munros	Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill (1062m, Munro 72) Sgurr Fiona (1060m, Munro 73) Ruadh Stac Mor (918m, Munro 276) A'Mhaighdean (967m, Munro 187) Beinn Tarsuinn (937m, Munro 238) Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair (1018m, M115) Sgurr Ban (989m, Munro 157) Beinn a'Chlaidheimh (916m, Munro 280)
corbetts	Creag Rainich (807m) Beinn Dearg Bheag (820m) Beinn Dearg Mor (910m) Sail Mhor (767m)
ascent	3840m (12,600ft)
distance	43km (27m)
time	running : 10hr, walking : 20hr*  *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
profile	view profile of the main route
location	view map of location
start	Dundonnell (grid ref : NH093878)
finish	Corrie Hallie (grid ref : NH114852)
maps/guides	This area is covered by 1 OS Landranger 1:50000 and 1 OS Explorer 1:25000 maps :
GPX data	download a GPX file of the main route
terrain	easy difficult
navigation	easy testing
effort	stroll long day
scenery	ok stunning
images	view photos of the route and hills

main route summary
These eight munros lie in the heart of one of the most remote areas of Scotland, with A'Mhaighdean lying further from a main road than any other munro. To bag the 6 munros in Fisherfield, most people back-pack into Shenavall and tick the peaks off over two days, leaving An Teallach to be climbed another day. It is however perfectly possible to do all eight munros in one outing. This will require the classic scramble over Corrage Bhuidhe to be omitted. However this is compensated for, by finding a huge, hidden waterfall cascading into a dark casim on the south side of An Teallach. Good paths are present along most of the route and a fine track is followed out of the area at the end of the day. It should be noted that where there are no paths, well-honed navigation skills are essential for progress in mist, particularly when heading off A'Mhaighdean and the route between Sgurr Ban and Beinn a'Chlaidheimh.


main route outline

Getting there
From Braemore Junction on the A835, 18km south of Ullapool, head along the A832 for 21km to Dundonnell. Just past a red phone box there is a layby behind gorse-bush and by the Mountain Rescue building. It is advisable to leave a bike at Corrie Hallie for the 4km back along the A832 at the end of the day.

Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill
Leave the lay-by, cross the road, then fence and go up the right-hand side of a couple of wooden cabins on a well-worn path. The path climbs around the back of the cottages, then turns south. Follow the path over heather and wet grass to meet the burn coming down from Glas Mheall Mor. The path crosses this burn and continues uphill on its south-bank. At 850m, a small cairn is met just east of the bump of Sron a'Choire, from here turn south-east, climb a bit then contour over bouldery ground to the bealach below Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill. A steep ascent over loose standstone and occasional grass is required to reach the narrow summit with its OS trig point. A fantastic view-point !

Sgurr Fiona
From the trig point, a very obvious worn path travels south-west over loose ground down to the beleach between Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill and Sgurr Fiona. A steep ascent with occasional easy scrambling is required to reach the cairn on Sgurr Fiona's summit.

Loch na Sealga
Leave Sgurr Fiona's summit and head north-west on a less well defined path. One or two boulders will need jumped off ! Reach the bealach between Sgurr Fiona and Sgurr Creag an Eich, then aim straight for Loch na Sealga directly below. Since this is a very infrequented coire, from the bealach, progress is made down steep pathless ground which can be very loose ! Further down the loose scree gives way to heather and wet grass. A burn is picked up and followed. This burn forms into a spectacular waterfall, but beware how close you get to the edge as the trees and heather overhang a dramatic drop. Pick up a deer-fence to follow down to the loch.

Ruadh Stac Mor
Follow the shore to the mouth of the loch, then continue along the bank of the Abhainn Srath na Sealga for 500m. You'll have to accept getting wet feet - I prefer to wade bare-feet across the river. Pick up a track, with sections of slatted wood, to the house and chalet at Larachantivore. A good path continues for 1.5km south down Gleann na Muice to an obvious junction. At this, turn right (west) and head up Gleann na Muice Beag with a waterfall at its western end. Just above Loch Beag Dearg at c340m, the path turns sharply and aims south. Follow the path for a further 600m until well above the waterfall, then leave the path, cross the burn and head south over grass and heather. Aim for the lochans north-east of Ruadh Stac Mor, cross the streams that connect them, then climb up grass and bouldery ground to reach the northern arm of Ruadh Stac Mor. Having taken the all the effort to reach this summit, it comes as quite a suprise that this peak is only a few feet above 3000ft.

A'Mhaighdean
Head south-west from Ruadh Stac Mor's summit over bouldery ground. Look for some cairns and pick up a faint path to the edge of some steep ground. The path turns left, scramble down the loose sandstone to the bealach at 750m and pick up an obvious path coming the north-west. This path crosses the bealach, becoming fainter, then obvious again, then starts to climb up the steep grassy ground to the flat summit, just north of A'Mhaighdean. Reach this, then head south-south-west over fine gravel for 350m to the summit. This is a superb remote location to stop and take time to enjoy the views all around.

Beinn Tarsuinn
In mist, good navigation is required to head off A'Mhaghdean as the ground is fairly featureless. Otherwise, all that is required is a quick run south-east, down gentle grassy slopes then wet ground to the heathery bealach at the head of Gleann na Muice. A faint path is then followed to cross the bealach and start ascending steeper ground up Beinn Tarsuinn. A path to the right of the direct route up, marked by a cairn, leads up to a another path on the south of the crest that by-passes the scrambling on the occasionally narrow ridge. The summit lies at its eastern end, perched above a craggy drop to the north.

Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair
After the narrow western side of this munro, the eastern side with its wide grassy slope comes as a bit of a surprise. Head east-south-east from the summit to Bealach Odhar below Meall Garbh. A path contours around the northern side of Meall Garbh to the bealach before Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair. On the obvious path, climb up grass to reach a boulder-field. The path then zig-zags up through the boulders to level off and reach the summit. I love the way the name of this mountain rolls of the tongue !

Sgurr Ban
From Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair's summit, head north, taking care on the loose ground and drop to the bealach below. Sgurr Ban's bouldery southern arm lies ahead, however if you keep slightly to the west of the crest, the ground is easier to climb up. Further up the ground levels out, though the cairn cannot be seen ahead due to the gradual rise on the summit plateau. Upon arrival however, there is no mistaking the summit with its huge bouldery cairn.

Beinn a'Chlaidheimh
To keep the maximum amount of soft ground under foot, head north from the cairn on Sgurr Ban for 500m to drop down grass covered ground to c850m. Turn east-north-east and follow a fault line down to the boulderfield. You'll miss the shelter igloo this way, but you'll not need to constantly look at how to place your feet between the rocks ! At the bealach, pick up a path to follow up heathery ground to a minor top south of Beinn a'Chlaidheimh. Cross this top, then climb up a steep path zig-zagging though scree to reach a narrow grassy crest. Continue to the small cairn on Beinn a'Chlaidheimh's summit. Fine views are to be had, particularly towards An Teallach.

Return
Retrace your steps south for 100m, then turn east and run down steep grassy ground. As the desent easies, the ground becomes more heather covered and wetter. Reach the Abhainn Loch an Nid, cross it (difficult in spate) and follow a good path north. After around 2km, the path reaches some wet ground then a track. Follow this excellent track which climbs 250m over the next 3km, then drops and travels back to Corrie Hallie, with only one minor river crossing 2km before the end.