Back in 2004 I climbed Streap on a couple of occasions and thought I had included all its Tops. However I later noticed that I had missed out Beinn an Tuim South Top, a Corbett Top, so planned to rectify it on this visit. With it being at the start of Streap’s South-West Ridge meant re-visiting the other Tops, not a problem on such a fine hill but would make for a long day.
I left my vehicle in the Craigag car park on the north side of the A830 Fort William to Mallaig Road, west of the access track to Gleann Dubh Lighe, and briefly walked east along the A830 then onto the vehicle track up this glen.
It was a pleasant enough walk through the trees and after around two and a half kilometres came to the crossing of the Dubh Lighe where a new bridge had been installed as well as some deer fencing.
Further on I came to the Gleann Dubh Lighe Bothy which had been upgraded.
Beyond the bothy I emerged from the forest and here left the track and descended to the Dubh Lighe which was easily crossed as the water level was low. Once over it I climbed through long bracken, which was hard work in the heat, then animal trails led to below Beinn an Tuim and onto its south side before I ascended the South Top via a wee stream.
I then headed to and over Beinn an Tuim, before descending north and climbing Meall an Uillt Chaoil, both Humps and Corbett Tops.
Another drop took me to Bealach Coire nan Cearc from where I ascended the Corbett Top, Stob Coire nan Cearc.
The ridge then narrowed and ascended the Corbett, Streap. This had taken me nearly six hours but I blamed the heat for being slow.
It was with a bit of reluctantly I left Streap and its views and headed out to the Corbett Top, Streap Comhlaidh, before descending it’s fairly steep mainly pathless south ridge to a dried out peaty vehicle track.
This took me to and through the trees in Gleann Dubh Lighe and back to the start.
- Time taken – 9.25 hours.
- Distance 19 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 1510 metres.