24/06/23 Day Walk: Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre from Corrour Station.

Thanks to Alan Rodger for organising the second of the June Day Walks, an enterprise involving Brian Ross, Andy Mcadam, James Blackshaw and Simon Purcell. Having caught the busy 10:21hr train at Crianlarich they disembarked at the lively Corrour Station at 11:19hr and headed off to do Carn Dearg, NN 41753 66193, and Sgor Gaibhre, NN 44476 67461, on a ‘straight out and back’ route. Since the last returning train was at 18:25hr they really need to get them both done quickly but also be prepared to abort the plan early if time was running out. As it happened both Munros were completed in 6:00hrs, including breaks, allowing for a satisfying hour at the bustling Corrour Station House Restaurant.

On the upper track heading east to Peter’s Rock, NN 39338 66983, from where we would start the ascent proper.

Andy ascending the slopes of Carn Dearg’s NW shoulder and into the mist which prevailed for much of the day.

After two hours we reached the substantial cairn on Carn Dearg, but with little time for a break we headed out ENE to Stob Gaibhre.

We reach our furthest target, Sgor Gaibhre, in under and hour…the visibility was dire - but it does look like a day at the beach. A satisfactory result as there were still 4 hours left to get the last train.

…aye, we’ve seen that Carn Dearg cairn before – no time to lose, got a train to catch.

Whilst descending Carn dearg’s NW ridge the weather started to consistently to clear. Centre of pic is Sgor Gaibhre, our furthest Munro, with the connecting ENE ridge of Carn Dearg on the right.

Taken from the NW shoulder, looking SE to Carn Dearg, the large cairn just out of view.

Further down the ridge we can clearly see the return route to Corrour Station.

Looking along to the NE end of Loch Ossian, NN 39226 68064, from the lower slopes of Carn Dearg’s NW ridge.

Looking WSW it seemed a long way off but the track allowed a quick pace.

Looking SW to Corrour Station, our point of access for these lands, and the Corbett Leum Uilleim, NN 33053 64160, made famous in the film Train Spotting. Mr Mcadam is in celebration mode, saying it for everyone, looking forward to the café at the station.

…James takes a pic of The Mean Team, with food and drink - plus maggots from the bird feeders augmenting the flask and sandwiches.

…train spotting? James and Andy revive a memory from the Silver Screen – pointing to Corbett Leum Uilleim.

A final view of Corrour Station House Restaurant, built in 1998 it replaced the former stationmaster’s cottage. Opposite the restaurant, on the platform itself but out of view here, sits the refurbished station building and associated signal box, both of which have been repurposed for B&B. Going back in time before this refurbishment, the station building had been known as Morgan’s Den for many years…a place where club members have stayed.