KYQ4: Streap, Glen Finnan

Saturday 29 April 2017

Streap, Glen Finnan

On summit of Streap, Loch Shiel behind

Friday, 28 April 2017

Ascent: 1407 metres
Distance: 18 kilometres
Time: 8 hours 35mins

Stob Coir nan Cearc 887m 4hrs 35mins
Streap 909m 5hrs 14mins

After a night spent in 'Chase the Wild Goose' bunkhouse in Banavie, we were glad to be off for an early start. Streap is an inaccessible Corbett at the head of Glenfinnan. I have crossed its northern ridge on a couple of occasions on traverses from Gulvain to Sgurr Thuilm but never had the time to sample its steep summit. We started from the foot of Gleann Dubh Ligne on the trail through the conifer plantations. It was cool but bright and rain felt imminent. I had left my map in the car and made a bad mistake as we left the forest by a gate. A muddy path ascended to the southern ridge of Beinn an Tuim and we had climbed the first 100 metres before John pointed out that were heading too far south and it would add considerably to the route.

We decided to traverse round Being an Tuim, which seemed logical but ended with us spending a couple of hours negotiating our way through wet greasy rock bands, crossing numerous burns and scrambling up precarious outcrops. My feet had blistered in boots that I seldom wear and my waterproof trousers were slowing me down. I had put them on when the rain started but we just had a series of gentle showers.

We watched the morning steam train heading towards Glenfinnan, the inimitable sound of a Black Five hammering up the gradient from Loch Eil. When we reached the bealach before the sharp ascent of Stob Coire nan Cearc, we took the opportunity to eat an early lunch and reflect on the mistakes I had made on the ascent. From here on it was a fairly straightforward route over several tops before the final 70 metres of climbing up the arete to Streap. We arrived shortly after the cloud had enveloped the summit but during a drinks break we were treated to the curtain opening and reasonable views of the surrounding hills including the nearby Munro, Sgurr Thuilm, and Comhlaidh Streap, the twin peak of Streap which looks even more impressive.

We began the easy walk over the ridge to Comhlaidh Streap so that we could complete the horseshoe and we were treated to the best weather of the day. The rain was a gentle patter all day but not enough to wet us in the breeze. There is a long steep descent from this summit to the glen below, a 600-metre drop over relatively easy but steep grass and heathers. It was well drained so a quicker part of the day. Then the walkout down the corrie and into Gleann Dubh Ligne. We found a footbridge and passed the bothy, which had undergone extensive repairs after a fire and was looking splendid. We were back down just after 5pm. It had taken a couple of hours longer than expected but that was mainly down to my tendency to always head upwards instead of seeking the gentler but longer routes.