KYQ4: Creag Mhor and Beinn Sheasgarnaich

Beinn Chaluim and Creag Mhor beyond EU Birch regeneration fencing

Thursday 25 May 2023

Ascent: 1410 metres
Distance: 27 kilometres
Time: 8 hours 2 minutes

Creag Mhor 1032m 3hrs 12mins
Beinn Sheasgarnaich 1078m 5hrs 13mins

John had suggested a couple of days hillwalking as the weather was fine and he was stepping up his drive to complete his fourth round of Munros. He arrived on Wednesday evening so we could make an early start and we agreed to attempt Creag Mhor and Beinn Sheasgarnaich. It is a longish walk and whilst we would probably have added Beinn Challuim in the halycon days of yore, we knew that as seventy-year-olds those days are sadly behind us .

The day proved the best of the week, a crisp sunny day with a breeze to keep us cool. It took slightly longer to drive up to Glen Lochay and then follow the glen which was resplendent in its late Spring attire. The parking is now about a kilometre short of Kenknock. We were about to set off when John and Gayle, old friends and neighbours from Aberfoyle, arrived with their bikes for the 8 kilometre trek towards Creag Mhor. We chatted for a while before walking along to Kenknock and relishing the fine panorama of hills that enclose Glen Lochay. We took the old private road to Glen Lyon that is now closed for casual traffic and reached the start of the higher level track to the Allt Bad a' Mhaim, the impressive burn that provides an unpathed route to Creag Mhor.

The track is like the ice age parallel roads elsewhere in the Highlands, remarkably level with sections of EU funded regeneration plantings of Birch and Scots Pine protected by fencing and gates. What a travesty that these environmental schemes that were supported by the EU are now dependent on a UK government that gives as little priority to these schemes as it does to the regulations that made such a difference to beaches and air quality. We followed the burn, a steep climb of 650 metres through mainly long grasses dappled with wild flowers. It was worth it for the wonderful glen and we spent 10 minutes just inhaling the remote beauty of the ravine before traversing up to the ridge of Sron nan Eun. We looked for John and Gayle as we began the final climb to Creag Mhor but they had probably gained 45 minutes by the use of their bikes. They had continued on to Stop nan Clach and watched us from there as we spent 40 minutes having lunch and a break on Creag Mhor. Probably one of our longest stops on a summit but the conditions were mesmeric.

The descent to allow the ascent of Beinn Sheasgarnaich requires a significant detour to the north west to avoid the rocky ramparts to the north. There is then a 400 metre climb to Beinn Sheasgarnaich, up a steep ridge to the fine viewpoint of Sron Triabh and then a gentler climb to the summit. It was almost 5pm when we arrived and again the conditions were sublime so we relaxed and took in the 360° skyline. Time was there for the taking not the walking.

I had contemplated a more direct descent but we elected to head to the track from Glen Lyon which meant a 3 kilometre descent past tiny lochans, over the boggy ground, along the meandering burn and then climbing a few of the fences that protected the new tree plantations. The supposed prize was a 5 kilometre walk down the track to Kenknock and then back to the car. It was almost 8pm as we sauntered along to the car park having enjoyed the perfect evening light but thoroughly exercised by a perfect day on some of Glen Lochay's fine hills.