Creag Rainich
MunrosNone
|
CorbettsCreag Rainich
|
GrahamsNone
|
BothiesLochivroan
|
Distance/Ascent9km 586m
|
Estimated Time3h 45min
|
NotesThis could be easily done from the road but I fancy a couple of nights in the bothy. Why rush things? Distance and times are therefore from the bothy.
|
14 August 2015
I have been looking forward to this one for some time, partly because of its slightly remote location and the opportunity to visit another bothy. The bike ride up the side Loch a' Bhraoin was very beautiful on such a glorious summers evening but was very hard going. The route was almost flat but there were sections of soft shale and hitting a patch of soft, deep stones felt like the brakes had been applied with full force, bringing me to a sudden halt.
It the photograph below, the two hills seen at the end of the loch are two Grahams called Groban and Beinn Bheag. These were not part of my original itinerary but I climbed them before heading home.
It the photograph below, the two hills seen at the end of the loch are two Grahams called Groban and Beinn Bheag. These were not part of my original itinerary but I climbed them before heading home.
The bothy is the small barn at the back of the rather splendid looking, recently renovated cottage. The upstairs was closed off due to woodworm/rotting timbers. The bothy has several sleeping platforms, kitchen units, a sink with running water and a flushable loo.
Part of the joys of a bothy is getting a good fire going. There is an iron stove rather than an open fire place. This is more efficient but means chopping the wood up smaller to fit inside the stove. I took in some wood that once formed the base of my parent's kitchen table as well as some other pieces from the log store. The sections of table smashed up quite easily using a large rock which saved using an old rusty saw. I shared the fire with two young Germans; Oliver and Stefan. They had gone into a tourist information centre and asked where they could go to for a few days to relax. They were given directions to Lochivroan.
I set off at around 0900 the next morning and headed up fairly steep, pathless terrain. The cloud slowly cleared from many of the bigger hills and with gained altitude, there were good views of the Fannichs, including the outlier, Fionn Bheinn.
I eventually reached a point where I could see the summit and the ground ahead was firmer underfoot and of a gentler gradient.
I reached the top in about 1hr 50 minutes. The mountain almost smothered in cloud is An Teallach.
The winds were light but there was a light shower - time to put on my waterproof jacket.
The descent route provided excellent views of the Fisherfield Munros - The peak in the middle is Beinn a'Chlaidheimh, which was a Munro for 38 years from 1974 to 2012. The Fisherfield six are now the Fisherfield Five. I feel a little sad about this and still think of it as a Munro. The good news is that it means that I have bagged another Corbett!
I passed a couple of goats on the way down. I followed the broad south ridge which was pathless but of a gentle gradient allowing me to run some sections and I arrived back at Lochivroan at about 1315. I cooked a hearty lunch and had an afternoon nap. I thought about popping up the two Grahams, Groban and Beinn Bheag but left them for the next morning. This turned out to be a wise decision as some heavier showers arrived and the two wee hills were covered in cloud.
