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Beinn Narnain
means the hill of the notches and the Munro is obviously named after the
jagged crags which lie just below the summit plateau. These have some
rock climbs up them, including an intriguing subterranean route which
goes right through the crag to emerge on the other side!
There will
be some changes to the path this year, as there will be tree felling around
the initial path. The tree people will be making a new lower section to
the path and basic details are given here of both the original and the
new as the timing is uncertain. Both start near the head of Loch Long
where there is a car park on the northwest side at Succoth.
The original
path enters the forest to go up a dark and gloomy forest "tunnel" before
emerging into daylight, crossing a forestry road and shooting straight
up an uncompromising and deeply worn trench with many ugly concrete blocks.
This marks the remains of a track railway system used to build the tunnels
collecting water from the hills for the Loch Sloy Power Scheme. The trench
takes one to a horizontal path, with the route to The Cobbler continuing
along this.
The new start
begins at the usual start point at Succoth, from where the new line will
climb the slope more gradually roughly WSW to meet the forest road at
approx GR 288046. It will then contour and climb roughly NE to re-join
the current path at approx GR 290053.
From the
horizontal track gained by either start, continue northwest up the grassy
ridge of Beinn Narnain. Many feet have made a muddy section on the soft
ground here but the path improves higher up, passing rocky steps to gain
the Cruach nam Miseag knoll. Above this, after a slight dip, the ridge
becomes much more rocky in character, leading to the Spearhead, the crag
jutting out from the end of the summit plateau.
Climb a
short gully to the right of the Spearhead and emerge onto the flat summit
ridge, with the summit about 200m to the west. There are fine views across
to Ben Lomond and The Cobbler, while to the northwest is Beinn Ime.
Descend WNW,
boulders followed by grass, to reach the Bealach a'Mhaim. Many might wish
to include Beinn Ime, a neighbouring Munro, if time allows. If so, from
the Bealach continue northwest up easy grassy slopes, bearing left near
the top along a path to reach the summit at 1011m (OS Sheet 56, 255 084).
Retrace your steps to the Bealach a'Mhaim to descend.
From the
Bealach a'Mhaim, take a path horizontally south for a few hundred metres
to gain the bealach at the head of the Allt a'Bhalachain. Descend by the
path on the northeast side of this burn, passing the Narnain Boulders
to reach a small dam. The path now bends round to the northeast to meet
the end of the first section of path which is taken back to the car park.
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