Hills: Beinn an Tuim (HuMP)
Meall an Uillt Chaoil (HuMP)
Streap (Corbett)
Date: Thursday 2nd September 2010
Company: Just me
Time: 8Hrs

En-route to a Club Weekend meet to Inverie, I ascended Streap.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken
 
I opted to start the walk from Glenfinnan, in order to maximise views of the impressive viaduct.

Beinn an Tuim above Glenfinnan Viaduct:


I followed the track towards the viaduct and crossed the bridge over the River Finnan. I then followed a path leading to the top of the viaduct. After reaching the end of the track, I took to the hillside heading for the ridge leading to Beinn an Tuim. The ascent to the ridge wasn't that pleasant – deep grass and bracken.

Fraoch-bheinn:


I reached the ridge just beyond the phone transmitter on Mam a'Chreagain.

Initial views of Loch Shiel:


Looking back to viaduct:


The ascent of Beinn an Tuim is not difficult but does involve negotiating lots of lumps and bumps. My main reason for ascending Beinn an Tuim was to see the classic view down Loch Shiel. As I gained more and more height, the views got better and better.

Loch Shiel:


Ascending Beinn an Tuim:


En-route to Beinn an Tuim, I passed Lochan na Carnaich.

Loch Shiel again:


Beinn an Tuim:


First view of Loch Shiel and viaduct:
 

Gulvain and Braigh nan Uamhachan from Beinn an Tuim:


Ridge leading to summit of Streap:


After ascending what seemed like hundreds of lumps and bumps I reached the 795m top and then the summit of Beinn an Tuim. I wasn't disappointed by the views from the summit.

View from summit of Beinn an Tuim:
 

View from summit of Beinn an Tuim:


View from summit of Beinn an Tuim (zoomed):


From the summit of Beinn an Tuim, there were still many ups and downs before reaching the summit of Streap. I descended over a hundred metres to Bealach a' Chait before ascending Meall an Uillt Chaoil (which is also a HuMP).

Looking towards Meall an Uillt Chaoil from Beinn an Tuim:


Looking back to Beinn an Tuim from Meall an Uillt Chaoil:


Looking down Loch Eilt towards distant Eigg:


From Meall an Uillt Chaoil I descended just under 100m to Bealach Coire nan Cearc before ascending Stob Coire nan Cearc.

Looking across to Stob Coire nan Cearc from Meall an Uillt Chaoil:


Sgurr Thuilm:


Sgurr nan Coireachan:


Looking back to Meall an Uillt Chaoil and Beinn an Tuim from Stob Coire nan Cearc:


At last the summit of Streap seemed reasonably close. Despite the sweltering heat, I was having a fantastic day.

Ridge to summit of Streap:


En-route to summit of Streap:


From a distance the final ridge of Streap looks quite intimidating. The SMC book describes it as a “knife-edge”. In good conditions, it really isn't that bad.

Final narrow ridge to summit of Streap:


On reaching the summit, I soaked-in the views. I also had a good look for my friend Bob, who was ascending neighbouring Sgurr nan Coireachan and Sgurr Thuilm but I couldn't see him.

Ridge to Streap Comhlaidh from summit of Streap:


Glendessary hills from summit of Streap:


Distant Eigg and Rum from summit:


Distant Skye Cuillin:


Gleann Cuirnean:


From the summit, I descended the narrow part of the ridge and then followed a descending grassy shelf. On reaching a burn, I opted to descend pretty-much straight down to the River Finnan.

Descent from Streap:


Looking back at descent:


Looking back at descent:
 

On reaching the glen, I could see my friend Bob descending Sgurr Thuilm. I carried on walking as far as Corryhully bothy, where I stopped for a drink and some sandwiches.

Corryhully bothy:


Inside Corryhully bothy:


The final walk out to the car was further than I remembered but was a lovely walk. A fantastic start to a fantastic weekend.