Mhic Eacharna, Beinn Bheag, Sgurr nan Cnamh and Garbh Bheinn from entrance to Coire Iubhair

Start/Finish

Entrance to Coire Iubhair, on old road with plenty of parking, off the A881 Ardgour to Strontian road (via Corran Ferry) at about NM 925 597. Coire Iubhair is just after the main road turns in from the side of Loch Linnhe towards Strontian.

Distance/Time

19 km .      Approx 10 hours.

Peaks

Sgor Mhic Eacharna, 650 m, NM 928 630.

Beinn Bheag, 736 m, NM 914 635.

Sgurr nan Cnamh, 701 m, NM 886 643.

Garbh Bheinn, 885 m, NM 904 621.      OS sheets 40 and 49.

Introduction

A fairly strenuous walk over 3 Grahams and a Corbett, mainly on grass, which gives excellent views of the surrounding mountains in Ardgour, across Loch Linnhe, where almost the entire western seaboard can be seen. It is worth saving these mountains for a good day. Navigation will be testing in misty conditions especially out to Sgurr nan Cnamh. When dry, the rock on Garbh Bheinn is excellent for scrambling on.

Route

(1) Walk E to pick up the path shown on the map, going up Coire Iubhair, which is actually a track to begin with. Follow this until an easy line is seen NE towards the ridge of Druim an Iubhair. There is a faint path, not easy to locate, which stays well to the left of the crest of the ridge and slightly below it to avoid the many undulations on the actual crest. If this path is located and followed correctly then the actual crest of the ridge is not gained until just before the start of the final climb up Sgorr Mhic Eacharna at about NM 932 624. This final climb is a sustained rise to the twin cairned summit of Sgor Mhic Eacharna, 650 m. The E top, set on a small outcrop, seems slightly higher than the W top, set on grass. Just before the summit, a line of fence posts appears from the right (E) and leads to the summit.

(2) Descend roughly W, following the line of fence posts into a grassy bealach. The steep section can be made easier by going left on to a gentler ridge which leads into the bealach. Follow the fence posts up the other side of the bealach, keeping to the crest of the ridge. Soon, the fence posts go off left but keep to the crest where there is now more than a hint of a path to reach the medium cairn of Beinn Bheag, 736 m.

(3) Continue along the crest, over some minor tops, and descend slabby/grassy slopes to Loch nan Dearcag at about NM 896 636. Pick a way NW on easy grassy/slabby slopes to reach a grassy cleft below Sgurr nan Cnamh. Ascend N to the large summit cairn of Sgurr nan Cnamh, 701 m.

(4) Retrace heading for ground to SSW of Loch nan Dearcag then contour round to Lochan Coire an Iubhair in the bealach between Beinn Bheag and Garbh Bheinn. The fence posts from the start of the ascent of Beinn Bheag cross this bealach and head up Garbh Bheinn. To the right of these posts, and directly above the lochan, is a steep grassy ramp. Ascend this ramp which soon becomes a pleasant twisting grassy gully with a hint of a path in it. At the top of the gully, go ahead towards the obvious corrie but, as soon as possible, trend left onto the ridge above and follow this to the summit cairn of Garbh Bheinn, 885 m. If the ridge looks too rocky, it is easy to stay in the corrie for longer before climbing out left and up to the large summit cairn which is perched on the edge of the E face cliffs.

(5) From the summit, walk mainly S, along the edge, following a faint path which soon becomes more distinct and descend about 130 m to a bealach in which there is cairn. Ascend the other side on a faint path, for about 70 m, to reach the cairned summit at the top of the Sron a’Garbh Choire Bhig ridge. Descend SE down this long ridge, following a good path most of the way, to eventually reach the old road just by the old bridge.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 1^st June, 2010 and 6^th September, 2010.

(b) Omitting Sgurr nan Cnamh would save about two hours but to ascend it on its own takes 6 – 7 hours.

(c) Omitting Garbh Bheinn saves about 2 hours but the route directly down Coire an Iubhair from Lochan Coire an Iubhair is pathless for some distance and not pleasant to walk. An ascent of Garbh Bheinn alone also takes 6 – 7 hours.