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main route summary
An initial start up on a good path, gradually gives way to a more remote feeling area as progress is made. Most of the ground on the eastern three munros is grass and heather covered. The western pair are more airy, with some boulderfields and some easy scrabmling. If doing this route in winter conditions, ice-axe and crampon work will be required to tackle 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.
An initial start up on a good path, gradually gives way to a more remote feeling area as progress is made. Most of the ground on the eastern three munros is grass and heather covered. The western pair are more airy, with some boulderfields and some easy scrabmling. If doing this route in winter conditions, ice-axe and crampon work will be required to tackle 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.
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main route outline
Getting there
On the A87, 4km west of Loch Cluanie Dam (marked 'Lundie' on the OS maps) there is flat area with ample space to park or stay overnight. 6km further west of this is the route's finish point, therefore savvy folk will arrange some form of transport between the two points. Carn Ghluasaid Cross the road, up the old road to the start of a bulldozed track uphill. Nearby is a memorial boulder by the 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 (north), follow 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 slabs 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. Sgurr nan Conbhairean 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 Sail Chaorainn lies 1.5km north-north-east from Sgurr nan Conbhairean and with only 70m of re-ascent on grassy ground, this munro is reached in next-to-no-time. From Sgurr nan Conbhairean, drop north-west, following the line of the coire and gradually turn to head north-east. 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. A'Chralaig 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 north-west and head down to Bealach Choire a'Chait. Or, on a shorter, pathless route with less ascent, 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 north-west over wet grass and boulders. The path turns west-south-west 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 May or later. The huge cairn on the summit is quite a surprise. You've got to stop here for a while and take in the vast panorama. Mullach Fraoch-choire 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 (east-east-north) 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 - use of ice-axe and crampons are required. 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 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. |
