Photographs, route description and map of an ascent of the Munro Meall Glas and the Corbett Beinn nan Imirean above Glen Dochart

Location: Stirlingshire
Grade: Serious hill walk
Distance: About 12 miles /20km
Approx Time: 6-7 hours

The “hill of the ridge" is a fairly unassuming name and, to be honest, it’s a pretty unassuming hill but, like many hills of its type, Beinn nan Imirean's redeeming feature is the wide-ranging view that’s on offer from its little rocky summit.
Positioned at the west end of a long and broad ridge that forms the boundary between Glen Lochay and Glen Dochart on the northem fringe of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the 844m top of Beinn nan Imirean is a lowly Corbett surrounded by Munro giants, Ben Challum, Meall Glas, Creag Mhor and Beinn Heasgarnich are all close enough to make you feel you could reach out and touch them, while the Crianlarich Munros to the south, especially the bulk of Ben More and the shapely lines of Ben Lui, conﬁrm that this region of Scotland is truly a baggers’ paradise.
Probably the easiest way to enjoy this montane panorama is to climb Beinn nan Imirean from the south, from Auchessan on Loch Dochart.
This route involves following a stream onto the high moorland before climbing the hill's south ridge, this can be a fairly wet and boggy experience. This is a different, longer route — from Glen Lochay in the north.
A locked gate at Kenknock bars any further vehicular progress - the resulting long walk-in gives the hills at the western end of the glen a feeling of remoteness, although this is not an area you would necessarily describe as wilderness. The glen has been industrialised by hydropower, but other than some conspicuous water pipes at Kenknock and a few bulldozed tracks running up the hills you’d never know it.
Much more important is that Glen Lochay is steeped in ancient Scottish clan history. Signiﬁcant chunks of Glen Lochay have been owned by both the Earls of Breadalbane and of Atholl. The Gaelic poet, Duncan Ban Maclntyre, a bard who is usually associated with Beinn Dorain above Bridge of Orchy, once lived in the estate’s Batavaime Bothy, keeping an eye on the royal ancient deer forest of Mamlorn. It was while living here that he wrote one of his better known works - Song to Coire a’ Cheathaich, or the song of the misty corrie. The corrie in question lies on the southeast slope of Creag Mhor.
The 8km track past Badour and Batavaime leads towards the headwaters of the River Lochay where the track fords the River Lochay about 1.5km past Batavaime. From here it is a straightforward hike up the path to a wide bealach between Meall Glas and the Corbett and the north ridge to the summit of Imirean.

ROUTE PLANNER

Map: OS 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 51 (Loch Tay & Glen Dochart)
Distance: About 12 miles/20km
Approx Time: 6-7 hours
Start/finish: Car park at the end of the Glen Lochay road at Kenknock (GR: NN470367)

Route:
Leave the car park, cross a step stile beside the locked gate and follow the broad track W.
Continue past Badour and Batavaime before the track swings S.
Two kilometres beyond Batavaime the track splits, with the left-hand option crossing the infant River Lochay.
Although there is a ford it can be difficult to cross after heavy rain or snow melt.
Once across the river continue uphill on a series of zig-zags.
Once the track begins to level out on a broad bealach, leave it and strike uphill in a S direction, following the N ridge of Beinn nan Imirean to its rocky summit.
The cairn is only a few stones on top of a rocky outcrop.
Return the same way.