Innerwick Corbetts

North of Loch Tay, near Aberfeldy, an unclassified road heads westwards from the picturesque village of Fortingall with its thatched cottages. This road follows the northern bank of River Lyon along the length of Glen Lyon.

Around 16km west of Fortingall, the road turns sharply while crossing a burn by Innerwick Kirk. On the western side of the bridge is a large parking area with public convenience and visitor notice board.

Innerwick can also be approached from a narrow road heading northwards from Loch Tay, around 7km east of the village of Killin. Signposted to Bridge of Balgie, this road travels to a height of over 550m and may be impassable in winter conditions.

From the car-park, head uphill on a track that begins from behind the public toilets, through gate into forestry, much of which has been felled.

The track climbs gently for the best part of 1km to meet another gate, beyond which it drops slightly to cross the Allt a' Choire Uidhre via a wooden bridge 1.

Turning westwards, the track then climbs gently once more following the northern bank of river upstream. A further 1km on and the track crosses the river onto its southern bank with the rate of climbing steepening. A junction 2 is reached, where a right fork leads to a small hyrdo dam. Keeping to the left, the track becomes rough as it climbs even steeper - only the strongest and hardiest of mountain-bikers will be able to continue without dismounting !

Over next 2km, the track twists and turns as it climbs westwards. There are a few dips on the way, and one burn crossed by a bridge. Approaching a small corrugated iron hut 3, look for a small cairn. This cairn denotes the start of a faint path heading directly up the Cam Chreag's east facing slopes.

Leaving the track at the cairn, follow the faint path as it cuts through heather, then fades into grass and soggy moss. Onto the crest of Cam Chreag's south-eastern shoulder, a faint path is picked up and followed north-westwards to the hill's summit 4.

An untidy pile of stones with a wooden post marks the highest point, from where decent views can be had in all directions.

To return, simply about turn and retrace your steps back to Innerwick.

The last time I hiked this route, I was intending to head to Beinn Dearg via Meall a' Mhuic. However upon reaching Cam Chreag's summit and viewing the terrain over Meall nam Maigheach towards Meall a' Mhuic, the thought of hiking over pathless heather clad moorland looked rather unappealing. So, like most hillwalkers, I about-turned and retraced my steps back to Innerwick.

Starting from the car park, cross the roadbridge and proceed past the large memorial cairn to where you'll see a sign pointing towards Loch Rannoch. Follow a track through a gate and aside a field where horses may be grazing to climb gradually alongside woodland.

Emerging from the woodland, a junction is met - turn right to continue uphill. Shortly thereafter the track does a switchback by another junction 5. Continue uphill for around 1km, to a clearing and yet another junction 6.

Here, take the track on the right uphill through forestry, as it zig-zaggs up to the northern edge of the trees. Upon reaching a tired fence and the remains of an old gate, turn right and follow a set of ATV tracks that run alongside the forest's northern edge.

The tracks turn around the forest, then aims east, becoming slightly damp in some sections, and eventually coming to an abrupt end. Shortly thereafter, you should encounter a small cairn 7, from where there is a scenic overlook of Cul Làirig. Nearby is a small lochan to the north and another to the south, though neither of these are marked on the OS maps.

From the cairn, turn northeast and follow the wide crest of the hill towards the base of Beinn Dearg. Aim for a line of fence posts on the skyline ahead. Once by the posts, pick up a faint path and follow it and the old iron posts towards the summit.

When nearing the summit, the fence posts sharply turn north, leave the line of posts at this point and continue heading east. You'll soon reach a cairn 8 marking Beinn Dearg's highest point, offering excellent views of An Stùc and the Lawers range.