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Routes:
Although one can climb Ben Challum on its own, a fine round is achieved by including the
two Corbetts Beinn Chaorach and Cam Creag.
The price tag is a mere 440m=1500' extra ascent and three miles more distance,
yielding a total which is still just an average day.
With such a round there's a greater variety of scenery, and the crossing from
Cam Creag to Ben Challum is unusually enjoyable. It also saves
a lot of climbing if you were ever to return to do the Corbetts.
There are several possible parking spots to start from.
The best is by Auchtertyre Farm at NN35312901, but there is also parking on the
west side of the A85 by Dalrigh at NN34362914 and by Auchreoch at NN35612812.
The West Higland Way all but connects these three choices.
The railway needs to be crossed. This is possible
by taking the road on either side of the river under the viaduct at Auchtertyre
or by the footbridge at NN36182871.
Route: This route includes Beinn Chaorach, Cam Creag and Beinn Challum, starting at Auchtertyre.
I strongly recommend tackling this in a clockwise direction to avoid finishing
by walking through the deep cattle excrement
all over the track at the SW corner of the viaduct.
Conditions: Dry all day but stiff breeze.
| 0725 | Parking just before Auchtertyre Farm | 180 | 0 | 0.0 miles | NN35312901 |
| Track N up W bank to viaduct | 230 | 50 | NN35422949 | ||
| 0755 | Track N to small footbridge | 300 | 120 | 1.0 miles | NN35523038 |
| 0910 -0915 |
Ridge N to C Beinn Chaorach trig pt | 818 | 640 | 2.45 miles | NN35883281 |
| 0935 | N to col | 638 | 3.2 miles | NN36233397 | |
| 1015 -1020 |
NE to C Cam Chreag (NW end) | 884 | 890 | 4.2 miles | NN37573460 |
| SE to col | 859 | 4.65 miles | NN38023402 | ||
| 1040 -1045 |
SE to ridge end bumps | 875 | 4.9 miles | NN38273370 | |
| 1110 -1115 |
SW/S by fence to Bealach Ghlas Leathaid (going further W than fence is less steep) |
575 | 5.45 miles | NN37843300 | |
| 1210 -1215 |
SSE/SE to M Ben Challum (No mobile signal) |
1025 | 1360 | 6.2 miles | NN38643220 |
| S to col | 950 | NN38643192 | |||
| 1230 | S to T Ben Challum, S top | 998 | 1405 | 6.55 miles | NN38623161 |
| Follow fence SSW to level-ish area | 660 | 7.6 miles | NN37643040 | ||
| 1400 | Cross two fences and follow 3rd fence WSW down to viaduct |
220 | 9.0 miles | NN35512950 | |
| 1405 | Track S to West Highland Way and cross bridge back to parking |
180 | 1405 | 9.4 miles | NN35312901 |
Route: This is just Ben Challum, starting at Dalrigh and returning by the outward route.
Weather: Wind, low clouds, rain. Snow under foot above 2000'.
Comments: Better to park in designated car park at Auchtertyre Farm,
and take track on West bank of river as far as N end of forestry,
then cross river by bridge & take track up E bank to dam (not marked).
An alternative, given below, is to go via Kirkton Farm and over a level crossing
above the farm, from which there is a path up the ridge to the summit.
| 0855 | Park at "P" on A82 by Dalrigh, 1 mile S of Tyndrum (Alternative parking at Auchtertyre Farm) |
180 | 0 | 0.0 miles | NN34402911 |
| 0915 | Take track S to R. Cononish, then West Highland Way left along river bank, cross A82 and follow track N over bridge to Auchtertyre Farm then N on E bank of Allt Auchtertyre to E end of Viaduct. |
220 | 50 | 1.1 miles | NN35512950 |
| 1025 | Ascend E to fence meeting | 650 | 480 | 2.5 miles | NN376304 |
| 1120 | Head NE up ridge to T Ben Challum, S Top | 998 | 830 | 3.55 miles | NN38623161 |
| 1135 | N to M Ben Challum, Stob Glas | 1025 | 900 | 3.9 miles | NN38643220 |
| 1145 | Return same way: S to T Ben Challum, S Top | 998 | 950 | 4.25 miles | NN38623161 |
| 1210 | Descend ridge to fence meeting | 650 | 5.3 miles | NN376304 | |
| 1305 | Descend W to dam in Gleann a'Chlachain, cross river and follow track down W bank to W end of Viaduct. |
220 | 6.7 miles | NN35452950 | |
| 1315 | Track S to car park at Auchtertyre Farm | 180 | 7.1 miles | NN35322902 | |
| 1325 | Track S/SW over A82, then W/NW to car at Dalrigh | 180 | 960 | 7.8 miles | NN34402911 |
Route: This is just Ben Challum, starting on the A85 at Auchreoch.
Conditions: Occasional showers, snow down to under 2000'.
| 1 | Northbound layby on A85 at Auchreoch | 170 | 0 | 0.0 miles | NN35582813 |
| 2 | Bridge over R. Fillan to Kirkton Farm, | 165 | 0.15 miles | NN35822806 | |
| 3 | Track N to bridge over railway, | 220 | 55 | 0.75 miles | NN36172872 |
| 4 | Follow fence NE to T Ben Challum, S top. This is a complex top: leave by first crossing NW to subsidiary ridge. |
998 | 835 | 3.15 miles | NN38623161 |
| NW to subsidiary ridge, then N to col | 955 | 3.35 miles | NN38643192 | ||
| 5 | N/NE to M Ben Challum | 1025 | 900 | 3.5 miles | NN38643220 |
| SW/S back to col | 955 | 3.65 miles | NN38643192 | ||
| 6 | S to subsidiary ridge just west of Ben Challum, S top | 998 | 955 | 3.9 miles | NN38623161 |
| 7 | Follow fence SW to railway bridge | 220 | 6.3 miles | NN36172872 | |
| 8 | Track SSW to bridge over R. Fillan to Kirkton Farm | 170 | 6.87 miles | NN35822806 | |
| 9 | Northbound layby on A85 at Auchreoch | 170 | 955 | 7.05 miles | NN35582813 |
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