Ben Challum

Ben Challum
Perthshire
Ben Challum from near Crianlarich
Range:	Mamlorn Hills
Summit:	3,363 feet NN386322

Ben Challum is a mountain in Perthshire, which reaches a height of 3,363 feet at its summit, and so it qualifies as a Munro. It is amongst the Mamlorn Hills.

Ben Challum is in the very northern part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, 4 miles east of the village of Tyndrum. It stands in the Forest of Mamlorn, an ancient deer forest in Breadalbane. It stands at the head of Glen Lochay and is a prominent peak when seen from the head of that glen, its western slopes dominate the north eastern side of Strath Fillan. When seen from the south the summit of the mountain cannot be seen, being hidden behind the south top.

The mountain name is from Gaelic, in which tongue it is known as Beinn Challuim. This name means “Callum’s mountain” but it is believed that it might refer to Saint Columba who is known in Scottish Gaelic as "Calum Cille", possibly because of St Fillan's priory whose ruins still stand on the south-western slopes of the mountain; St Fillan brought Christianity from the monastery of St Columba on Iona into Breadalbane.

Overview

Main summit (L) and the South Top (R)

Geography

Beinn Challuim is often regarded as a smooth grassy hill mainly because these are the characteristics of the southern and western slopes which are seen by many people from the A82 road around Strath Fillan. However, from the north it shows a more exciting form with a steep and rocky face overlooking the head of Glen Lochay.

Beinn Challuim is made up of three ridges, the broad grassy southwest ridge descends to Strath Fillan and is used in ascents from there. The northwest ridge is steep and rocky and descends to the Bealach Ghlas-Leathaid (1,886 feet) and then connects to the hill of Cam Chreag. Another ridge goes easterly, descending into Glen Lochay.

The South Top (NN386315) is a subsidiary summit which rises to 3,274 feet and is listed as a Munro Top. It is to be found 600 metres south of the highest point.

The two summits are connected by a ridge and this area can be confusing in poor visibility with the logical temptation to go north to the main summit possibly resulting in encountering steep crags. The proper route from the south top is to go initially west for a short distance across a hollow and onto the ridge which leads north to the main summit. The summit ridge has two corries on either side, to the west is the Coire nan Each (Corrie of the Horse) and to the east is Coire Challuim (Malcolm's Corrie). Drainage from the mountain reaches both coasts of Scotland at the Firth of Tay on the east coast and the Firth of Clyde on the west coast.

Ascents

The most popular route of ascent starts at Kirkton Farm in Strath Fillan (grid reference NN358280), this gives the opportunity to visit the ruins of St Fillans Priory at the beginning or end of the walk. The route continues north east up grassy slopes to reach the summit ridge. A more interesting ascent starts at the road end in Glen Lochay, this gives the chance to view the more noteworthy northern side of the mountain but involves a nine kilometre walk up the glen to the foot of the eastern ridge. Hamish Brown recommends a northern approach starting at Auch (grid reference NN324355) “if you want to be different” but this requires good navigation and some mild scrambling up the northwest ridge.

The actual summit of the mountain is named Stob Glas ("Green-grey peak") on maps and has a large cairn which overlooks the sheer northern face. The view from the top gives fine views of the many peaks around the Tyndrum and Crianlarich area.

References

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ben Challum)

• The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett (Editor) ISBN 0-907521-13-4
• The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Diadem, 1993, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-906371-30-9
• The Munros, Scotland's Highest Mountains, Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1-84204-082-0
• The Magic Of The Munros, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-7153-2168-4
• Hamish's Mountain Walk, Baton Wicks, 1996, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5