Carn Dearg (941m) and Sgor Gaibhre (955m) (2 Munros) - 18th June 2021
Distance: 25km; Ascent: 1100m; Time: 9h
The Walk highland route starts from and returns to Corrour station, but since the first train from Rannoch Station was at 11:10 this would have imposed considerable time pressure to return in time to get the train back, so we opted to walk from Rannoch and get the train back. (Corrour station is the most remote rail station in the UK and is not accessible by public road - though the station offers accommodation a bar and good food). We took 2 cars to avoid walking an extra 2km along the road between Rannoch Station and Loch Eigheach. Starting by Loch Eigheach (where we found our only divers of the entire trip - a pair of Red-throateds) we all headed out on the 'road to the isles' track to Corrour Station (and on to Fort William). This track has been 'upgraded' since we last walked it (in the opposite direction) making it better for vehicles servicing Corrour, but less good for walking. About 1km after crossing the Allt Eigheach, Alan and I departed from the main track to ascend the grassy slopes of Sron Leachd a Chaorhainn, while Alison and Gaye continued on to Loch Ossian. This slope and the undulating ridge to Carn Dearg, which we had entirely to ourselves, was probably the finest walking of this year's Scotland trip (and would have been missed had we followed the Walk Highlands route). This area was very good for moths - I was pleased to find Eudonia alpina and I counted over 100 Black Mountain Moths. Alan and I stopped for 1st lunch at the summit of Carn Dearg with great views of Loch Ossian the Blackwater reservoir and across to Corrour, and my onward route was clear. Alan returned the way we had come. The descent of Carn Dearg to the beleach and the ascent of Sgor Gaibhre were straightforward. After the initial steep descent into Beleach Sgor, I hadn't been expecting to have a further steep ascent ro reach Sgor Choinnich (at 929m high enough to qualify as a Munro but considered to be part of Sgor Gaibhre). From here the route towards the Corrour shooting lodge is pathless (or if there was a path I didn't find it); it was straightforward until I encountered wire deer fences around the forestry and an impassable boggy area (the path through the forest no longer exists). I had to retrace my tracks eventually making my way to a path NE of the lodge. From there the track along the south shore of Loch Ossian was easy to follow and pleasant with abundant native flowering plants along with the invasive aliens (rhododendrons). Eventually I arrived at Corrour Station to find Alison and Gaye and a most welcome pint.
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