Earlier in the year I attempted to climb the Munro, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, but snow conditions near the summit prevented the dog I had for company making further progress so I was forced to abandon the ascent. We were now back for another go.
I drove down Glen Etive, accessed from the A82 east of Glen Coe, and parked on waste ground just east of the bridge over the Allt Charnan. I then set off on foot across this bridge and onto a new entrance to the forest.
This forest track was followed until it emerged from the trees above the Allt nan Gaoirean although most of the trees to the south and west had been harvested with a new deer fence constructed.
The path down to the Allt nan Gaoirean was wet and boggy and on reaching this stream it was fairly high. I therefore walked upstream until I came to a suitable crossing point then headed across the hillside to the path that led to Meall nan Gobhar. The path then climbed north towards Beinn Fionnlaidh East Top but I later left it and headed more directly to the col to its west where I rejoined the path.
As I ascended Beinn Fionnlaidh the cloud lowered and at the section where a short scramble was required, which the dog wouldn’t manage, I worked my way round to the left where there was traces of a path. From there I climbed to the summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh.
With no views I returned to Meall nan Gobhar although in the low cloud I was a bit too far west so regained the path and descended to the Allt nan Gaoirean where the water level had dropped. Once across it I returned to the start. In the forest I met a woman on a quad bike taking her dog for a run.
- Time taken – 6.5 hours.
- Distance – 13.5 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 1015 metres.