Beinn Sgulaird from Loch Creran
Hillwalking route up Beinn Sgulaird from Druimavuic at the head of Loch Creran
After a steep pull up grassy slopes, a fine there-and-back route over minor bouldery summits gains Beinn Sgulaird's Munro peak. The route can be extended over nearby Corbett Creach Bheinn.
Route outline
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| Corbetts | ||||
| Ascent | 1280m (4190ft) | |||
| Distance | 11km (7m) | |||
| Time | 5:00hr | |||
| Start/finish | Druimavuic, Loch Creran Grid Ref : NN008450 | |||
| Terrain |
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| Effort |
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For much of the ascent on this route the terrain is grass covered and a faint path can be traced. Higher up, ground is much rougher, with several large areas of boulderfield needing crossed. There are no narrow crests or significant drops with exposure on this approach. Navigation in mist can be testing, particularly on the higher ground.
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Route description
1. Getting to Loch Creran and Druimavuic
Starting up Beinn Sgulaird
The A828 connects Fort William to Oban, on which Loch Creran sits halfway along it's length.
A road bridge crosses the narrows at the western end of the loch with roundabouts on either side.
From the southern of these two roundabouts, drive up following the southern shore of Loch Creran for 3km and park in a layby by an electronic road sign powered by a small windmill and solar panel.
2. Beinn Sgulaird's southern summit
Beinn Sgulaird from 863m summit
Walk south-west back along the road for 100m to a driveway off left (south) and begin hiking up a fine track through some forestry.
After leaving the forestry behind, continue uphill and reach a small cairn aside the track at around c150m 
. There's a path to the left on the grass heading directly up the hill - from here you can see a large erratic boulder higher up which looks as if it could just roll off the hill.
Follow this path up to the boulder then continue a bit further to reach the top of a little summit 
with a cairn on it at 488m.
On this summit, the path appears to hug the south-east edge above a drop on scree, it then heads off north - stick with it, it does return to the bealach ahead and avoids any slight difficulties.
Cross a fence and continue gaining height on a path up Beinn Sgulaird's southern summit, with the path becoming more indistinct further up.
There are several false summits on the way - Beinn Sgulaird's southern summit 
(only referred to as a spot height of 863m on maps), is gained just after passing a tiny lochan.
3. Meall Garbh and Beinn Sgulaird
Beinn Sgulaird's summit from Meall Garbh
From Beinn Sgulaird's southern summit onwards, the path becomes more obvious - follow it north-east, down over bouldery ground to a bealach. Over grass-covered ground for a bit, then up some rough terrain, the path leads towards Meall Garbh 
.
Beyond Meall Garbh's summit, more bouldery ground is descended continuing north-east to another grassy bealach. The final ascent up Beinn Sgulaird lies ahead with the fine path tracing a route uphill, passing a little lochan just before reaching the summit 
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Beinn Sgulaird has a large cairn and is a fine point for taking in some superb views.
4. Return to Loch Creran
Erratic boulder on the way up Beinn Sgulaird
There are various routes for return, including a direct descent down to Glenure farm in Glen Creran below, which is followed by a a walk along a road aside the River Creran
If however you decide to opt to return by the route up, you'll be rewarded with fantastic views all the way out to Jura, Mull, Morven and beyond as you descend.
5. Detour to Creach Bheinn
To follow soon (needing decent pics as was rather claggy when I was here !)
Route profile »
Maps and GPX downloads »
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Weather forecasts »
| Regional | MWIS - Western Highlands |
| Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
| Seasonal | SAIS - Glencoe Midge forecast |
Alternative and nearby routes »
Beinn Sgulaird from Glen Etive | |
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Through forestry, then on open hillside and rocky terrain higher up, this route makes for a quiet approach up Beinn Sgulaird. Peaks : 1 Munro
Ascent : 1025m (3360ft) Distance : 14km (9m) Time : 5:15hr |
Fraochaidh from Duror | |
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On forestry tracks lower down and pathless grass covered terrain higher up, this is a fine route up a modest Corbett hill surrounded on northern and eastern sides by higher mountains. On clear days the views from Fraochaidh are stunning. Peaks : 1 Corbett
Ascent : 900m (2950ft) Distance : 12km (7m) Time : 4:30hr |
Beinn a' Bheithir from Ballachulish | |
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On forestry tracks lower down with grass covered terrain and boulderfield higher up, this is a fine there-and-back route up Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill - the two Munro summits on Beinn a' Bheithir. Peaks : 2 Munros
Ascent : 1300m (4270ft) Distance : 12km (7m) Time : 5:10hr |
Sgurr na h-Ulaidh from Glencoe | |
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Heading to Sgurr na h-Ulaidh from Glencoe follows a good track, but take the wrong way and you could end up heading up some difficult ground. Peaks : 1 Munro
Ascent : 1150m (3770ft) Distance : 12km (7m) Time : 5hr |
