UKC

Anybody been in the area recently? Given the wet summer I'm just wondering how easy this will be to cross.

TIA

It's been wet but no need to make a drama out of it.  

Joking aside, I've crossed this a few times and I think it's the sort of river you could always get across unless it's in full on spate and I don't think it's been that wet.

Thanks. I’m thinking by Saturday it’ll have gone down a bit anyway. Have a couple of options and want to maximise time.

Edit - just noticed my typo. Lol

There is a SEPA monitoring site nearby which should give you some idea of water levels in the area: https://www2.sepa.org.uk/waterlevels/?sd=t&lc=368538 

Also, the Abhainn a' Torrain Duibh next to the road / car park is of a similar size, so is a good indicator of what you are likely to have to cross. 

Thanks.

Is it just for Am Faochagach or a bigger round?

Just Am Faochagach. We'll have two cars so an alternative would be up via the dam and down the short route. Thereby wading the river at the end of a dry sunny day. 

Even in marginal conditions I've never had to properly wade the burn so given the forecast you'll be ok.

I've been up from Strath Vaich as well which is pretty much the way the dam approach goes, the two car approach sounds like a good plan. Have you considered the scramble up Cnoc na h-lolaire, not done it but may add some interest?

I haven't, but will check it out. Ta

That is the wettest hill I have ever been up ...

About 15 (?) years ago, we crossed Abhainn a' Gharbhrain on descent, as the quickest way down. (We'd crossed Allt a' Gharbhrain on the way up.) It was in spate, but we managed. Definitely take a walking pole - you will need it to make the crossing safe.

Thanks. I first did it in 1988. We bypassed the river crossing to the west as we did it on the way into Glen Beag Cottage. I'm guessing it wouldn't have been in spate as all my old photos show us topless with sunglasses on!

It's a strong candidate for dullest Munro. Makes Wyvis look interesting.

I think I'd give that award to Mullach Clach a'Bhlair, which I walked up in the mist. No doubt somebody will be along in a minute to explain to me why it's great.

I'm a bit reluctant to label hills as dull, as dullness is a property of our experiences, not an intrinsic feature of the hill itself. I have had very enjoyable (winter) days on both Am Faochagach and Mullach Clach a' Bhlair, and they are at least fairly easy days out!  For me, the most effort I have expended for least scenic reward was probably An Sgarsoch and Càrn an Fhidhleir. 

All quite true. And it did occur to me that Am Faochagach would be one to save for a very hard frost.

By contrast, I did it from Black Bridge, cycling some way up the track towards Loch Vaich before heading on foot up the hill. The OS map shows a track heading up from Strathvaich Lodge, which I don't remember, but if it's there, it would make the ascent quite easy. This route avoids any awkward burn crossing. 

Unfortunately my partner can’t cycle (injury). We did look at that route, ta.

The tracks there but a bit swampy at the start

Another candidate, I believe it translates as Peak of the Accountant.

It is a quick walk in on flat tarmac to Strathvaich Lodge, and you can make something of a circuit by taking the track/path on the W side of the loch and up the Meall Gorm ridge. 

Cnoc na h-Iolaire is nothing special but much more fun than slogging up the grass on the normal route (and hardly any longer). The top half is lots of short pleasant slabs, easyish Grade 2, though you could find a few harder bits if you wanted. My mate's collie managed most of it so it's not hard!🙂

I concur, that is a long and boring day out. I can’t believe people would do that without bikes! Yikes

Ta. Think that’s def on the agenda 

I couldn’t cross this (despite several foolish attempts) a few years ago when it was in spate. I ended up crossing the 2 tributaries north of Loch a’G which were (slightly) more manageable. 

I took two, OK I returned via Beinn a' Ghlo and it was not at all boring.