29th March 2013 - Glenfinnan Horseshoe

A pleasant walk in

Looking towards Streap

Some mixed terrain on the initial slopes

Looking back down the glen

The panoramic views eastward

Glorious conditions on the first summit

Looking out towards Rum and Skye

Eastwards towards Ben Nevis and Lochaber

Today I was out for a wee solo walk and so I decided to have a crack at the Glenfinnan Horseshoe, a wee classic I have had my eye on for quite some time. The weather was looking fair, and much of the previous weekends snow was all but gone so I was not expecting an epic!

The beauty of these mountains is the lack of interest people seem to have in them. With Nevis and the surrounding mountains of Lochaber so close by, you are almost guaranteed a fairly quiet day. The walk in to the beginning of the horseshoe is quite long, but its asthetically very pleasing with the mountains growing larger on each side, tree clad, and the rolling waters of the River Finnan playing the tune beside you as you walk. A bike would make this much quicker, but also you would miss much of the wildlife and serenity in the process.

Beyond the Corryhully Bothy I struck a path heading North - North West up the flank of Sgurr a' Choire Riabaich and followed this through some scrambly rocks (you can choose more interesting routes if you are so inclined). After a short steepening it eases off, and bumbles its way, now through a good covering of snow, towards the summit of Sgurr nan Choireachan. From here the views are superb, out over towards Skye and Rum, back to Lochaber and South to Mull. Trully a stunning place to spend some time and reflect. After some refuelling and a few pictures, I set off on my way eastwards over Meall an Tarmachain towards Beinn Gharbh.

As time was a factor, and I had spent a little too long enjoying the panoramas before, I opted to take a traversing descent down towards the quad track in the glen below, passing a large herd of deer who seemed quite undisturbed by my presence. Upon dropping back to the track, I made rapid progress back to the car, enjoying the walk out almost as much as the walk in.

All in all this is a cracking little circuit, with stunning views, moderate terrain and a nice 'remote' feel to it. Certainly one I would recommend, along with its neighbour, Streap.