Hills: Sgorr Mhic Eacharna (Fiona), Beinn Bheag (Fiona), Garbh Bheinn (Corbett)
Date: Tuesday 28th June 2011
Company: Just myself
Distance: 12km, Ascent: 1265m
Time: 7 Hours

The Met Office forecast for today looked pretty-good so I booked today off and travelled down to Ardgour/Sunart last night.
I spent the night at the Ariundle Bunkhouse - a superb independent bunkhouse.

On waking this morning, and looking out the window, I was somewhat disappointed.
The Met Office forecast was wrong - instead of sun there was clag.
There was no mention of rain at all in the forecast and yet I got soaked twice today .

I tried to stay positive, thinking perhaps the weather would improve in an hour or so.
I therefore set off as planned to undertake the Garbh Bheinn horseshoe.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

I ascended the nose of Sgorr Mhic Eacharna. Views were quite good below 350m.

Coire an Iubhair:


Ascending Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


By the time I reached Lochan Druim an Iubhair, I was walking in thick clag.

At this point I got my compass out and used it very frequently during the next few hours. Decided not to use the GPS today - good practice relying on good old map and compass.

Lochan Druim an Iubhair:


Looking back to Lochan Druim an Iubhair:


No views at all during the two kilometre walk from Lochan Druim an Iubhair to Sgorr Mhic Eacharna .

A fleeting glimpse of Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


Twin-cairned summit of Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


I didn’t spend long at the summit, just enough time to work out the distances and bearings for the next two legs.

Nearly three hours today spent walking in this:


The clag was worse than it appears in the photos - most photos I took during very brief views.

The descent from Sgorr Mhic Eacharna was quite steep.

A fleeting glimpse down Coire an Iubhair:


During the ascent of Beinn Bheag, the clag disappeared for a couple of minutes . The clag would soon be back but it was definitely lifting.

Looking back to Sgorr Mhic Eacharna:


Ascending Beinn Bheag:


As the summit of Beinn Bheag was also in clag, again I just spent enough time there to take bearings.

Summit of Beinn Bheag:


From the summit of Beinn Bheag, I continued along the ridge to the 696m top.

Descent from Beinn Bheag:


At last, a view of Garbh Bheinn:


Until now, I had been a bit apprehensive about ascending the back-end of Garbh Bheinn. I knew there were a couple of steep gullies but I didn’t fancy ascending them without seeing what I was ascending into!

After passing the 696m top the clag started to lift permanently – great timing .

I could see across to the gullies and decided that the one on the left looked easiest.

Looking across to the gullies on Garbh Bheinn above Lochan Coire an Iubhair:


I descended steeply to Lochan Coire an Iubhair and then started my ascent of the steep gully. The grass was very wet and slippery, however, it was much easier close-up than it looked from a distance.

Looking back to Lochan Coire an Iubhair from gully:


It didn’t take long to reach the top of the gully.

Looking back down the gully:


I didn’t have a clue how to get to the top of Garbh Bheinn from the top of the gully. The grassy line looked good so I made my way up it.

The next section of Garbh Bheinn above the gullies:


On reaching the top of the grassy line, I was left with an easy walk to the summit .

Easy walk to summit:


Was great to get some views .

View towards Loch Sunart:


Summit of Garbh Bheinn:


Beinn Bheag from summit of Garbh Bheinn:


From the summit of Garbh Bheinn, I followed a distinct path to the col between Garbh Bheinn and its 823m top.

823m Corbett Top of Garbh Bheinn:


Looking back from the col, Garbh Bheinn looks seriously impressive – a very rocky mountain.

Very rocky Garbh Bheinn:


Garbh Bheinn:


I nearly stood on a frog which was sitting on the path.

Frog:


I ascended to the top of the 823m top, just in case it was a HuMP - it isn’t .

Looking back to Garbh Bheinn from 823m top:


Loch Linnhe:


Loch Linnhe:


I then descended Sron a’Gharbh Choire Bhig back to the starting point.

I was a bit surprised that there were a number of scrambling sections during the descent. Ascending the back-end was definitely technically easier.

Descending Sron a’Gharbh Choire Bhig:


View towards Ballachuillish and Glen Coe:


Now looks like Beinn a’Chasgein Mor will be my final one.
Hard luck to my pals who tried talking me out of finishing on a long one .