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ROUTE 7

Beinn na h-Uamha hill of the caves

Start	Sallachan (NM 97840 62930)
Distance	18km (11 miles)
Total ascent	850m (2800ft)
Difficulty	There is rough boggy terrain to cross on the lower slopes of Beinn na h-Uamha, which is well protected by crags on the steep upper slopes. Accurate navigation is needed in descent and it is not recommended for the inexperienced in bad weather or poor visibility. The River Gour must be forded twice, which won’t be a problem in normal conditions but could be if the river is in flood.
Time	6hr
Summits	Beinn na h-Uamha (762m, 2499ft)
Maps	OS Landranger 40
Access	From Strontian head E along the A861 and turn left along a minor road to Sallachan about 4km W of the Corran Ferry at Ardgour. There is limited parking just after the bridge over the River Gour.
Note	You could combine Beinn na h-Uamha with the Graham Sgurr a’ Chaorainn, to the W.

Beinn na h-Uamha is a rocky hill between Glen Gour and Glen Scaddle set among the rocky peaks of Ardgour. It appeared on the 1 inch:1 mile OS maps at 2499ft, but appears as 762m on the 1:50,000 map and was promoted to Corbett status in 1981. Its twin peak, Sgurr a’ Chaorainn, is shown as 761m on the latest OS map. The recommended ascent up Glen Gour is through a deep glacial valley with much bare rock on the steep valley sides.

Beinn na h-Uamha over Loch nan Gabhar

There has been a car ferry crossing the Corran Narrows of Loch Linnhe since 1934. Prior to that, the ferry was a rowing boat, later replaced by a motor launch. In those days a lot of cattle and sheep were brought from the Ardnamurchan Peninsula to the market in Fort William and were taken across the Narrows in a large rowing boat. Horses were expected to swim behind the boat (see www.ambaile.org.uk for more on Highland history and culture).

See map in Route 6. Cross the bridge and turn right along the track, signed to Strontian, up the left-hand side of the River Gour. Pass Loch nan Gabhar and fork right at a junction. Eventually the track deteriorates and veers right, down to the River Gour (1hr 20min, 55m, 92550 64770). Cross the river, on stepping stones when the water level is low. The grassy, often boggy, track continues up the glen. If you lose the track just continue up the glen until you reach the burn draining the corrie between Beinn na h-Uamha and Sgurr a’ Chaorainn (2hr, 155m, 90910 64980). Head N up the burn, staying above the edge of the gully through which the burn flows, until you reach the foot of the rocky SW ridge of Beinn na h-Uamha (235m, 90720 65360). Head NNE up the ridge, either up the rock slabs or steep grass slopes, veering right as the gradient eases on the approach to the knobbly summit plateau. The summit cairn is on a knoll at the far end of the plateau (3hr 35min, 762m, 91710 66410). There is about 200m of descent between Beinn na h-Uamha and its twin peak Sgurr a’ Chaorainn so it is possible that both of them, either of them or neither of them is actually a Corbett!

Great care is needed in descending the E ridge. Initially head ESE down easy grass slopes, dodging round crags on the ridge. Veer SSE at a knoll (92600 66040) to another knoll, Stob an Uillt Dharaich (470m, 92720 65730), surrounded by crags. Wind your way down steep grass slopes between these crags, initially heading roughly ENE and veering SE when below the main crags, eventually reaching the Allt an t-Sluichd burn which is followed to the River Gour (5hr, 20m, 94140 64440). Ford the river and head S across boggy ground back to the track in Glen Gour. Turn left back to the parking area (6hr).