Above: Looking back to Monessie Bridge
GrahamsCnap Chruinn
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Other Hills |
Bothies |
Distance/Ascent10km 778m
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Estimated Time4h 30 minutes
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NotesUsual parking is at Cille Choirril but being a church car park, it may be considerate to park elsewhere on Sundays.
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2 August 2024
The previous day, I had come down from a bivouac from Stob Gobhar and the intention had been to have lunch and head up Sgùrr na h-Ulaidh but I had been very tired and hungry, so I called up the SYHA about a bed at Glencoe YH. There was no bed there but there was one at Glen Nevis YH. After a night on the hill, I deserved a bit of luxury and how Glen Nevis YH has changed! I toyed with the idea of returning to Glen Etive to climb Beinn Maol Chaluim but due to a combination of the weather forecast and the fact that I was ultimately heading for the Roybridge for the Walkhighlands summer meet, I plumped for this hill as a plan B and also a sort of recovery hill after a big day two days earlier.
Rather than parking at the Cille Choirril car park as suggested in the guides, I parked at the Àite Cruinnichidh independent hostel, where I would be spending the next two nights.
After letting the proprietor know that I was leaving the car, I set off through the back garden, past a bird feeding station with chaffinches and siskin, up to the main road before turning right, past an abandoned Landrover, towards Monessie Gorge and its footbridge. I had heard that this was a bit rickety and a maximum of two people was advised, but I think that it must have been rebuilt as the bridge looks new and feels very safe.
Rather than parking at the Cille Choirril car park as suggested in the guides, I parked at the Àite Cruinnichidh independent hostel, where I would be spending the next two nights.
After letting the proprietor know that I was leaving the car, I set off through the back garden, past a bird feeding station with chaffinches and siskin, up to the main road before turning right, past an abandoned Landrover, towards Monessie Gorge and its footbridge. I had heard that this was a bit rickety and a maximum of two people was advised, but I think that it must have been rebuilt as the bridge looks new and feels very safe.
Then the route followed track to Monessie Farm which look abandoned along with an another abandoned vehicle. I checked it out more fully on the way back and, holding my breath as I passed a dead sheep at the entrance to the garden, had a peek through the window and found bags of animal feed and the like. Obviously, I was considering its bothy potential. I was not bold enough to check the front door.
I continued along tracks towards Adit No. 3 which, I believe, has something to do with the narrow gauge railway that came out of Fort William and passes across the lower slopes of the Grey Corries. Apparently, it has something to do with he electrolysis of bauxite in Fort William. As I gained height, the views opened up, including looking across to my next day's hill, Creag Dhubh.
I continued up pathless terrain to a hut made out of old railway timbers and then followed a fence almost to the top of Beinn Chlianaig before heading over undulating terrain to the summit cairn of Cnap Cruinn, visiting the slightly lower 735m south-west top along the way. There is a small summit cairn on top of a rock. I often carry a tripod for a summit selfie, but expecting windy weather, I left it back in the car rather than risking the tripod blowing over and damaging my camera.
I did not hang about for long and decided to skirt the higher ground to stay out of the wind. I was slow going down hill due to a slightly dodgy knee that seemed to be getting better but still made me cautious. The cloud did clear, giving views across to Creag Dhubh, but then I was engulfed by a curtain of cloud.
I was happy to reach the tracks back to the road. I thought that I might be the first at the hostel but there were several already there.