Fraochaidh from Duror
Hillwalking route up Fraochaidh, a Corbett peak in Appin
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.
Route outline
| Corbetts | ||||
| Ascent | 900m (2950ft) | |||
| Distance | 12km (8m) | |||
| Time | 4:30hr | |||
| Start/finish | Duror Grid Ref : NN997553 | |||
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This route begins from Duror, a few miles south-west of Ballachuilish. The route is shorter, easier and, in my opinion, more scenic than alternatives coming in from Ballachuilish or Glen Creran.
Navigation is fairly straightforward following forestry tracks and fence-posts higher up to the summit, where one of the best views of the Glencoe and Etive peaks is to be savoured on clear days.
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Route description
1. Getting to Duror
The village of Duror lies on the A828, 8km south-west of Ballachuilish Bridge.
In the village, a sign on the south-east side of the main road points to A'Chindarroch Road and the campsite.
Head down this road, passing some houses.
After 200m and beyond a sharp turn left, the road reaches the entrance to the campsite and opposite, the remains of an old railway line, which is now a track.
Turn south down this track for 500m and park on the verge by a sharp turn and junction in the track 
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2. Fraochaidh
A forestry track climbs gently, initially eastwards, into Glen Duror and this can be followed for around 2km to its end 
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A fairly new track climbs south from here and zig-zags its way uphill.
At the abrupt end of this track, a short walk over grass and heather to reaches a knoll and two lochans 
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From there, an easy walk over pleasant but pathless terrain follows the crest of Fraochaidh's north-west shoulder.Higher up, at around c760m, a line of fence-posts 
coming up from Coire na Capuill is met, which can be followed for just under 1km to trig point on the summit 
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The views from the summit are exceptional, particularly considering this hill's modest height and being surrounded by much higher peaks.
3. Return to Duror
The easiest route of return is to retrace your steps back down Fraochaidh's western shoulder.
A longer alternative would be from Fraochaidh's summit to continue along its eastern shoulder following fence-posts around Coire Dearg. This route travels over a bump (marked 718m) and drops to a lochan, from where turn left (west) to descend to forestry and pick up tracks to return to Duror.
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