Hills: Leana Mhor & Beinn Iaruinn
Date: Thursday 27 December 2007
Company: Just me


Having previously bagged Carn Dearg, Carn Dearg and Carn Dearg I set off this morning to ascend the last of the four Corbetts in Glen Roy.

After enjoying the usual rollercoaster of a drive up Glen Roy, I parked almost 3km past the viewpoint, beside the bridge at Coire an t-Seilich (197m).

View of Leana Mhor from starting point:


I set off up the steep left ridge of Coire an t-Seilich up grass, heather then moss.

Looking up the ridge of Leana Mhor:


'Parallel roads'* on Beinn Iaruinn:


* Not actually roads - created by glacial action during last ice age.
Glaciers dammed a series of huge lochs in the glen leaving behind a series of shorelines still visible today.

Beinn Iaruinn from Leana Mhor:


Looking back towards the starting point and across the glen to more 'parallel roads':


On reaching a height of circa 500m I really began to feel the wind - which was bitterly cold. After another 50m, or so, it was time to put on the waterproofs and ski goggles as I was being blasted by hailstones.

View of approaching hailstones:


Fortunately the hailstones didn't last for long and I soon reached the small summit cairn.

Summit of Leana Mhor looking NW:


Without much delay, I descended North to the bealach between Leana Mhor and Beinn Iaruinn. Was surprised to meet two others on the hill near the bealach (from Orion MC). After a brief chat, I was on my way. The first 200m of ascent up Beinn Iaruinn, from the bealach, was quite straightforward. I was then quite surprised to encounter almost 1km of flat plateau. I followed the coire rim round to reach the summit cairn of Beinn Iaruinn. On reaching the summit I was again blasted by hailstones. I changed my planned route of descent to keep the hailstones at my back rather than in my face.

Summit of Beinn Iaruinn:


I carried on to the bealach between the summit and the 779m top, where I descended pretty-much in a straight line back to the road followed by a pleasant 2km walk back up the glen to the car. An enjoyable short day, apart from the hailstones