Glas Bheinn

Introduction

Glas Bheinn is the large summit that forms the nothern end of the long ridge running to the east of the main road taking in Breabag in the south, Conival and Ben More behind Inchnadamph in the centre. The road to Kylesku crosses the pass between these northen slopes and Quinag to the west. From the roadside the cliffs are high and broken. Being over 2500ft in height and standing well away from its higher neighbours, this mountain is classified as a Corbett and offers some magnificent panoramic views from its summit.

The shortest approach is from the north, starting beside Loch na Gainmhich on the main road and striking up the steep slopes to gain the north west ridge. An alternative route is to use the extensive stalkers path that approaches from the south starting from Inchnadamph. On the map this promises an excellant days walk - a fact amply rewarded in a good day on the hill.

Our Ascent

The morning dawned relatively clear with high cloud. However it was apparent that heavier cloud was rolling in from the sea covering the tops. A repeat of the previous days weather was likely with the tops being covered by the middle of the day. This is a most frustrating situation and it was with no great confidence that we finally left the car park at Inchnadamph at 11:30am. The route we were following took the valley track - the approach to Conival and Ben More - for the first 800m or so before striking off in a north easterly direction up a steep grassy shoulder opposite an old footbridge. The path on this section has been recently repaired - presumably as this is within the Nature reserve boundary.

At the crest the path passes through an old iron gate and follows the valley side high above the river draining the extensive high corries. As height is gained fine views open up to the south over Breabag and Creag Liath. The head of the valley is spanned by the long ridge of Beinn Uidhe, 4 km of high, wide and stone covered ridge. This area of mountain has three separate corries on this, the south western side. The first valley drains the lochans high on the col to Beinn an Fhurain to the south. The main path does not follow the valley but strikes north to cross a low ridge dividing the headwaters from Loch Fleodach Coire. The path is clearly defined and dry as far as the ridge where it forks. One branch strikes west, skirting the headwaters of the valley to climb the opposite hillside to reach the ridge below Beinn Uidhe at Loch nan Cuaran. Beside the fork in the path a seat shelter has been built into the hillside - complete with peat and heather roof.

The second branch continues north along the slight ridge before turning across flat and boggy ground to cross the outfalls from Loch Fleodach Coire below - the way is cairned which would be most helpful in mist. A makeshift bridge crosses the main stream, the two feeder streams just beyond have to be crossed on rocks. Once past the lochan the path strikes a few metres up the hill before swinging north west over heather and bilberry in a rising line to pass the col at the north end of the long ridge from Beinn Uidhe.

The weather was still somewhat changeable. We had had one sharp downpour and whilst the lower peaks were clear, the higher tops of Conival and the associated ridges were often shrouded in cloud. As height was gained the views to more distant tops and ridges opened up.

Glas Bheinn itself is seen as a rounded top - essentially stone covered - rising from the col for about 500 ft or so. As the path keeps a high line above the corrie and lochan (Loch Bealach na h-Uidhe) there is no great climb needed to reach the col itself. Just before the col a couple of stone shelters have been built - an indication of just how little natural shelter from the wind there is in the wide valleys here. As the col is reachjed the terrain changes from rough heather to one of almost entirely broken stone and crag. The view south gives fine views of the two munro summits of Conival and Ben More, but to the north the terrain is truely remote and broken. The path continues down the other side of the col, picking a way between numerous lochans to pass near the Eas A Choul waterfall and back to the Kylesku road. This route would make an excellant round - requiring carefull navigation through the terrain (following the faint path looked nigh on impossible from up here) and provision of return transport to regain the starting point. The route of the path can be just about be picked out below before it turns east, with the narrow pass used to regain the road visible due north under the next main top of Cnoc na Creige. Between the two points is some 4km of very rough terrain indeed.

Our attention turned to the steep slope ahead that gives access to the summit of Glas Bheinn. The ascent is relatively easy, a 100m climb all on stone, to reveal a wide, open and grass covered top. The actual summit is marked by a large cairn at the far (northern) end. The view to the north is impressive - Arkle, Foinaven, Ben Hee, Ben Hope, Ben Loyal, Ben Klibreck all in view. Even more impressive is the immediate Glen Coul range. The Stack - a prominent knoll when viewed from Kylesku - is not so distinctive when viewed from above. The long loch Loch na Caorach perched high on the mountain - with a long cascade falling from the lip - Beinn Leoid above (a rounded top) is truely dramatic. Over the edge to the west is an almost aerial view of Quinag. We lunched for over half an hour using the cairn shelter to protect us from the strong wind.

The ridge of Beinn Uidhe looked like nothing but hassle - a long wide slope of broken stone with no clear path and hardly any distinguising features. The lochans under the ridge at the far end can be seen clearly, these form the target for the second branch of the approach path so a circuit over this top is entirely feasible. In the event we opted to descend by our ascent route - it was by now 3:30 pm and we still had over two and a half hours of walking to reach the car.

As we descended the ferosity of the wind dropped, the sun grew warmer and we shed coats and fleeces as we warmed. It was a fine walk out with some tremendous views of remote scenery. We ended with photos of stags by the roadside and supper at the Inchnadamph Hotel. Apart from the roadside, we had not seen a soul all day long. Splendid.