Beinn Odhar
| Beinn Odhar | |||
| Argyllshire, Perthshire | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Beinn Odhar seen from the West Highland Way by Tyndrum | |||
| Range: | Tyndrum Hills | ||
| Summit: | 2,956 feet NN337339 56°28’5"N, 4°41’54"W | ||
Beinn Odhar is a mountain amongst the Tyndrum Hills, standing on the border of Argyllshire with Perthshire, within the Auch and Invermeran estate. It is also at the northern end of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
The mountain is 2.5 miles north of Tyndrum, and stands dominant on the skyline of the village.
The hill’s name translates from the Gaelic language as "Dun coloured mountain". This alludes to the brownish-grey colour of the heather and grass on the hill. Irvine Butterfield points out that the name is a little insipid given the hills steep slopes and distinctive shape.[1]
Overview
Beinn Odhar reaches a height of 2,956 feet, making it the 18th highest of the ‘Corbetts’; Scottish hills between 2,500 feet and 3,000 feet,[2] failing to make Munro status by just 44 feet. The hill also qualifies as a ‘Marilyn’, having a considerable prominence of 1,499 feet, making it an excellent viewpoint.
The grassy, steep, conical shape of Beinn Odhar is a well-known sight for vehicles travelling on the A82 road and for walkers on the West Highland Way, both of which pass on the immediate western side of the mountain. Beinn Odhar stands two and a half miles south of the Munro Beinn Dorain; both mountains are similar in shape and character and confusing the two peaks by a cursory glance is not impossible.
Beinn Odhar is part of the "Auch Corbetts", a group of five Corbetts which can be climbed in a single days walk from the hamlet of Auch (grid reference NN323355) on the A82. This is a rare situation as the Corbetts are usually difficult to combine in any number and the opportunity to climb five in a natural round is unique.[3]
Geography
Beinn Odhar is characterised by steep slopes on all sides. The only prominent ridge of any length goes SE then south from the summit for a mile and a half to reach the subsidiary top of Meall Buidhe (2,142 feet) before continuing for a further two miles to reach the valley floor of Strath Fillan, several miles south of Tyndrum. The eastern flank of the mountain is riven by a deep gash caused by the Allt Choire Dhuibh, a stream which has it source in a small lochan on the SW side of the mountain called Lochan Choire Dhuibh which stands at a height of about 2,600 feet. There is another lochan, unnamed, on the southern side of the hill at around the same height. The streams on the southern slopes form quite distinctive deep ravines (see picture) as they flow into Coire Thoin, together they form the headwaters of the River Fillan.
The hills other major corrie stands on the northern slopes, this is Coire Luaidh (Corrie of Lead) which contains the hills only crags on its higher slopes. The corries name refers to lead mining which took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. Beinn Odhar stands on the Tyndrum fault, whose veins yielded large amounts of lead on Beinn Chùirn to the southwest, however the mines on Odhar were not as productive. The best example of former mining activity on the hill can be seen on the southern slopes, at a height of 2,130 feet there is considerable evidence of an adit going into the hillside and much mining waste.[4] Beinn Odhar stands on the watershed between the east and west coasts, so that rainfall from the mountain’s west slope drains by way of Glen Orchy to reach the sea at Oban and on its east by the River Tay to reach the sea at Dundee.
Ascents and view
Beinn Odhar is usually climbed from the south and there are three popular starting points. The start from the village of Tyndrum goes north by a track which was formerly the main road until the 1930s but now carries the West Highland Way. After about a mile the track is left and the hill is ascended by the southern slopes passing the old mine and the unnamed lochan on the way. Guide books mention a track as far as the mine on this route but this is not easy to locate.
Another starting point is Dalrigh on the A82 (grid reference NN344291), this route climbs by the long south ridge passing over Meall Buidhe and is a longer and less steep alternative.
Walkers who wish to tackle all five of the Auch Corbetts, a tough day with over 6,500 feet of ascent, are advised by guide books to start at a parking place on the A82 at grid reference NN328331 as parking at Auch is limited. From here it is possible to climb Beinn Odhar by the south ridge.[5] The top of the mountain is marked by a cairn and gives fine views to the Black Mount to the north and the hills around Crianlarich to the south.
References
- ↑ "The Call Of The Corbetts" Page 154 Gives details of name translation and meaning.
- ↑ www.scotclimb.org.uk. Gives list of Corbetts in height order.
- ↑ "Climbing The Corbetts" Page 69 "This is probably the only day … which can produce five ticks".
- ↑ "Geology And Landscapes Of Scotland" Page 85 Gives some details of lead mining.
- ↑ "The Corbetts And Other Scottish Hills" Page 58 Gives details of the round of the five Auch corbetts.
- Climbing the Corbetts, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1-898573-08-5
- The Call of the Corbetts, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0-7153-2754-2
- The Corbetts and Other Scottish Hills, Scott Johnstone (Editor) et al., ISBN 0-907521-29-0
- The Corbett Almanac, Cameron McNeish, Neil Wilson Publishing, ISBN 1-897784-14-7
- 100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains, Ralph Storer, ISBN 0-7515-0300-2