Route description: Bidean Nam Bian Munros included on this walk: Bidean nam Bian ; Stob Coire Sgreamhach Time taken: 6.5 hours Distance: 9 km Ascent: 1150m |
It appears that I am quickly developing an obsession with Glencoe, I hope this walk report will go a long way to explaining why. The weather generally in September has been superb for hill walking and the forecast for Sunday was no different. MWIS was giving a 90% plus chance of cloud free Munro summits in the West Highlands area by mid-morning. Therefore it seemed the perfect opportunity for us to tackle the mighty Bidean Nam Bian. Due to the popularity of these mountains and of the Lost Valley which forms part of the route, we knew an early start was required to get a parking space. I left Perth around 6am, meeting up with my mate at Lochearnhead on the way, and we arrived at the car park by 08.00. Despite this early start there was still a good few cars already parked up. There are a number of alternative routes to tackle these 2 mountains, we had already decided that we would begin by heading up through the magnificent Lost Valley. There is a very good path which leads from the car park down to the left of the middle of the ‘Three Sisters’. There is a very helpful metal staircase which leads you down to the bridge over the river Coe. A rough path continues up through the forested beginning of the valley and you soon find yourself flanked by impressively sheer cliffs on either side of you as you continue up by the river on the boulder strewn path. You gain a bit of height as you go until you reach the beginning of the drop into the Lost Valley. The view up the length of the valley is quite something and the scale of it quickly becomes apparent as you spot the tiny looking tents of those who have camped here overnight. I’ve got to say they are braver than me, as you look around at the huge boulders lying on the valley floor and up at number of equally large boulders which are still precariously perched on the cliff sides, it really would not be out of the question for something to really go ‘bump in the night’ !! I was never great at science in school, but I know enough about gravity ! As you look ahead you can see the second Munro target of Stob Coire Sgreamhach up on the left and in the centre of the vista you can make out the red scree slope which has to be negotiated on the climb out of the corrie to the bealach between Stob Coire Sgreamhach and Bidean Nam Bian. In all honesty, from here it looks a fairly straight forward walk up to the point where the scree begins. It was actually quite hard going over the rocky path which runs up the right side of the river, and I was delighted that the rising Autumnal sun had not yet reached high enough to clear Beinn Fhada on our left. As we neared the scree slope it did not appear as steep and daunting as it did from the other end of the valley. It does require the use of your hands to clamber your way up and out, but I’d class it as very simple scrambling at worst. I've said it before and I'll say it again, trust me when I say that we don’t scramble anything more hazardous than eggs ! On exiting the valley you are greeted with magnificent views in all directions, not surprising really as we had already reached a height of around 900m. We’d been walking/climbing for around 2 hours at this point and a rest stop was well warranted. From here you had great views of the imposing ascent route to Stob Coire Sgreamhach and over to the significantly large Munro top of Stob Coire nan Lochan (1115m) which has to be conquered on route to Bidean if you choose to take the route from the car park along Coire nan Lochan . I can imagine a few disbelieving grumbles from walkers who reach that summit only to be told “no mate this doesn’t count as a Munro, this is what you climb just to get to the Munro” !! I’ll keep that walk for another day. We also thought we could spot the small summit cairn of Bidean Nam Bian, we couldn’t, we discovered quite quickly after beginning our ascent that what we were looking at was in fact a small summit cairn on the way. Bidean was further on and considerably higher than we’d first anticipated. As we looked ahead to our first summit the odd whisp of cloud would temporarily blow in and shroud the summit and coupled with rocky terrain, sheer drops and deep gullies either side of the ridge really served to give you that feeling that you were on a ‘proper’ mountain. The actual ascent of Bidean, although longer than first anticipated, was actually quite straightforward. There is a reasonably distinct path interspersed with the odd large rock formations which require a very simple scramble over. Of course you have magnificent views as you walk up, especially over to Stob Coire nan Lochan where you can't help but feel a sense of relief that you have chosen this more direct route ! The summit was reached exactly 3 hours after we had left the car park and I had never been so pleased to crack open the piece box, there is no doubt that Munro bagging gives me a healthy appetite. We had timed our ascent well as the summit was now clear of any clouds which had begun to form over Sgreamhach, shrouding our view of our second munro target for the day. We sat for around 15 minutes enjoying the warm sunshine and stunning 360 degree views before retracing our steps to the bealach to tackle munro number 2. As we headed back down the mountain we were greeted with an irrefutable opportunity of a stunning 'outcrop' picture. I'll admit that it was all I could do to get on and off the rock in the time it took to say 'cheeeese' !! The return to bealach was fairly straightforward as is the ascent of Sgreamhach despite it's appearance. There is a decent, if very rocky, path up and alternative routes can easily be chosen to avoid the infrequent parts of the path that offer a little more exposure. After the climb up Bidean this ascent felt a bit like a walk in the park to be honest and we reached the summit less than an hour after starting off from Bidean's peak. Shortly afterwards we were joined by a party of around 8 students dressed in skinny jeans and flip-flops, perhaps I should not bother renewing my Go Outdoors card next year !! You are of course blessed with more stunning views that any description I could write could not do justice to, so I'll let the photos continue to do the talking. As always we reluctantly had to take the decision to begin our descent and walk back to the car. We were quickly back down to the bealach and began our descent down the steep scree slope we had climbed up earlier. It was actually easy enough and it is not long before you are marching along the path through the Lost Valley. The valley as you can imagine with the excellent weather was really busy. We passed a number of people who had enjoyed the walk into the valley and had no intentions of climbing any Munros. 6 and a half hours to the minute since we left we were reunited with the car, minus the banana my mate had inadvertently left on the roof when we set off ! I'm confident we'd both happily swap a small plantation of bananas in return for another day in the hills as equally good as this one.
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Munros ClimbedBinnein Mor Na Gruagaichean Schiehallion Ben Lomond (no walk report) Stob Dearg Stob na Broige Beinn Ghlas Ben Chonzie Ben Lawers Ben Vorlich Bidean Nam Bian Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain Cairn of Claise Carn An Tuirc Carn Liath (Beinn a'Ghlo) Carn nan Gabhar Creag Leacach Glas Maol Stuc A'Chroin Stob Coire Raineach Stob Coire Sgreamhach Stob Dubh Meall nan Tarmachan (no walk report) Mayar Driesh The Cairnwell Carn Aosda Carn a'Gheoidh Meall Chuaich (no walk report) Stob Diamh Geal Charn (no walk report) A' Mharconaich (no walk report) Sgairneach Mhor (no walk report) Beinn Udlamain (no walk report) Carn Gorm Meall Garbh (Carn Marig) Carn Marig Creag Mhor Beinn Narnain Beinn Ime Geal Charn (Monadhliath) (no walk report) Meall Greigh Meall Garbh An Stuc Meall Corranaich (no walk report) Meall a'Choire Leith (no walk report) Beinn an Dothaidh Beinn Dorain Sgor Gaoith Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) Ben Nevis Carn Mor Dearg Creise Meall a'Bhuiridh Ben More Stob Binnein Meall Buidhe BeinnChabhair A'Bhuidheanach Bheag (no report) Stuchd an Lochain Beinn a'Chocuill Beinn Eunaich Ben Starav Glas Bheinn Mhor Beinn Achaladair Beinn a'Chreachain An Caisteal Beinn a'Chroin Beinn Tulaichean Cruach Ardrain Meall Ghaordaidh Ben Challum An Socach Chno Dearg Stob Coire Sgriodain Beinn a'Chaorainn Beinn Teallach Ben Lui Beinn a'Chleibh Stob Coire Easain Stob a'Choire Mheadhoin Bynack More Stob Ghabhar Stob a'Choire Odhair Carn a'Mhaim Beinn Mhanach Stob Ban (grey corries) Ben Cruachan (updated report) Sgorr Dhearg Sgorr Dhonuill Carn Liath (Creag Meagaidh) Stob Poite Coire Ardair (no walk report) Creag Meagaidh (no walk report) Cac Carn Beag (Lochnagar) Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach Carn an t-Sagairt Mor Cairn Bannoch Stob Ban (Mamores) Mullach nan Coirean Broad Cairn Carn a'Chlamain Sgurr Fiona Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill Archives
June 2019
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