Walking the Corbetts Vol 1 South of the Great Glen

By Brian Johnson

ISBN

9781852846527

Availability

Published

20 Jul 2012

Reprinted

11 Oct 2019

Edition

First

Pages

352

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.90cm

Weight

390g

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Walking the Corbetts describes routes up all 112 Scottish Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-2999ft mountains) south of the Great Glen, covering the Southern Uplands, Southern Highlands, Cairngorms, Jura and Arran. These Scottish hills are every bit as interesting as the Munros, and often clear when the Munros are in cloud. Part of a 2-volume set.

Seasons

The Corbetts can be climbed at any time of year, but this guide assumes readers are climbing when the hills are free of snow.

Centres

Southern Uplands, Southern Highlands, Cairngorms, Jura and Arran

Difficulty

Many of the Corbetts are rarely climbed which means that often the only paths are animal tracks. This does mean that the going can be relatively tough and navigation can be demanding in mist. Very few of the Corbetts in this volume involve any scrambling, but many involve ascents and descents on steep slopes.

Must See

112 highlights in 95 routes, including Merrick, The Cobbler, Goatfell, Morven and Ben Vrackie

ISBN

9781852846527

Availability

Published

20 Jul 2012

Reprinted

11 Oct 2019

Edition

First

Pages

352

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.90cm

Weight

390g

Overview

The Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-2999ft mountains) are every bit as interesting as the Munros (3000ft and over), often clear when the Munros are in cloud, walkable on short winter days and free of the peak-bagging crowds of their taller neighbours.

Walking the Corbetts is divided into two volumes. This guide covers the Corbetts to the south of the Great Glen, which runs from Fort William to Inverness and includes the Southern Uplands, Southern Highlands, Cairngorms and also the islands of Arran and Jura. Choosing the best, rather than the quickest routes up each summit the author covers 112 Corbetts described in 95 routes, illustrated with custom 1:100,000 mapping.

South of Glasgow and Edinburgh are the moorland hills of the Southern Uplands, where seven peaks rise to Corbett status. In the Southern Highlands plenty of interesting Corbetts provide spectacular views of the Munros with easy access from Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Corbetts of the Eastern Highlands and the Monadhliath Mountains sit in sprawling heather plateaus, ideal for those seeking solitude. The South-West Highlands is known for its rocky peaks in places like Glen Coe and the highlights are probably Arran and Jura, with their similarly rocky and isolated summits.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Preface

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

What are the Corbetts?

Geology

Human history in the Highlands

The natural environment

Walking the Corbetts

When to go

The terrain

Weather

Access

Mountain bothies

Navigation

Safety

Areas in this guide

Using this guide

1 The Southern Uplands

Route 1 Merrick

Route 2 Shalloch on Minnoch

Route 3 Corserine

Route 4 Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

Route 5 Hart Fell

Route 6 White Coomb

Route 7 Broad Law

2 Arran and Jura

Route 8 Goatfell

Route 9 Beinn Tarsuinn, Caisteal Abhail and Cir Mhor

Route 10 Beinn an Oir (The Paps of Jura)

3 West of Loch Lomond (Arrochar Alps)

Route 11 Beinn Bheula

Route 12 Ben Donich, The Brack and Cnoc Coinnich

Route 13 The Cobbler

Route 14 Beinn Luibhean

Route 15 Beinn an Lochain

Route 16 Stob Coire Creagach (Binnein an Fhidhleir)

Route 17 Meall an Fhudair

4 East of Loch Lomond (The Trossachs)

Route 18 Beinn a’ Choin

Route 19 Ben Ledi and Benvane

Route 20 Beinn Each

Route 21 Stob a’ Choin

Route 22 Stob Fear-tomhais

Route 23 Meall an t-Seallaidh and Creag MacRanaich

Route 24 Meall na Fearna

Route 25 Creag Uchdag

Route 26 Auchnafree Hill

5 South-West Grampians (Tyndrum and Dalmally)

Route 27 Beinn a’ Bhuiridh

Route 28 Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Route 29 Beinn Udlaidh and Beinn Bhreac-liath

Route 30 Beinn Chuirn

Route 31 Beinn Odhar, Beinn Chaorach, Cam Chreag, Beinn nam Fuaran and Beinn a’ Chaisteil

6 The Southern Grampians (Loch Tay and Glen Lyon)

Route 32 Beinn nan Imirean

Route 33 Meall nan Subh

Route 34 Sron a’ Choire Chnapanich and Meall Buidhe

Route 35 Beinn nan Oighreag

Route 36 Meall nam Maigheach

Route 37 Cam Chreag

Route 38 Beinn Dearg

Route 39 Creagan na Beinne

7 The Western Grampians (Glen Coe and Kinlochleven)

Route 40 Creach Bheinn

Route 41 Fraochaidh

Route 42 Meall Lighiche

Route 43 Beinn Trilleachan

Route 44 Stob Dubh

Route 45 Beinn Maol Chaluim

Route 46 Beinn Mhic Chasgaig

Route 47 Beinn a’ Chrulaiste

Route 48 Garbh Bheinn

Route 49 Mam na Gualainn

Route 50 Glas Bheinn

8 The Central Grampians (Pitlochry and Loch Rannoch)

Route 51 Leum Uilleim

Route 52 Meall na Meoig of Beinn Pharlagain

Route 53 Stob an Aonaich Mhoir

Route 54 Beinn a’ Chuallaich

Route 55 Meall Tairneachan and Farragon Hill

Route 56 Ben Vrackie

Route 57 Ben Vuirich

Route 58 Beinn Mheadhonach

Route 59 Beinn Bhreac

Route 60 An Dun and Maol Creag an Loch (A’ Chaoirnich)

Route 61 Meall na Leitreach

Route 62 Beinn Mholach

Route 63 The Sow of Atholl

Route 64 The Fara

9 Badenoch (Spean Bridge to Kingussie)

Route 65 Sgurr Innse and Cruach Innse

Route 66 Beinn Iaruinn

Route 67 Carn Dearg (Glen Roy)

Route 68 Carn Dearg (N of Gleann Eachach) and Carn Dearg (S of Gleann Eachach)

Route 69 Carn a’ Chuillinn

Route 70 Gairbeinn

Route 71 Meall na h-Aisre

Route 72 Carn an Fhreiceadain

Route 73 Meallach Mhor

Route 74 Leathad an Taobhain and Carn Dearg Mor

10 The Southern Cairngorms

Route 75 Mount Battock

Route 76 Ben Tirran

Route 77 Monamenach

Route 78 Ben Gulabin

Route 79 Creag nan Gabhar

Route 80 Morrone

Route 81 Sgor Mor

Route 82 Carn na Drochaide

Route 83 Creag an Dhail Bheag and Culardoch

Route 84 Conachcraig

Route 85 Morven

11 The Northern Cairngorms

Route 86 Brown Cow Hill

Route 87 Carn Ealasaid

Route 88 Carn Mor

Route 89 Corryhabbie Hill

Route 90 Ben Rinnes

Route 91 Geal Charn

Route 92 Meall a’ Bhuachaille

Route 93 Creag Mhor

Route 94 Geal-charn Mor

Route 95 Carn na Saobhaidhe

Appendix A Alphabetical list of the Corbetts

Appendix B Useful information

Maps

Navigation

The 1:100,000 maps in this guide are good for planning purposes and will give you a general idea of the route, but they don’t give enough detail for accurate navigation in difficult conditions. For this reason it is essential that you carry the relevant maps.

The Ordnance Survey (OS) 1:50,000 maps, available in paper form or for GPS devices, are very good and should be all you need to follow the recommended routes. In popular areas updated OS 1:25,000 maps are available but not really necessary. Probably the best maps are the Harvey maps (mainly 1:40,000) but they don’t have full coverage of the Scottish Highlands.

The contour lines on all of these maps are remarkably accurate and should be seen as your main navigational tool. Inexperienced walkers going out in good visibility should learn to relate contours to the ground so they are better prepared if they get caught out in mist.

You should always carry a good compass (those produced for orienteering by Silva and Suunto are probably the best). In good visibility it should be sufficient to use the compass to orientate the map, so that north on the map lines up with north on the ground. At present, magnetic north is near enough to grid north not to have to adjust for magnetic variation. Learn to take bearings from a map and follow them using the compass in clear conditions, before you find yourself having to navigate in mist.

The most difficult thing in navigation is knowing how far you have travelled, which can be important when navigating in mist on Scottish hills. In extreme conditions it may be necessary to pace-count to measure distance – practise this skill in good conditions, so that you are prepared.

Probably the most common navigational error is to head in the wrong direction when leaving a mountain summit. It is a good habit to always check your compass when leaving a mountain summit, even in clear conditions.

GPS

If you are experienced at using map and compass, a GPS device is not essential for navigating the Corbetts. However, even experienced mountain navigators will find it can make navigation easier in mist and the less experienced might find that using a GPS device allows them to navigate safely in poor visibility.

Updates

July 2016

Update

Following a survey by John Barnard and Graham Jackson, Cnoc Coinnich has been upgraded from Graham to Corbett status. The new height has been accepted by the Scottish Mountaineering Club, the guardians of the tables, and by the Ordnance Survey.

Cnoc Coinnich (NN 22346 00772): Formerly 761m, now 764m. It is situated about 3km E of Lochgoilhead which provides the easiest approach to the mountain. It is joined to the Brack by a saddle at about 476m and a strong walker could combine it with Ben Donich and The Brack using the route described in the Route 12 of the guide.

Reviews

‘A comprehensive guide that covers ascents of the 112 Corbetts – peaks between 2,500 and 2,999 feet in height – south of the Great Glen. There are 95 routes in all, from the Southern Uplands to the Cairngorms, Jura and Arran, with many likely to convince even the most committed Munroist that there is life below 3,000 feet.’

Scotland Outdoors, Autumn 2012

...This is an excellent guide and would be very useful for both the casual hillwalker visiting Scotland for the first time and the serious Munro bagger looking to broaden his (or her) horizons.

Irish Mountain Log, Autumn 2012

…the guide is as much about exploring the glens as it is about climbing the peaks.

The guide achieves Cicerone’s usual high standard of presentation, with helpful maps and plenty of photographs to whet the appetite.

Mountain Rescue, October 2012

'Detailed route descriptions are backed up with information about the history and environment. Also included is a wealth of practical advice and information about local accommodation and other amenities, to enable one to plan a holiday based on these walks.'

Strider, December 2012

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Brian Johnson

After taking early retirement from his career as a physics and sports teacher, Brian Johnson found time for three thru'-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2700-mile round-Britain walk and a single summer completion of the Munros (Scotland's 3000ft mountains), as well as climbing all of the Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-2999ft mountains) and Grahams (Scotland's 2000-2500ft mountains). He also completed a 2200-mile cycle tour of Spain and France and multi-week canoe tours in Sweden, France, Spain and Portugal. A keen climber and hiker, he led school groups in Britain, the Alps, the Pyrenees and California and completed ten traverses from Atlantic to Mediterranean on the Pyrenean Haute Route, GR11 and GR10. As a fanatical sportsman and games player, he competed to a high standard at cricket, hockey, bridge and chess. His crowning achievement was winning the 1995/96 World Amateur Chess Championships. Sadly, Brian passed away in 2021.

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