Perhaps the only Corbett grouping that allows so many to be climbed in a sensible single day, the Tyndrum Five makes a rewarding challenge for connoisseurs of the quality walking to be found below the 3000-foot threshold. It’s a well known route, yet far less threadbare than the more heavily used multi-Munro rounds. Paths are faint and crowds unlikely, and this peace is very appealing. Though ringed by higher ranges these hills offer fantastic views, and the best of them have qualities to match many Munros – conical Beinn Odhar with its airy outlook over Tyndrum; Cam Chreag’s knobbly seclusion; and split-sided Beinn a’ Chaisteil, half turfy grazing and half precipitous rampart.
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Height Profile
metres / Distance
miles
Detailed description
1
NN3163535419 Follow the private road downhill past Auch, crossing a bridge to meet a track crossroads (the West Highland Way). Go straight on, pass a cottage, ford the Allt Coralan (may prove tricky in flood) and continue into the Auch Gleann. At a track junction beneath the railway viaduct take the right hand track up Glen Coralan. Having passed some way above an attractive waterfall the track fizzles into rough pasture. Continue briefly up-glen, staying north of the burn.
2
NN3545534649 Curve left and climb onto Beinn a' Chaisteil's long southeast ridge. With an outlook over the precipitous face above Glen Coralan this is a great ascent route, and the summit offers airy views of the last peak on the round, Beinn Odhar. A dilapidated fence gives a general guide for the gentler descent northeast (not much trace of a path) into the peaty bealach of the Mam Lorn (not named on Landranger map) .
3
NN3560837643 Beinn nam Fuaran is a steep ascent, again without much path to speak of; the broken fence marks the best line, up left and then back right to outflank the roughest of the slope. From the summit cairn descend almost due south into the green glen of the Abhainn Ghlas.
4
NN3638836703 Cross the burn, then make the long grind up Cam Chreag's broad northern ridge. A cairn marks the highest of several rocky knobbles above the craggy east side of the hill. Descend roughly west-southwest through rocks and bogs to meet a disused electric fence that approximates to the northern perimeter of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and the Argyll / Stirling county line. A path follows the posts onto the next saddle.
5
NN3624133991 Continue up the northern slopes of Beinn Chaorach. The name means Sheep Mountain, and that does reflect its grassy character pretty well. From the summit trig point bear north and then west to descend the relentlessly steep slope into the glen below Beinn Odhar; the fence line is still visible, though following it exactly is no advantage.
6
NN3502333196 Still with the fence, more or less, continue west up the similarly uncompromising flank of Beinn Odhar to emerge on its gentler southeast spur. Climb this, past a level shoulder, to reach a tiny pool below the stony summit dome. A short steep climb now gains the cairn on top of the day's fifth Corbett. Go back past the pool to the shoulder, then descend a vague grassy spur east-northeast into Glen Coralan. Regain the north bank of the Allt Coralan and retrace your steps back to Auch.
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Difficulty: SevereDistance: 15.41 miles (24.80 km)
Total ascent: 2,088m
Time: 9 – 10 hours (Walking)
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Summits
Beinn nam Fuaran 806 mCam Chreag 884 m
Beinn Chaorach 818 m
Beinn Odhar 901 m
Beinn a' Chaisteil 886 m
Additional Information
Start/Finish:Side of A82 by Auch turnoff (limited parking spaces), NN316354
Nearest town:
Tyndrum
Terrain:
Pleasant grassy walking on the tops of the hills, but the flanks are steep and lower ground can be boggy. Paths are sketchy in some places and non existent in others.
Seasonal variations:
The steep descents from Beinn Chaorach and Beinn Odhar need care in winter. The uniformly grassy slopes may be hazardous in avalanche prone conditions. The round would make a fantastic ski tour.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: West Highlands – Met Office: West Highlands
Public transport:
The start of the route is mid way between Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum, both served by train and bus routes from Glasgow.
Guidebooks:
Great Mountain Days in Scotland (Cicerone) https://www.cicerone.co.uk/great-mountain-days-in-scotland
Maps:
OS Explorer 377 (1:25,000), OS Explorer 378 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 50 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Tyndrum (08452 255 121)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH
We did it last year, but tackled Beinn a' Chaisteil direct by the broad SW spur and finishing via the N ridge of Beinn Odharhttps://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/e.php?d=20190504&u=2022&i=571192
A great day out, met 2 people all day despite it being a sunny bank holiday weekend. Highlight was getting to the top of a knoll and finding a golden eagle feasting on a sheep's corpse a few feet away down the other side.
We did this over a decade ago, when my wife was four months pregnant with our eldest.
It felt quite a big day due to the significant drops between the hills - although she seemed less knackered than I was at the end, so I reckon it must be easiest done when pregnant.
Good advertising Dan. You just sold another copy of Great Mountain Days in Scotland. Looking forward to getting out again sometime : )
Did it a few years ago. Big day, needed chicken curry & chips from the real food cafe to recover.
We started due west of Bein Odhar at the big lay-by. Bit of a slog.
Have also done a variant taking in Beinn Mhanach which was good.
It is a big day - bigger than many Munro outings. They're all on the watershed, so I did them in one go in 1987 with a camping pack - don't think I could do that now. Also (as a day out) once did Tyndrum-Mhanach-Creag Mhor-back over two of the Corbetts - that can't often be done, but was good as I recall.