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Beinn Heasgarnich & Creag Mhor, Map 378W
16th April 2005 & 14th November 2007

Route: 1485m=4865' ascent; 16 miles; 9 hrs.


Directions: From Killin, cross R.Lochay & take road left up Glen Lochay for about 6.5 miles to the indicated parking. There used to be parking at Kenknock House (marked on older maps) but this is no longer possible. The hydro-electric road from Kenknock north over the pass is metalled and used to be open, but is now gated.
Route: If there is a strong prevailing wind, consider doing this walk in a clockwise direction instead so that the weather is behind on the ridge.
There are alternatives at the beginning and end. One can start by walking WSW along the hydro electric road for two miles to the Allt Bad Odhar and ascending Beinn Sheasgarnaich from there. This is probably a better start than that described in the table below because the terrain is less boggy. One should also finish by returning along this upper road as it is very much pleasanter than the one along the valley floor.
There are a large number of gates on the horizontal hydro-electric track at 400m, and these are connected to a plethora of deer fences running upwards and downwards perpendicular to track as well as one running parallel to the track higher up the hill. This means that you are almost certain to have to climb over a deer fence a couple of times.
There are also some very tiresome, extensive new tree plantations where the peat has been turned over. One is west of the bridge over the Allt Bad a' Mhaim.
The only significant difficulty is ascending the NE ridge of Creag Mhor. It is straightforward in good conditions with visibility as there is a clear path. However, the viability of a direct frontal assault is questionable without crampons and visibility when the path is buried beneath snow. If necessary bear right: ascend W below the cliffs to the NW ridge then veer round and ascend S/SE up the NW ridge to the summit of Creag Mhor. In the reverse direction, a similar detour is advisable in poor conditions.
Of course, time is also a problem in winter, but several miles at each end are along tracks for which a head torch provides sufficient light. All the rough walking can be completed during daylight if a reasonable pace is kept.
For those wishing to do Corbetts as well as Munro tops, it may be worth adjoining Meall nan Subh to the ascent of Beinn Sheasgarnaich and perhaps tackling Creag Mhor and its top separately. At the far western end there is another Corbett, Cam Creag, 884m, NN37583460, which might be appended to the walk as the connecting bealach is relatively high at 725m. However, it already forms part of a very enjoyable round with Beinn Challum and the Corbett, Beinn Chaorach.

N.B. The footbridge one mile west of Kenknock marked on the 1:50000 map at NN453356 has long since disappeared, making it more difficult to ascend the Munros south of the River Lochay from the same starting point as here. The hydro-electric road bridge at Kenknock and the footbridge at Badour are the alternatives for those hills.

Weather, 16/04/05: 4°C at car, cold east wind, two inches snow above 2000', so walked the route from E to W. Almost no paths visible anywhere, partly because of snow. Low cloud, 800m base, but dry all day; light wind. Direction finding was difficult because of the topography, cloud & lack of paths.
14/11/07: (Slow, unfit day.) 4°C. Mostly sunny.

16/4/0514/11/07 Description HtAscentDistanceGrid Ref
 — — Parking in Glen Lochay, ½ mile before Kenknock House. 190   00.0 milesNN47673683
09400915 Track WSW to T-jn just beyond Kenknock House.
(Parking no longer available here.)
220  300.75 milesNN46633644
10000930 Take road zigzagging NNW up to near small dam 3601701.45 milesNN46133699
10351005 Fork right along road NNW to watershed on boundary
(Alternatively, take road WSW to Allt Bad Odhar
at NN42993582, then N to Beinn Heasgarnich.)
505310 3.3 milesNN44773918
 — — Optional detour NE to C Meall nan Subh
(Adds 350m ascent and 1.6 miles)
804 — —NN46083977
11551125 Head due W direct to pt 949 on NE ridge
or any suitable point further S on ridge (tedious bog crossing)
9497604.9 milesNN42203919
1200  S to Lochan on col 935 5.05 milesNN42113897
1225
-1230
1150
-1200
SW passed lochans to M Beinn Heasgarnich
(Orange 10m S of top.)
10789005.7 milesNN41363835
   S over several bumps to col 1020 6.3 milesNN41243742
12501220 SSW to X Stob an Fhir-Bhogha 10299236.4 milesNN41153725
   Cross 100yds NW to adjacent top 1025 6.5 milesNN41073729
1310
-1315
1230 WSW to Sron Tairbh 9739356.85 milesNN40583705
13451300 Easy descent W/SW to bealach (Lochan na Baintighearna)
(No path near bealach)
655 7.4 milesNN39793671
14401355
-1405
Ascend SW along boundary to M Creag Mhor
(Take a detour round to NNW ridge if necessary, as above)
104713308.0 milesNN39133610
15051425 Ridge W/SW/S to lochans at bealach Fridh a' Choirean
88513408.65 milesNN38403550
1520
-1525
1435 S/SE to T Stob nan Clach 95614108.95 milesNN38713516
1545  SE to end of ridge at Sail Dubh 82814309.6 milesNN39493449
16201535
-1540
Descend straightforward steep grassy gully
between crags at very end of ridge, then
ESE to upper hydro Track at Allt Cheathaich
394 10.35 milesNN40693421
   16/4/05: Descended to lower track (probably a mistake
given the amount of cow mess along lower road)
14/11/07: Stayed on the upper track, which is much better.
   
16501600 Upper (or lower) track NE to Allt Batavaim 400144011.25 milesNN41763513
17001620 ENE along track to Allt Badour 380146212.2 milesNN42993582
1705
 
  —
1700
ENE along track to forestry, resp.
Pipe at end of track/ road down
234
360
 
1483
 
14.4 miles
NN436351
NN46023698
1730   — ENE along track to former footbridge, now gone. 220  NN453356
17551715 NNE, resp. SSE, along track to T-jn by Kenknock House. 230 15.12 milesNN46633644
 — — ENE to parking ½ mile beyond Kenknock House. 190148315.85 milesNN47673683


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