This text a few stroll circuit to the Corbett of Beinn Bhan appeared in The Scots Journal.

Corbett bagging: Beinn Bhan

The excessive mountain, Beinn Bhan, is a formidable sight from a a lot travelled vacationer street in north-west Scotland. 

But, as I uncover throughout a rewarding stroll, its summit seems surprisingly much less visited.

The journey with my good friend Ben begins near the bottom of the Bealach na Ba, an iconic street move on the well-known North Coast 500.

Whereas visitors passes virtually consistently on the singletrack street, we’re in a short time immersed in a peaceable and splendidly wild panorama. 

At first, there’s a well-trodden path alongside the western financial institution of the River Kishorn. It’s mild incline additionally lulls us right into a relaxed tempo as we get pleasure from sunshine and more and more spectacular views of excessive cliffs, buttresses and sandstone amphitheatres that type the jap flanks of the mountain ridge.

Then, as we meet a junction and veer north-west, the slope steepens and the terrain turns into extra rugged. The path fades and returns, then fades once more, till we determine to easily observe a compass bearing in direction of Coire na Fhamair, on the northern finish of the ridge.

Arriving at a gorgeous lochan at 1200ft elevation, we are able to see extra clearly that the ascent of the corrie goes to be a muscle-punishing affair. At first, it’s “fairly steep” then from round 1900ft elevation it’s “critically steep”. 

For the ultimate 650ft, Ben and I set our personal paces. There’s a faint zig-zag sheep path on the grassy slope and this helps to ease the incline slightly.

A remaining push uphill takes me over the ridge edge and on to a large and far flater prime. Whereas I watch for Ben to catch up, I stroll west and absorb an impressive view over the ocean to quite a few islands, together with Skye, Raasay, Rum and the Outer Hebrides. 

After a relaxation for a snack and to benefit from the vide vista, Ben and I proceed south alongside the ridge and thoroughly peer down at one other dramatic corrie, Coire na Poite and two lochans far beneath. Some folks ascend this route however we’re glad we made another option. 

We quickly attain the summit at 2940ft – Beinn Bhan is categorised as a Corbett – the place there’s a stone shelter and trig level. We meet the one different folks we see all day. 

The couple have chosen to ascend from larger up the Bealach na Ba they usually plan to return the identical approach, due to this fact lacking what Ben and I consider to be the most effective a part of the stroll, the very good jap corries. 

In addition to the elegant coastal views, we are able to see the various excessive peaks of the Torridon space to the east.

We’re eager to finish a circuit, so we proceed south-easterly, descending on a tough and grassy slope.   

To our proper, we see Loch Coire nan Arr beneath and the imposing flanks of one other Corbett,  Sgùrr a’ Chaorachain and a climbing route often called Cìoch Nostril. Autos look tiny on the Bealach na Ba.

The ultimate part downhill to regain the automobile is the roughest of the stroll but it surely doesn’t final lengthy and we’re quickly altering our strolling boots for informal footwear and making our approach to the closest store for ice lotions. 

Give it a attempt

There are a number of totally different routes for Beinn Bhan (Applecross). See www.walkhighlands.co.uk, in addition to the Scottish Mountaineering Membership e book The Corbetts and Cicerone’s Strolling the Corbetts: Quantity 2: North of the Nice Glen.

Beinn Bhan stroll

Begin and end: Layby on a minor street, quickly after the Applecross flip off from A896 ands simply earlier than a bridge over the River Kishorn.

Distance: 8.5 miles

Whole elevation: Approx: 3110ft / 947m

Highest level: 2940ft / 896m

Time: Approx 5 hours

Route: Walked the route anti-clockwise