Ardgour's Garbh Bheinn from Glen Tarbert

Inversanda Bay and Loch Linnhe

On the A82, a few miles south of Fort William, Corran Ferry carries passengers and vehicles across the Corran Narrows of Loch Linnhe over to Ardgour.

Landing on the opposite side of the narrows, a drive of 10km south-westwards on the A861 leads to Inversanda Bay and the entrance to Glen Tarbert. On approaching the glen and after passing a sign pointing south to Kingairloch via the B8043, a bridge crosses over the Abhainn Coire Iubhair. There are a few places to park on the tarmac remains of an old narrow road by the eastern bank of this burn.

Some of the weird rock on way up Druim an Iubhair

From the bridge over the Abhainn Coire Iubhair, head eastwards along the A861 for around 200m to where a rough ATV track leaves the road and travels northwards. The track splits, then where it veers turns right (east), leave it and begin hiking directly uphill. Thick grass cover on the slopes is interspersed with some weird and amusing rock formations.

After gaining a height of around 350m, the southern tip of Druim an Iubhair is reached. Turning northwards and passing Lochan Druim an Iubhair , Druim an Iubhair's broad and undulating crest is followed uphill. Meeting more little lochans higher up, the route becomes rougher and a line of old iron posts as Sgorr Mhic Eacharna's summit is approached.

Aiming west from Sgorr Mhic Eacharna's summit while following the line of posts, the ground begins to drop quite steeply. Keeping slightly south of the line of posts, the steepest ground is avoided to drop to Bealach nan Aingidh below.

Beinn Bheag above Bealach nan Aingidh

Beinn Bheag above Bealach nan Aingidh

Fiaclan Garbh-Bheinn above Lochan Coire an Iubhair

Beinn Bheag's broad ridge is followed westwards as it climbs and falls over the next 1km or so, the ground becoming progressively more boulder and stone covered.

A drop to a wide grass-covered bealach near the end of Beinn Bheag's ridge indicates a change in direction - turn south-west and drop down a grassy slant under rock to Lochan Coire an Iubhair resting on Bealach Feith 'n Amean.

Immediately above the lochan on the other side of the bealach is a wide grassy trough aiming uphill, narrowing as it gains height, separating two rock buttresses. Head up this - it's more stable than it looks - as it travels under rock to top out on the flat, grass-covered, Sron Lag nan Gamha.

Ahead and above is the rocky ground of Fiaclan Garbh-Bheinn. There is no defined route up this, just a case of hands-on-rock for some easy scrambling. An easier route can be taken that heads off to the right, which climbs mainly over grass and some loose boulders higher up.

The final climb up Garbh Bheinn ahead

The final climb up Garbh Bheinn ahead

Sron a' Gharbh Choire Mhoir

Having had no path to follow on the ridges and crests all the way around Coire an Iubhair to Garbh Bheinn, it comes as a pleasant surprise to find one descending from Garbh Bheinn's summit cairn !

From Garbh Bheinn's summit, initially head westwards and turn around the head of Garbh Choire Mor to drop down to a col at just under 750m. Now aiming south-east, the final climb on the route awaits, just under 100m of ascent to gain Garbh Bheinn's south-east summit with its cairn of boulders above Sron a' Gharbh Choire Mhoir.

On Sron a' Gharbh Choire Bhig

On Sron a' Gharbh Choire Bhig

Garbh Bheinn's southern face above Glen Tarbert

The first time I headed up Garbh Bheinn, we were on a holiday in the Moidart and Ardgour pininsula and on a day with low cloud and fairly dreich conditions, I looked for something straightforward and quick to do. So headed up the most direct route up Garbh Bheinn from the highest point in Glen Tarbet. Not the most interesting of routes, but short and steep with less than 800m to climb !