Not the bog fest I expected.....Meall an Fhudair

Hill: Meall an Fhudair (Hill of the powder)

Type: Corbett

Height: 764m

Another Corbett that I had on my to-do list but had dithered over completing due to its unpleasant reputation. I had read that it is boring, a long trudge, a bog fest, one that you are only going to do if bagging all the Corbetts and lots more of not so positive stuff.

I spotted that one of my walking groups had added this as a last minute addition to the programme. I was not doing anything anyway so decided to go for it. Mistakenly did some pre walk research last night and watched a few You Tube videos which reinforced its tough image.

We met up at the normal parking area at Glenfalloch farm where there is room to park 3-4 cars if parked very carefully. Climbed over the locked gate, 10 locks attached to the chain.

Railway bridge

A good track built mainly for the for the Power and Water utilities not for walkers. It gains height quickly with good views over loch Lomond and beyond. A bit grey but good enough for walking.

A rising track with quite a few twists and turns as well as a couple of possible wrong turns. Don't miss the big rock with a small one on top of it, this is where you leave the track and hit the hill proper.

Loch & Ben Lomond

Now it is the unrelenting uphill slog which today was at least fairly dry underfoot and there was a faint track to follow. Heading for the electricity pylons, the tops of some just peaking out. I thought there would be a road but nope they are anchored into the hillside.

Troisgeach ridge in distance

l-r Chleibh-Lui-Oss-Dubhcraig

Still steep

The track comes and goes, just pick your favoured line through the rocky crags and grassy rakes. Keep heading up until you reach the summit of Troisgeach at 733m, that was quite a pull.

Looking back to ascent from top of the ridge & Crianlarich Munros

Fhudair from the hags

Now with the grand total of another 30m of gain required you think it is nearly over but no. The Corbett top Meall an Fhudair is in sight but to get that reward you have to lose some of that height you worked so hard to gain. Enter a peat hag basin and walk 2km before making the final ascent. We had reasonable visibility but many comment on how difficult this terrain would be to navigate in poor conditions.

Loch Fyne top left & Beinn Bhudie on right

Summit to Tyndrum Munros

There is a broad round rock shelter that marks the top. The surprising view for me was looking over to Loch Fyne and Beinn Bhuide. My mind thinks they should have been a long way away but nope that road makes a surprising big turn. There are also exceellent views of the back of the Tyndrum Munros, a perspective that I had not seen before. Actually pretty cool and my hands were cold by the time we finished our refreshment stop.

Descent terrain

Hydro pipes

We descended from the summit backtracking to the hags where we followed the Walkhighlands route back to the hydro system. If you do this expect a steep pathless descent over rough terrain, constantly meandering to find the best walking and once again surprised at how dry it was.

I was pleased to reach the grassy track before joining the hydro track proper. There is still an hours walk on the hard track and this was the hardest part of the walk. Mainly as the sun appeared for that stretch and it was hot, not used to this heat.

To summarise it was a lot better than expected. We did have good visibility and mainly dry underfoot conditions. I can imagine how it would live up to its reputation on a murky grey wet day after prolonged rain.

This is one of the lower ranked Corbetts for height but the ascent is further made up with all the rises and falls which puts the ascent closer to the highest Corbetts and many a Munro.

So overall a good ramble for me but you have been warned.

Ascent: 882m

Distance: 10.3km

Time: 5.38

Wildlife: Golden Plover; Meadow Pipit; Blackbird: Wren; Robin; Willow Warbler; Goldfinch