1:40,000 are excellent alternatives to the OS maps, but they don’t cover all of Scotland.
Route descriptions
For each Corbett a single ascent is described. Information about distance, amount of ascent, route difficulty, time needed to complete the route, summits reached, maps required and access to the start of the route is given in the information box at the start of each description. In some cases alternative routes are also suggested, and these are marked on the route maps with a dashed orange line. The route maps are at 1:100,000 scale and based on Ordnance Survey data. Information about bases and local facilities is given in the introduction to each section.
Distances and ascents
Distances and the amount of climb are quoted to the nearest kilometre (or mile) and 10m (or 100ft) of ascent.
Timings
All timings are those measured by the author’s GPS device as he checked the routes. This device stops recording walking time whenever the walker stops, even for a few seconds, so the total time required to complete a walk will be considerably longer than that given in the guide. You should make an allowance for refreshments stops, taking photos and your own pace and fitness.
Grid references
All grid references are 10-figure references taken from the author’s GPS device, but rounded up or down to the nearest 10m. A full grid reference with the letters indicating the grid square is given in the information box at the start, but letters are only used in the grid references in the route description if the route crosses into a different grid square.
Heights
Summit cairn on Meall Dubh (Route 36)
Where spot heights are given on the route maps these figures are used in the route description. All other heights were measurements from the author’s GPS device quoted to the nearest 5m. GPS does not measure height as accurately as it does horizontal position and it is possible that some of these readings are as much as 10m out. For Corbetts (but not for other summits) the height is also given in feet; note that this is not the conversion of the metric height, but is the height given on the OS 1 inch: 1 mile map, most of which are derived from surveys in the 1950s.
1 MULL, MORVERN, SUNART AND ARDGOUR
Aircraft debris on Maol Odhar (Route 2)
Mull, Morvern, Sunart and Ardgour: Bases and facilities
Base for Route 1: Craignure, Mull
Craignure is a small village with a ferry terminal, shop, cafés and a variety of accommodation.
Tourist information: VisitScotland, The Pier, Craignure, Isle of Mull, PA65 6AY Tel: 01680 812 377
The Craignure Inn, originally an 18th-century drover’s inn, has retained much of its original character. Mull used to have an extensive network of drover’s inns, with sheep being driven across the island to be shipped to Lismore and then on to mainland Scotland. The Craignure Inn features in the book Kidnapped by RL Stevenson, where it is referred to as the Inn of Torosay. Tel: 01680 812 305 www.craignure-inn.co.uk
Isle of Mull Hotel Tel: 01680 812 544 www.crerarhotels.com
Shieling Holidays operate a camping and caravan site along with a cottage and self-catering accommodation in the form of ‘shielings’ which are carpeted ‘cottage tents’, some of which are now serviced with full kitchens and bathrooms and constant hot water. Tel: 01680 812 496 www.shielingholidays.co.uk
Base for Routes 2–8: Strontian
Strontian is a village with shops, a tourist information office and a variety of accommodation.
Tourist information: VisitScotland, Strontian, Acharacle, Argyll, PH36 4HZ Tel: 01967 402 382
The Strontian Hotel Tel: 01967 402 029 www.thestrontianhotel.co.uk
Ben View Hotel and the Strontian Holiday Cottages Tel: 01967 402 333 www.benviewhotel.co.uk
Bluebell Croft self-catering accommodation Tel: 01967 402 226 www.bluebellcroft.co.uk
The Ariundle Centre has a craft workshop, tearoom, restaurant and bunkhouse. Tel: 01967 402 279 www.ariundlecentre.co.uk
Glenview Caravan and Camping Park Tel: 01967 402 123
Local facilities for Routes 2 and 6–8: Corran
The Inn at Ardgour is at the W slipway of the Corran Ferry. It would be possible to stay at the Corran Ferry Inn or Corran Bunkhouse on the E of the Corran Narrows and use the Corran Ferry which sails every 30min to access Ardgour.
The Inn at Ardgour Tel: 01855 841225 www.ardgour.biz
Corran Bunkhouse Tel: 01855 821 000 www.corranbunkhouse.co.uk
The Corran Ferry Inn was for sale at the time of writing.
Access to Mull
Caledonian MacBrayne operates two car ferry routes to Mull:
Oban to Craignure with about 6 sailings/day for a 45min crossing
Lochaline to Fishnish with about 10 sailings/day for a 15min crossing.
Tel: 0800 066 5000 (UK only) www.calmac.co.uk
Lochaline has the ferry terminal, shop, snack bar and the Lochaline Hotel.
Lochaline Hotel Tel: 01967 421 657 www.lochalinehotel.co.uk
While on Mull you might like to visit the Island of Iona and take a boat trip to Staffa. Iona, a small island off the west coast of Mull, was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquillity and natural beauty. Staffa is a remarkable little island off the west coast of Mull, best known for the famous Fingal’s Cave with the same structure of the basalt columns which are found in the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
ROUTE 1
Dun da Ghaoithe fort of the two winds
| Start | Scallastle Forestry Commission car park (NM 71260 37530) |
| Distance | 16km (10 miles) |
| Total ascent | 890m (2900ft) |
| Difficulty | The
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