Photographs, route description and map of an ascent of the Corbett Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh in Glen Orchy off Glencoe

Falls on River Orchy in Glen Orchy

at start of ascent of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Path through forest

at start of ascent of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

SW Ridge of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Beinn Eunaich in Cruachan Group

on ascent of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Summit Ridge of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

River Orchy and Loch Tulla on descent from Beinn Bhreac-liath

Beinn Chuirn, Ben Oss, Beinn Dubhchraig and Ben Lui

on ascent of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Summit Cairn on Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Ben Starav and Stob Coir an Albannaich in background

Loch Awe

from summit of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Beinn Eunaich in Cruachan Group

from summit of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Ben Starav

from lochan on summit ridge of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Dorain

from summit ridge of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Beinn Bhreac-liath and Beinn Udlaidh

on descent from Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Ben Starav

from lochan on summit ridge of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Map of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

Route Map for Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh

BEINN MHIC MHONAIDH - ROUTE DESCRIPTION

Location|: Glen Orchy, Argyll
Map: OS Landranger 50 ( GR 209250 )
Distance: 9miles ( 15km )
Time: 5hours 35minutes
Terrain: tracks and open hillside

Much of the ascent of this peak is made via pleasant and straightforward tracks through forestry on the south side of Glen Orchy.
Forestry doesn't generally offer interesting walking. but this route is surprisingly open, offering views to the surrounding peaks and the remnants of
ancient Caledonian pine forest on hillside above the Allt Broighleachan.
The straightforward approach also makes this seem like quite a short day, although 5 hours and 9 miles makes it an average hillwalk for many people.
As for the hill. it is similar in many respects to its Corbett neighbours, Beinn Udlaidh and Beinn Bhreac-liath; broad and steep sided.
Although lacking the classic mountain proﬁle of nearby Ben Cruachan or the granite peaks of Glen Etive to the north. the extensive views from the summit
make the ascent well worth the effort.
Park in Glen Orchy at the Forestry Commission Allt Broighleachan parking area where a bridge crosses the River Urchy at the Eas Urchaidh ( Falls of Orchy ).
Follow the track across the bridge and ascend through woodland to a junction where the track continues ahead to the Caledonian forest reserve.
Turn right, cross over the Allt Broighleachan and continue on the footpath to another junction where a cycle route goes off right to Bridge of Orchy.
A grassy track, signposted mountain access, heads off left and is followed with a further crossing of the burn to exit from the forest at a stile below
the south face of Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh.
A rough path by the burn leads to the tumbled walls of the shielings named as Airigh Chailleach on the map, then crosses the burn to gain at broad shoulder.
This is generally pathless and leads to a point just north-east of the summit.
However, a more interesting approach can be had by ascending further left of the burn up the hillside. This is neither as steep or as rocky as it
appears from below and leads to the southern end ofthe broad summit ridge.
Follow the ridge northwards with ﬁne views straight ahead to the high peaks of the Bridge of Orchy hills and north and west to the Black Mount.
Stob Coire an Albannaich and Ben Starav.
A good sized cairn marks the summit and the opportunity to look back south along the ridge to Loch Awe and Ben Cruachan with Mull in the distance.
From the summit descend northwards to the lochan and a high point just beyond, then swing south-west to gain the top of the shoulder and
follow it down to cross over the burn at the shielings and regain the outward route.