Beinn a' Chaisteil and Beinn nam Fuaran seen from the north

Ben Dorain and surrounding summits seen from the east

Beinn Odhar and surrounding summits
This is probably the only group of summits where it's reasonably possible to climb five Corbetts in a day. The stipulation that Corbetts need at least 500ft drop all round has generally makes a traverse of more than two Corbetts a demanding day. This is no exception - to traverse all five in a day is tough - the walking typically involves 300 - 400m reascent between each summit.

Beinn Odhar - seen from Beinn Dorain

Beinn Odhar and Beinn Chaorach

Creag Mhor seen from Beinn Mhanach

The Corbetts here are generally grassy and quite rounded. There are one or two exceptions - Beinn a' Chaiseil has a very steep west facing escarpment that competes with Beinn Dorain for attention. Cam Chreag is another Corbett with impressive slopes. Watch out for low lying electric fences - especially in deep snow!

Ben Challum, Cam Chreag and Beinn Chaorach
An easier round taking in two of these Corbetts + the munro Ben Challum is the circuit of Gleann a' Chlachain. This circuit starts from the south at the farm of Auchtertyre (Strathfillan Wigwams). A track is followed up the eastern side of the river at the farm under the railway viaduct. Beyond, the track ends giving access to the open hillside beyond. The initial ascent is up broad grassy slopes to gain access to Ben Challum's southwest ridge. Numerous electric fences criss cross the area, but are low enough to be crossed without problem.

Beinn Challum seen from the Beinn Chaorach

Looking east down Glen Lochay from Ben Challum

At around 650m, the ridge leevls out giving an uninterrupted view of Ben Challum. The way up to the south top is easy, becoming increasingly stony underfoot. The broad ridge linking the south and north tops start's as a 'double ridge', the eastern ridge of which soon drops away. This ridge often holds a lot of deep snow.

The south ridge of Beinn Challum

The northwest ridge of Beinn Challum

Beyond Ben Challum's main summit, descend northwest down an initially easy ridge, but at 800m a couple of steep rocky outcrops provide route finding problems. The way down through these crags can be done without scrambling, the upper obstacle being passed on the west side and the lower obstacle being passed on the east.

The reascent to Cam Chreag is quite steep, but a rising traverse gains access to slopes that are less steep. The summit ridge of this Corbett undulates gently and the summit can be found that the northwestern end of this ridge. The descent and reascent to the final Corbett, Beinn Chaorach is on gentle broad grassy ridges. A curious very low lying fence follows this ridge, and its function is not very clear, unless it is to trip people up. Beyond the rig point of Beinn Chaorach, the descent back to Auchtertyre is swift, being mainly composed of soft well drained grass.

Cam Chreag, Sgaith Chuill and Beinn
nan Imirean seen from Ben Challum

Meall Glas, Beinn nan Imirean and Sgaith Chuill
These summits are fairly unassuming mountains, being mainly composed of grass having very few outcrops. Combine this with the summits being quite low compared with near neighbours and it isn't suprising to learn that these two summits are very quiet. A circuit of these summits can be made at either Auchessan in Glen Dochart or the road end at Glen Lochay. The Glen Lochay approach is generally regarded as being the most scenic.

The approach from Auchessan is very heathery and a bit boggy. A path makes a northward journey up the hillside behind Auchessan. Soon it disappears, leaving you to jump from one heathery crest to another across land that is a little peat hagged. The way up can seem interminable with the end objective forever hiding behind the crest just ahead. It may also be difficult to navigate precisely on this ground should the mist descend. Higher up, the final slopes of Creag Mhor are steeper, with some craggy bluffs that may have to be negotiated.

The summit ridge of Creag Mhor is composed of cropped grass and a faint path follows this ridge east to the top of Beinn Cheathaich. You need to backtrack a little from the top in order to find your way down through the small outcrops and then make your way across the saddle to the slopes of Sgaith Chuil. These slopes are quite steep and unrelenting for 250m of ascent. Despite this, the grass is firm underfoot and so upward progress is swift. The summit ridge undulates somewhat and the summit can be found at the southern end of this ridge.

The descent of Sgaith Chuil is grassy on the south western slopes. Take care to follow the correct river down to Glen Dochart. I followed the Allt Riobain down believing it to be the stream 3/4km further west. When I met the river, I realised it was the wrong river, but was on the east side of it and needed to be on the west side. It's a difficult river to cross, and it's essential you realise any mistake before you reach the glen - otherwise you'll be faced with a long detour back up and round to the west side of the river.