Tyndrum's Five Corbetts Walking

Perhaps the only Corbett grouping that allows so many to be climbed in a sensible single day, the Tyndrum Five makes a rewarding challenge for connoisseurs of the quality walking to be found below the 3000-foot threshold. It’s a well known route, yet far less threadbare than the more heavily used multi-Munro rounds. Paths are faint and crowds unlikely, and this peace is very appealing. Though ringed by higher ranges these hills offer fantastic views, and the best of them have qualities to match many Munros – conical Beinn Odhar with its airy outlook over Tyndrum; Cam Chreag’s knobbly seclusion; and split-sided Beinn a’ Chaisteil, half turfy grazing and half precipitous rampart.

Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Achaladair from Beinn A' Chaisteil  © Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com
Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Achaladair from Beinn A' Chaisteil
Fetching Map

Detailed description

1
NN3163535419 Follow the private road downhill past Auch, crossing a bridge to meet a track crossroads (the West Highland Way). Go straight on, pass a cottage, ford the Allt Coralan (may prove tricky in flood) and continue into the Auch Gleann. At a track junction beneath the railway viaduct take the right hand track up Glen Coralan. Having passed some way above an attractive waterfall the track fizzles into rough pasture. Continue briefly up-glen, staying north of the burn.
Beinn a' Chaisteil and Beinn Odhar above the Auch Gleann   © Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com
Beinn a' Chaisteil and Beinn Odhar above the Auch Gleann
© Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com, Jun 2010

2
NN3545534649 Curve left and climb onto Beinn a' Chaisteil's long southeast ridge. With an outlook over the precipitous face above Glen Coralan this is a great ascent route, and the summit offers airy views of the last peak on the round, Beinn Odhar. A dilapidated fence gives a general guide for the gentler descent northeast (not much trace of a path) into the peaty bealach of the Mam Lorn (not named on Landranger map) .

3
NN3560837643 Beinn nam Fuaran is a steep ascent, again without much path to speak of; the broken fence marks the best line, up left and then back right to outflank the roughest of the slope. From the summit cairn descend almost due south into the green glen of the Abhainn Ghlas.

4
NN3638836703 Cross the burn, then make the long grind up Cam Chreag's broad northern ridge. A cairn marks the highest of several rocky knobbles above the craggy east side of the hill. Descend roughly west-southwest through rocks and bogs to meet a disused electric fence that approximates to the northern perimeter of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and the Argyll / Stirling county line. A path follows the posts onto the next saddle.

5
NN3624133991 Continue up the northern slopes of Beinn Chaorach. The name means Sheep Mountain, and that does reflect its grassy character pretty well. From the summit trig point bear north and then west to descend the relentlessly steep slope into the glen below Beinn Odhar; the fence line is still visible, though following it exactly is no advantage.
Ben Lui and Ben Oss from Beinn Odhar  © Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com
Ben Lui and Ben Oss from Beinn Odhar
© Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com, Jun 2010

6
NN3502333196 Still with the fence, more or less, continue west up the similarly uncompromising flank of Beinn Odhar to emerge on its gentler southeast spur. Climb this, past a level shoulder, to reach a tiny pool below the stony summit dome. A short steep climb now gains the cairn on top of the day's fifth Corbett. Go back past the pool to the shoulder, then descend a vague grassy spur east-northeast into Glen Coralan. Regain the north bank of the Allt Coralan and retrace your steps back to Auch.

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Further Routes

by Dan Bailey UKH



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