main route summary 
An initial start up on a good path, gives way to more a remote feeling area the further progress is made. Depending on the season, some scrambling or ice-axe and crampon work is needed on the last haul up of the day. The high peaks of A'Chralaig, Mullach Fraoch-choire and Sgurr nan Conbhairean give superb views over the Five Sisters and Affric to Skye, Torridon and beyond.

kintail and invergarry area weblinks 
See todays conditions in the area on the Kintail webcam
Get the local area weather forecast here
Food and accommodation at the Cluanie Inn or Invergarry Hotel
Alltbeithe Hostel in Affric is in the SYHA website here
Check out the Lochalsh and Kintail area here 
If you need new gear, then try 914 Outdoor

main route outline       
There is over 6km separating this route's start and finish points, therefore plan to leave bikes at the end of Loch Cluanie by the bridge just before the forest and lay-by. That way you'll avoid the tarmac trudge or having to hitching.

From Lundie near the eastern end of Loch Cluanie, (where there is ample parking and is a favoured camper-van stop), there is a memorial boulder by a bridge over the burn. Head up the track (part of the old military road, but recently re-constructed to put in a mobile phone mast), through a fence to a cairn by the phone mast. Turn right (n), following a path, past a couple of roadside bollards (why are these are here ?), then into some squelch ! The path continues wet for a bit, then higher up crosses some stone and two burns. Shortly thereafter the path starts to zig-zags up the hill and turns onto Carn Ghluasaid's west arm. The rate of ascent eases, the boulders gradually fade into grassy ground and the two summit cairns overlooking a craggy coire are reached.

Follow the edge of the coire on a faint path w down to a col. The path becomes more distinct as it heads over grassy ground up Creag a'Chaorainn. It skirts west of this top, then drops slightly on scree to Glas Bhealach, from where a sharp quick pull up 140m takes you to the summit of Sgurr nan Conbhairean. Due to this peak's height, the views are excellent and on a blowy day, there's a well constructed shelter to keep a couple of people out of the wind.

Sail Chaorainn lies 1.5km nne from Sgurr nan Conbhairean and with only 70m of re-ascent on grassy ground, this munro is reached in no-time. From Sgurr nan Conbhairean, drop nw, following the line of the coire and gradually turn to head ne. Head down over some loose stone to the bealach before Sail Chaorainn, then follow a well defined path over the grassy ground to the small summit cairn.

Return to the bealach, from where you have two choices. Either head back up Sgurr nan Conbhairean, then continue along a path to Drochaid an Tuill Easaich, turn nw and head down to Bealach Choire a'Chait. Or, on a shorter route with less ascent, but no path, cut directly to Toll Easach by dropping 100m or so on wet loose grassy ground on the way, then climb slightly to reach Bealach Choire a'Chait. A path crosses the bealach and heads up nw over wet grass and boulders. The path turns wsw and climbs for nearly 1km to reach the southern arm of A'Chralaig. Now on bouldery ground, the summit is just under 1km ahead, however it feels further. The views west improve as height is gained, and on your right there's a cornice that usually lasts well into June. The size of the cairn on the summit is quite a surprise. I left a stone here in memory of Diana ten years ago ! You've got to stop here for a while and take in the panorama.

Head off north on bouldery ground, with occasional zig-zagging on the narrow path. Drop down to c950m, then climb up the 50m to Stob Coire na Chralaig and its tiny cairn. Turn sharp right (een) and head down an increasingly narrowing ridge to a col (note this col, as it's the route out). The path starts to climb, you'll need to clambed over a couple of bits, then it sticks to the west side of the ridge. Further along it cuts over to the east side of the ridge, drops slightly, then climbs up and crosses back over to the west side of the ridge. A short steep pull on loose brown ground, brings you out of the difficulties and a path leads the way to the well-constructed cairn on Mullach Fraoch-choire's summit. In winter conditions, the ice on the eastern side of the ridge makes for difficult progress and an ice-axe and crampons are recommended. As with A'Chralaig, the views from this peak are excellent, particularly over to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, A'Ghlas Bheinn and further to Skye and Torridon.

Return to the col, then either head back up Stob Coire na Chralaig and over the other side, or more enjoyably, head down on a path into Coire Odhar. Either way, you'll have some grass and wet ground to descend to reach the Cluanie-Alltbeithe path, which itself is wet until the track is met, from where you can continue on auto-pilot, admiring the views left up Ciste Dhubh and ahead to Cluanie.
 

Ghluasaid, Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn 
On a summer's evening, this route makes for a pleasant easy stroll, or a quick run - your choice !

From the old section of road at Lundie, head up Carn Ghluasaid, Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn as described in the main route on the left. From Sail Chaorainn, return to Sgurr nan Conbhairean and head over Glas Bhealach and down to the drop before the rise up Carn Ghluasaid. At the col, look for a faint branch in the path and veere right to contour around Coire nan Clach and pick up the main path around c800m. Head back down to Lundie on the path.

Total distance : 16km (10m), total ascent : 1350m (4,450ft)

A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire 
Although shorter than the main route described on the left, this route starts off with a long steep pull up 500m.

From the long lay-by at the western end of Loch Cluanie, walk back along the road for 500m, crossing the bridge over the Allt a'Chaorainn Mhoir to the a track heading north towards Alltbeithe YH. Head up, cross a burn, then, when the track starts to level off, leave it and strike ne directly up hill. Initially wet grass for quite a way, this thins and dries out further up. The southern arm of A'Chralaig is climbed, loose stone and grass most of the way, with a cornice of snow that usually lasts into June. The large, shapely cairn is reached. Follow the route to Mullach Fraoch-coire and back out as described on the left.

Total distance : 12km (7.5m), total ascent : 1250m (4,100ft)

alternatives
The route on the left can be split into 2 shorter outings :

Other alternatives 
It is possible to come into these hills from Loch Affric or Alltbeithe, with the possiblilty of adding a Corbett or two.

From the road end in Glen Affric, head the track on the south side of the lochs until just before the Allt Garbh is reached. Follow a mucky path uphill to reach Na Cnapain, then the corbett Carn a'Choire Ghairbh. Sw to a bealach then to up the northern tops of Sail Chaorainn, then continue over Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Carn Ghluasaid. Either return to Sail Chaorainn then Glen Affric, perhaps picking up the corbett Aonach Shasuinn on the way, or alternatively continue along to A'Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire (as described on left), then drop down to Alltbeithe via Mullach Fraoch-choire's nw shoulder. The latter has some steep descent and 13km of decent track back to the car-park from the Youth Hostel.

The three munros of Carn Ghluasaid, Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Sail Chaorainn can be done from Ceannacroc Bridge, on the A887, 2km e of the junction with the A87. This is a long route, and difficult to justify over the shorter route described above - hence I've not been in via this way. If you need details, try the Pocket Mountains book "West Highlands" by Nick Williams.