On previous ascents of the Corbett, Carn an Saobhaidhe, I ascended it from Dunmaglass in Strathnairn so on this occasion I decided to climb it from Strathdearn, accessed from the village of Tomatin south of Inverness.
Before the end of the public road at Coignafearn Old Lodge there was a car park capable of taking several vehicles and from here I set off on my bike passed the Old Lodge and onto the estate track which was a bit rough due to the size of the stones used on its surface. There were vehicle tracks on the grass immediately to the east so I used them on my return. The new Coignafearn Lodge was passed and beyond the stones used on the surface of the track were smaller making for easier progress.
After 45 minutes of cycling, I’m not a regular cyclist, I arrived at the locked Dalbeg Bothy where I left my bike and walked up the vehicle track on the north side of the Allt Creagach.
There was one fairly steep section but on the whole it was on a gentle gradient suitable for fit mountain bikers. At the junction of the Allt Creagach Beag and the Allt Odhar the track split so I crossed the bridge over the latter and continued west on the north side of the Allt Odhar. The track gradually ran out around NH619134 and beyond it was rough going but fortunately the ground was frozen.
On reaching and crossing the tributary that came down from the col between Carn na Saobhaidhe and Carn Mhic Iamhair I climbed south-west across some frozen peak hags, avoiding the snow patches, then more rough ground to reach the cairn on Carn na Saobhaidhe South Top, a Sub Simm. Unfortunately although the cloud was above the tops visibility wasn’t great and the only view I really had was that of the Dunmaglass Wind Farm.
More rough ground was crossed as I headed north making the short descent to the col with the Corbett, Carn na Saobhaidhe, then climbing to its cairn.
Apparently this wasn’t the highest point it was 160 metres to the south-west. Although I visited this area I couldn’t tell there was any difference in height.
I returned to the cairn then descended east briefly on a vehicle track which was full of snow so I crossed more rough ground to reach the col with Carn Mhic Iamhair. There was little change in the underfoot conditions as I ascended this Corbett Top where there was a cairn but the nearby boulders were higher.
The descent south-east was across easier terrain until lower down when I was back amongst the rough vegetation. I re-joined the track on the north side of the Allt Odhar and followed the outward route back to the bothy at Dalbeg then the cycle down Strathdearn.
- Time taken – 6.75 hours.
- Distance – 30.25 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 710 metres.