Читать книгу Walking the Corbetts Vol 2 North of the Great Glen - Brian Johnson - Страница 13

ROUTE 2

Fuar Bheinn cold mountain and Creach Bheinn mountain of spoil

Start	Glen Galmadale (NM 86660 53090)
Distance	15km (10 miles)
Total ascent	1480m (4900ft)
Difficulty	The ridge, which is mainly grass with scattered crags, is relatively easy. However, the initial ascent and final descent are rough and steep, and accurate navigation will be needed in mist to avoid the dangerous crags which face Glen Galmadale.
Time	6hr 35min
Summits	Beinn na Cille (652m, Graham), Fuar Bheinn (766m, 2511ft), Creach Bheinn (853m, 2798ft), Maol Odhar (794m), Meall nan Each (591m)
Maps	OS Landranger 49
Access	From Strontian, follow the A861 E, then the B8043 S along Loch Linnhe. There is a parking area just E of the Glengalmadale River just E of Kingairloch.
Note	It would be possible to save a little time by ascending to the saddle between Beinn na Cille and Fuar Bheinn from Glen Galmadale and descending from Maol Odhar or the saddle between Maol Odhar and Creach Bheinn.

Fuar Bheinn and Creach Bheinn are the two Corbetts on the impressive ridge which surrounds Glen Galmadale overlooking Loch Linnhe on the E side of Morvern. There are plenty of crags facing Glen Galmadale, but the most spectacular terrain is on the N slope of Creach Bheinn.

Loch Linnhe from Beinn na Cille

On 5 May 1964 a USAF McDonnell F101C Voodoo fighter-bomber was on a training flight from its base at RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk. While flying over the Scottish highlands at 28,000ft, the fighter exploded in mid-air, giving the pilot no opportunity to eject, and wreckage was strewn over Maol Odhar. On operations the Voodoo carried nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles and was capable of carrying a thermo-nuclear bomb, giving rise to media speculation that the crash was caused by the explosion of nuclear warheads, but this was denied.

Follow the road across the bridge and SW to the forestry (86370 52920) before heading up a steep faint path along the forest edge. At the top of the forest it is best to veer well to the left to avoid the worst of the crags on the steep slope. When you reach the S ridge of Beinn na Cille turn right up the ridge. If you are doing the route in reverse and descending Beinn na Cille it would be easier to continue S to the B8043. Head easily to the summit of Beinn na Cille (1hr 30min, 652m, 85430 54190), then descend just left of N to a saddle (460m, 85310 54940) and climb N to the summit cairn on Fuar Bheinn, which appears to be on the highest of several tops (2hr 40min, 766m, 85350 56330).

There are crags on the direct route to the saddle between Fuar Bheinn and Creach Bheinn. Head roughly NW until clear of the crags, then veer NNE to the broad saddle (540m, 85390 57410). Head just left of E up grass and scattered crags to the summit of Creach Bheinn (3hr 55min, 853m, 87070 57640). The summit is marked by a rock wall surrounding the remains of the trig point marked on the OS map.

The descent is NE, veering E, over fairly rocky terrain to a saddle (715m, 87720 58030) from where it would be possible to descend S. Our route continues easily up to the summit of Maol Odhar (4hr 30min, 794m, 88140 57950). Continue down the ridge, SE veering E, looking out for aircraft remains. After about 400m, head SE down grassy slopes, gradually veering SW, to a broad saddle (510m, 88470 56500) and then on to the summit of Meall nan Each (5hr 10min, 591m, 88340 56120).

Continue SSW over several minor tops to Peak 535 (87990 54865) from where a faint path leads down the Druim na Maodalaich ridge. Near the bottom of the ridge head W down steep rough slopes to the B8043 (86700 52900) and turn right back to the parking area (6hr 35min).