It lived up to its reputation.....Beinn nan Imirean

Hill: Beinn nan Imirean (the ridged mountain)

Type: Corbett

Height: 849m

Full moon against a clue sky, a cracking start

The coldest morning of the year with the car needing a long defrost. Cold yes, but it was not a day to miss out on the great outdoors. The sun was already turning the nearby hillside a stunning burnt orange. Desperate to get going. A car pulled up beside me as I put my boots on. A voice said 'honestly not stalking you'. Turned out he parked beside me yesterday at the start of that walk, some distance from here. There are a lot of hills around here so it can be a small world. As per yesterday same carpark but again we were doing different hills so a brief chat and on my way.

Beinn Imirean has a reputation, not a particularly good one it has to be said. I had put this ramble off a few times due to doubts over the terrain but the day had arrived to tackle it even if at the beginning my heart was not fully with this ramble. 

The route shares the ascent track for about half the walk with the Munro baggers heading to Meall Glas. There is an identifiable track for much of the way but underfoot it is a wet, boggy, gloopy mass for most of it. All part of its reputation being confirmed.

Now is the time for the open moor, a proper open moor, with its reputation to keep up it didn't disappoint. Any track you may now stumble across is almost certainly animal and not human and don't expect it to last for longer than about 10 paces. Proper peat hags, wet and soft from the recent rains, so expect black slimy stuff if you wander in. Of course your boots soon get clean as the ground is also saturated sphagnum moss and saturated it was, you can go deep here. There are many hidden streams. My right leg went into one hidden narrow slit, right up to my knee and only stopped by my poles anchoring the rest of me. With nobody else around not a place to have an accident.

Imirean finally comes into view

There is some higher ground around Meall Garbh which is marginally better. It was  with relief that the lower slopes of Imirean came into view. It is ridden with hags but you will find passage up the steep grassy slopes. Some  crags first, then a short walk to the true summit where a few boulders make up the cairn. Out of the wind it was glorious but in the wind it was a real cold blast.

Ben More panorama

Ben Challum

But here the reputation backfired as I was not expecting such stunning views. Probably the largest number of Munro & Corbett peaks that I have seen for ages, I even spotted the Lomond hills out east. As a nearly stand alone hill it has a magnificent vista of the Loch Lomond/Crianlarich hills with Ben More directly across. Many of the Tyndrum and Orchy hills even through to Cruachan. Then take in all the nearby ones and views down into Glen Dochart, well worth all that crap terrain. But if you are coming make it a good viewing day. To have done that on a grey day with no views, well the reputation would have been more than enhanced.

Starting descent as sun went behind Ben More dropped the temperature somewhat

The Munro Sgath Cuill's pointed tops

Here we go, a lot of rough terrain to descend

Back more or less the same way when I noticed a figure sitting on a rock having his sannie and enjoying the view. This was getting unreal as another coincidence I recognised that I had spoken to him on a hill two days ago, what are the chances of two brief encounters on one day with minimal number people around? 

Back on track

The path did not get any drier on the walk back, indeed more care was required to avoid damaging heel slides. I was glad to reach the car. 

Without a doubt the views made the ramble and the hills reputation stays intact. 

Ascent: 747m

Distance: 11.8km

Time: 4.09

Wildlife: Snow Bunting; Red Grouse; Robin; Chaffinch; Meadow Pipit