Garbh Bheinn from Loch Leven
Hillwalking route up the Corbett Garbh Bheinn from Loch Leven
On soggy ATV tracks lower down, leading through heather to rough terrain and boulderfield higher up, this is a fine there-and-back route up Garbh Bheinn above Loch Leven.
Route outline
| Corbetts | ||||
| Ascent | 840m (2750ft) | |||
| Distance | 6km (4m) | |||
| Time | 3:00hr | |||
| Start/finish | Caolasnacon Grid Ref : NN097604 | |||
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The easiest and most direct route up Garbh Bheinn is from near the campsite at Caolasnacon just above the shores of Loch Leven. The route is in two contrasting parts - a wet mucky trudge for the first 400m of ascent then a loose path on gravel thereafter.
Overall the route is very enjoyable and worthy of a fine summer evening's stroll or a short winter's daylight ramble.
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Route description
1. Getting to Caolasnacon on Loch Leven
Caolasnacon and the campsite
The route starts from the east side of the bridge over the Allt Gleann a'Chaolais, just east of the Caolasnacon camping site.
There is space for 2 or 3 cars to on the west side of the bridge and space for a couple more on the east side.
Regardless of coming from the north or south, the start is most readily accessed from Glencoe Village.
2. Garbh Bheinn
Looking up Garbh Bheinn
On the eastern side of the bridge a faint wet path starts by the roadside and heads uphill through the grass and some trees. A few paces up, the path joins with tracks made by an ATV.
Follow these tracks for 50m or so, then look for a faint path on your left (perhaps marked by a few stones) 
heading directly uphill. The path can be incredibly wet, boggy and slippy, but persist !
A minor summit is reached at around 400m 
and the path continues south-east, ontouring around couple of rises ahead.
A wet bealach 
is crossed from where the path becomes more distinct and can be seen making a route through the heather on Garbh Bheinn's steep western slope. Higher up, the path crosses through some patches of scree and zig-zags as it climbs.
Garbh Bheinn's western shoulder, Stob Coire Sgoilte 
, has a few false summits, one above a landslip giving some dramatic views.
Approaching Garbh Bheinn's summit
is a few minutes further on, where three small cairns sit overlooking drops down to Kinlochleven to the north and an interesting perspective of the Aonach Eagach's tricky ridge to the south.Approaching Garbh Bheinn's summit
3. Return to Caolasnacon
Summit cairn of Garbh Bheinn with Blackwater Reservoir beyond
About turn and return by the same route.
When reaching the bealach , a possible alternative is to head south-west and descend directly down onto the ATV track for a quick jog back to the roadside.
Looking back down over Stob Coire Sgoilte
Looking back down over Stob Coire Sgoilte
Route profile »
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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 »
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Ascent : 1200m (3940ft) Distance : 8km (5m) Time : 6hr |
Mam na Gualainn from Callert on Loch Leven | |
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Eastern Mamores | |
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