It was back to Glen Dessarry, accessed from the end of the B8005 at the east end of Lock Arkaig on a long stretch of single track road on the north side of the Loch, to ascend Fraoch Bheinn, the only Corbett left in that area to climb for the third time. On my arrival at the car park at the west end of the Loch there were already several cars parked there.
I walked along the vehicle track passed Strathan and the turn off for Glen Pean to the signposted Right of Way route for Tomdoun.
This rough and sometimes peaty track which was very dry was followed north and when it changed direction to the north-east I left it, crossed an old fence, and commenced the ascent of Fraoch Bheinn.
It was a fairly steep climb avoiding numerous rocky outcrops and was hard work in the heat. Higher up the gradient eased and there were traces of a path. The summit was marked by two cairns, the northerly one apparently the highest.
Here I met a chap who had camped at the side of Loch Arkaig and had come up the west face of the Corbett. While chatting we observed a couple of stags sitting in a pool of water.
He later descended east with the intention of climbing the Corbett, Sgurr Mhurlagain, while I stayed at the top for a while longer.
I then headed out to Fraoch Bheinn’s North Top (Sub Simm) passing reasonably close to the two stags now drying in the sun.
They were still there on my return from the North Top.
On collecting my rucksack I returned to the car park by the ascent route.
- Time taken – 4.75 hours.
- Distance – 9.25 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 865 metres.