The Loch Lochy Munros, Sròn a’ Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga, from Kilfinnan close to Spean Bridge, are two of the extra well-liked summits within the listing of 282 Scottish mountains with a summit of greater than 3000ft (914m). They’re simply accessed from the Nice Glen Approach and whereas the ascents are steep, they don’t seem to be too lengthy. To supply an extended and more difficult outing, my pal Cath and I added the Corbett, Ben Tee.

Whereas the forecast was a bit unpredictable, we have been lucky with principally clear views, no rain and little or no wind. The temperature was pretty delicate for March, though we did really feel the chilliness of a north-westerly breeze.

Cath is coaching for the Dragon’s Again Race later this yr and she or he is especially in pursuit of elevation achieve. Her goal for the day was 1500m and we simply handed this with an general complete of 1635m.

Two Loch Lochy Munros

Parking near Kilfinnan Farm, on the finish of a single-track tarmac highway, Cath and I set out on a monitor south, alongside the shore of Loch Lochy. The primary a part of our journey adopted the undulating Nice Glen Approach.

Cath’s goal is to run the flatter sections and downhills, whereas strolling quick on the uphills. This fits me completely and it’s an effective way to finish longer mountain routes as a result of it permits me to maneuver quick however with out turning into too power depleted.

At this run-hike tempo, it’s pretty straightforward to tackle meals with out digestive upsets. I confess Cath is quite a bit higher at this than me and whereas she ate her method by means of stuffed rolls, crisps and so on, I survived on snack and power bars. I must be higher at consuming correct meals on these types of outings.

After about 3km, a picket signal pointed our method off the Nice Glen Approach and straight uphill. At first, the route took us by means of forestry, earlier than we then emerged on to open hillside. Our goal was a bealach between Sròn a’ Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga.

We adopted a well-trodden path alongside a stream in a westerly route. The bealach turned clearer the upper we climbed, as did our first Munro, Meall na Teanga.

From the bealach, the gradient steepened and we needed to negotiate giant banks of snow. Largely we might observe a steeply ascending path and as we pushed upwards at a brisk strolling tempo, we chatted about this and that and extra this and that.

One of many nice benefits of Munro bagging with a pal is the superb alternative for plenty of chat.

The views from Meall na Teanga summit cairn at 917m (observe, that is simply above Munro peak) have been very good, taking in Ben Nevis and Loch Linnhe, in addition to Loch Lochy far under. We took a number of photographs, ate a snack after which retraced the identical route again to the bealach.

As we descended, we regarded throughout to the following mountain and we might see a effective zig-zagging path heading again upwards.

The vast zig-zags on the decrease slope of Sròn a’ Choire Ghairbh helped to scale back the steepness for the primary couple of hundred metres or so. The ultimate 100m was extra of a straight line upwards however nonetheless on an easy-to-see path.

Once more, the views from the summit of Sròn a’ Choire Ghairbh at 937m have been implausible. We might see north-east alongside the Nice Glen and out over the Knoydart mountains. I want I knew the names of the mountains higher as a result of I’ve some Corbetts to bag in that space.

And on to Corbett Ben Tee

Whereas the mountain Ben Tee was apparent as we regarded to the north-east, the route was not effectively trodden. We caught glimpses of imprecise trods right here and there, however for the following 5km or so, Cath and I wanted to navigate off-path.

We mentioned our chosen route and checked in with one another at intervals to make sure we have been each pleased with the place we have been going. At first, a large ridge of soppy mossy floor allowed us to run, earlier than we met a extra rocky terrain, which slowed us to a brisk stroll once more.

The steep sides of Ben Tee regarded daunting from all angles however after checking the map and looking out on the panorama, we made a joint resolution on the place we might descend the ridge earlier than making the ascent of Ben Tee. Monitoring additional north in the direction of a barely gentler gradient gave us what we felt could be a safer climb.

It was nonetheless relentlessly steep and we made our personal zig-zags by means of heathery floor cowl and rocks to attempt to reduce the pressure on our leg muscle mass.

From round 700m elevation, the gradient eased a bit and we headed easterly. The upper slopes of Ben Tee are very rocky, which meant Cath and I wanted to select our method fastidiously to the highest.

At one level I heard a whoop from Cath as she famous her 1500m elevation achieve.

The vista from Ben Tee was implausible and we sat for a second consuming it in. We might additionally look again with satisfaction at the place we had been.

The descent from Ben Tee discovered us on a well-trodden path once more. The preferred strategy to summit Ben Tee is on an out-and-back path from Kilfinnan. However, goodness, this path is moist and boggy. We congratulated ourselves on selecting to bag the 2 Munros earlier than this Corbett as a result of it meant we didn’t endure soaked and muddy toes till the ultimate descent.

The final stretch of the circuit began to really feel very lengthy certainly, though the slope was principally mild. I had drained legs by this level and I used to be eager to eat the remainder of a tea cake that I’d left in Cath’s automotive.

This can be a nice circuit of three mountains and within the fabulous panorama of the Scottish Highlands.

Complete route: 21.35km and 1635m of ascent. Our shifting time was simply over 4 hours.

I’ve now reached half-way on my listing of 222 Corbetts.

Corbetts bagged: 111