I’ve been keenly bagging Corbetts and on a three-day journey to the north of Scotland, my buddy Ben and I ticked off 4 summits. Three of the Corbetts had been new to me. On day two, we headed for the ridge of Foinaven. 

Somewhat than entry Foinaven from the south, which might have seen as strolling the identical monitor as we did the day beef for Arkle and Meall Horn, we determined to comply with a circuit from the north as steered by Stroll Highlands. On reflection, I’m not positive I’d suggest this route and I plan to return to the realm someday to stroll in from the south.

Circuit stroll of Foinaven

We parked at a small lay-by space off the A838 and simply north of Gualin Home. To begin the route you’ll want to stroll a brief means alongside the A838. Stroll Highlands counsel you comply with the circuit clockwise, however we determined to go anti-clockwise. I don’t assume this made a lot distinction to the general impression of the stroll.

There’s some 4km of boggy and moist terrain to tramp throughout to succeed in the bottom of the beginning of the ascent on the northern facet of the ridge of Foinaven. It had been fairly a dry spell, but the bottom was nonetheless sodden.

As we walked, we talked about our hopes for the low cloud and lag to raise. The climate had been typically excellent over earlier days and we had been eager for a brighter sky to return. The world is spectacular and we had heard the ridge of Foinaven is excellent, so we actually wished the cloud to raise.

The route for the primary part was undulating till we reached the mountain itself, after which is was unforgivingly steep. We wanted to make our means by a maze of boulders and rocks and in addition keep away from a steep part of excessive crags.

It wasn’t straightforward to search out the route and particularly as we had been confronted with thick cloud throughout. I believe I misplaced my sense of humour for a short time as we plodded on and uphill within the damp. There was a way that in every single place else in Scotland can be basking in sunshine, whereas we had been trudging up a steep mountain within the cloud.

Fortunately, my temper lifted a bit as we climbed increased and finally we may see patches of cloud breaking and blue sky peeing by. The solar was attempting very laborious to dissipate the clouds and there have been flashes of heat.

We entertained ourselves by recognizing and naming as many wild flowers as we may.

Increased nonetheless, the slopes grew to become a jumble of boulders and we climbed our means up these to lastly attain the ridge. The clouds thinned sufficient for us to see additional alongside the ridge, though at no level was the complete ridge of Foinaven revealed.

We walked south to succeed in the cairn that marked the 914m summit. This mountain is simply shy of being a Munro. Ben and I made a decision to take a seat for some time on the ridge, hoping that the cloud would disappear.

It was heat even at this peak and we loved seeing glimpses of the encompassing panorama because the clouds got here and went.

A person that we had met earlier within the day, arrived on the ridge and we chatted for some time. He had taken a route from the south and loved a extra cloud-free ascent.

Descent of Foinaven

For the descent route, Ben and I headed east off the ridge. We had been anticipating a reasonably straightforward downhill on a well-trodden path however this wasn’t to be. The trod got here and went and largely went as we encountered moist floor, bathroom, boulders and rocks. 

It turned out to be a really robust route basically with the steep descent no simpler than the ascent we had encountered earlier within the day.

In some unspecified time in the future, Ben went somewhat quiet and misplaced his sense of humour a bit. At the very least we hadn’t performed this on the similar time! 

Lastly, we dropped under the cloud line and we had been in a position to see additional afield. We noticed a large monitor down within the glen and we headed for this. The monitor was a lot simpler to stroll on and undulated north.

We each felt fatigued and the solar was now shining laborious however we loved this part. We had been grateful for the beautiful views to maintain us going and by some means we discovered some up-beat chat to take care of our temper till we may see the street the place we had began.

There was a ultimate sting within the tail when the monitor turned west and headed steeply uphill for the final 1km.

All in all, this can be a difficult route with little in the way in which of straightforward route discovering. Ben and I pledged to return one other time to strive the route from the south and to finish a full traverse of the ridge however on a a day when the sky is evident.

Foinaven route particulars:

Distance: 20km

Complete ascent: 1091m

Route: Stava

Corbetts bagged: 120