Into Knoydart

Introduction
Day One - Glenfinnan, Mallaig and Inverie
Day Two - Inverie to Sourlies
Day Three - Sourlies to Strathan
Day Five - Back to Glenfinnan

Strathan to Corryhully in Glen Finnan

Day Four, Thursday 7 August, 1997

Up early again to find a still morning and hence hoards of midges. We packed up and were ready for off soon after 9:30am. It was shorts and tee shirts again but we also donned gaiters in anticipation of long wet grass and boggy ground. We had been warned of a complete lack of path for the 4.5 km climb to the col recorded at 471m. In the event there is a faint path that hugs the east bank of the stream - not the west side as the new map of the area indicates. This makes for careful footwork as the path squeezes above the undercut moraine in the valley floor. Throughout this section of the walk there are magnificent views ahead of the high corries and ridges of Streap, to the left, and Sgurr Thuilm on the right.

Where the valley steepens under the col the path crosses to the right, avoiding a gully, and ascends a slight shoulder before crossing steep grass slopes to the visible col. In fact this is not quite the top and we crossed a somewhat wet watershed - Andrew counting the height each metre until he reached the magic figure of 471 given on the map - to get a view down the next valley and a stop for lunch.

Glen Finnan is very different in character to the ascent side - and very different to our map as the valley now contains a clear track and many trees (the map was re-issued with appropriate revisions when we got back home). The top of the valley is somewhat untidy and it is not until lower down, and the Glenfinnan Horseshoe comes into view, that the grandeur returns. A path leads quickly to the end of a rough track which in turn leads to a substantial new bridge at the junction of the valley. The upper track has been put in for use by all terrain vehicles and the streams are crossed by fords made up of old concrete railway sleepers - effective if not particularly pretty. The forest track continues down the valley, past the ascent path to Sgurr a Choire Riabhaich and crosses the Alt a Choire Charnaig below a waterfall - a footbridge above the waterfall can be used when the stream is in spate.

A short walk brings you to the bothy run by the Estate at Corryhully - sited by the river and below a new and decidedly 'English suburban estate' style house that is Glenfinnan Lodge (apparently known to hill goers as the 'Barratt House'). Although now not far from Glenfinnan village and the end of our walk we decided to make another night of it and pitched our tents across the track from the bothy door. The Estate owners were in residence fishing and stag hunting; the Estate Manager called by and was most welcoming. We had a swim in the river - this time keeping underwear on - before cooking supper.

We spent well over an hour in the bothy reading the log book and watching the two resident mice. A cyclist arrived from the road, unpacked a few belongings (it seemed to us he was actually wanting to feed the mice by leaving food laid out) and disappeared back along the track for a drink at the pub. We retired to the tents for the night.

Introduction
Day One - Glenfinnan, Mallaig and Inverie
Day Two - Inverie to Sourlies
Day Three - Sourlies to Strathan
Day Five - Back to Glenfinnan