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  Glen Kingie and Arkaig  

Click to view the route on zoomable OS 1:50000 maps and aerial photos

Munros

Sgurr na Ciche (1040m, Munro 92)
Garbh Cioch Mor (1013m Munro 116)
Sgurr nan Coireachan (953m Munro 213)
Sgurr Mor (1003m Munro 132)
Gairich (919m Munro 272)

Corbetts

Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh* (835m)
Sgurr an Fhuarain (901m)
Fraoch Bheinn* (858m)
Sgurr Mhurlagain* (801m)
Ben Aden* (887m)
  * see alternative routes below

Ascent

3000m (9,850ft)

Distance  

37km (23m)

Time

walking : 14:30hr*, running : 8hr
 *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent



Main route summary


These mountains sit on the edge of The Rough Bounds of Knoydart and fantastic seaward views over Eigg, Rhum, Skye and beyond are to be had from the summits.

Sgurr na Ciche is a rough pyramid, whereas Garbh Choich Mor and its minor tops are tamed by a long parish wall, which aids navigation when the mist is down. Well defined paths and stalkers tracks flow along the crests of Sgurr nan Coireachan, Sgurr Mor, Sgurr an Fhuarain and Gairich. The main route follows around Loch Quoich, which can unveil some of the area's pre-dammed history if the level is low. Starting from the Quoich dam, this route takes in the main peaks in a clockwise direction, presenting fine views ahead while you continue westwards over the crests.

There are other interesting hills in the area, all worthy of a visit. Ben Aden is a rough Corbett, requiring a long walk just to reach the base. Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh, Fraoch Bheinn and Sgurr Mhurlagain are more tame and can easily be combined with some of the nearby Munros.

profile
location
start/finish Loch Quoich Dam
(grid ref : NH067024)

maps/guides  OS Landranger 33 - click to buy from Amazon OS Explorer 398 - click to buy from Amazon OS Explorer 399 - click to buy from Amazon Pocket Mountains - West Highlands - click to buy from Amazon Pocket Mountains - Classic Hill Runs and Races - click to buy from Amazon

GPX data download GPX file of this route

terrain
easy Generally grass covered with some boulderfield on Sgurr na Ciche and Garbh Chioch Mor difficult
navigation
easy Tricky in mist testing
effort
stroll A hard day out, only for fit folk long day
scenery
ok Stunning in all directions stunning
 
meanings
Sgurr na Ciche :
    'peak of the breast'
Garbh Cioch Mor :
    'big rough breast'
Sgurr nan Coireachan :
    'peak of the coires'
Sgurr Mor :
    'big peak'
Gairich :
    'noisy hill'
Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh :
    'peak of the speckled calf's cave'
Sgurr an Fhuarain :
    'peak of the spring'
Fraoch Bheinn :
    'heather mountain'
Sgurr Mhurlagain :
    'peak of the inlet'
Ben Aden :
    'hill of the face'
main route outlineprint route
Getting there
Head west along the A87 from Invergarry for 8km, then take the unclassified narrow road marked to Kinlochourn. 18km along this road is Loch Quoich and its dam, with parking for a handful of cars.

Gairich
There's parking for a handful if cars immediately by the dam. Cross the dam then head along a path heading south initially by the loch, then veering away from the shoreline. This path, though well defined and probably a stalker's track in its day, is mucky and wet over much of it's length to the drop down to the forest. At the forest, cross the junction and head up some peat-bog and wet grass to join the fine stalkers path that heads westwards up Gairich's long east arm. Continue for 3km along this path, which becomes fainter, to the base of Gairich's steep 300m climb. The path appears to head around the hill, don't follow it, instead head directly uphill. Higher up the path is met again and followed to the cairn on the summit. Gairich is a fine vantage point, with Sgurr na Ciche appearing very distant.

Sgurr an Fhuarain
Leave Gairich's summit and head south-west-west over easy ground. An interesting little gap around the coire is discovered (barely distinguisable on the OS 1:50000 map). Head around this and then directly south-west-west to the flat area on Gairich Beag. Cross this and over a slight rise to pick up a good stalker's path that zig-zags down to meet up with a track crossing A'Mhaingir. At this junction, leave both tracks behind and cross wet grassy ground, aiming south-west. A faint old stalker's path is met, follow this south-west-south for a bit, then leave it and strike up very steep grassy ground up onto the eastern arm of Sgurr an Fhuarain. Pathless grass covered ground is ascended up the last 200m to the conical trig point on the summit. Though only a few metres lower than Gairich, this peak is a 'mere' corbett, but I'm sure it doesn't loose any sleep over it !

Sgurr Mor
Sgurr Mor appears suprisingly close when viewed from Sgurr an Fhuarain's summit, however this is deceiving ! Head west from Sgurr an Fhuarain along a faint path over pleasant grass covered ground, taking in the views ahead. Cross the bealach, then start heading up Sgurr Mor. The path continues, but narrows and zig-zags a bit as the terrain is just that bit tougher than what's been before on the route - an indicator of things to come ! Further up the ground gets a bit rockier, but the path picks the easiest route. A large untidy pile of stones and boulders on the summit makes up the cairn, which provides just enough shelter out of any wind. There are excellent views to be had towards the route's 3 remaining peaks and beyond.

Sgurr nan Coireachan
From Sgurr Mor head downhill and southwards on a well defined stalker's path. This path continues down to the bealach then up Sgurr Beag, becoming faint as it approaches this summit. Continuing south-west down Sgurr Beag, the path becomes obvious again, so follow it to the col before An Eag. A fainter path continues over grass up An Eag, and at this the summit of this minor top, pick up a line of fence posts heading west. There's a drop of only 80m or so before the next col is reached, from where climb up grassy ground and the occasional slab, following the fence-posts to reach the summit crest of Sgurr nan Coireachan. Turn south-west and follow a path and the posts to the summit, where there's a small untidy cairn to sit and awe at the view ahead to Garbh Chioch Mor, Sgurr na Ciche, Knoydart and Skye's Black Cuillin.

Garbh Chioch Mor
Follow fence posts west, downhill on a twisty worn path, dropping around 200m. As the rate of descent easies, the ground starts to become quite sodden. Cross the bealach and follow a path that hugs the wall that takes over from the fence-posts. This wall continues all the way up and along Garbh Chioch Beag to Garbh Chioch Mhor. The ridge can be quite narrow in some parts with some light scrambling required to move over the occasional rock outcrop. There are some good photo oportunities on the way to the summit - get your mate to pose on top of one of the cliffs ! There are two cairns on the top, the summit is the western one.

Sgurr na Ciche
The path continues to follow the wall along the crest westwards, though occasional scrambling on grippy rock is encountered. The wall turns north-west-north and heads down to the bealach below Sgurr na Ciche, meeting with a couple of small lochans on the way. At the bealach, leave the wall and head on an obvious path uphill following a small watercourse. Some boulders are reached and in mist it may not be obvious which way to continue - look right (north) and you should be able to pick out a route heading uphill. As the boulders are left behind, the path becomes obvious again, follow this up a small cairn on Sgurr na Ciche's eastern arm. Now on the crest, turn left (west) and follow the path for a couple of minutes to reach the summit. This is a fantastic vantage point looking down Loch Nevis out to Eigg, Rhum and Skye. If you've got the weather, spend some time here taking in the vista.

Return
Retrace your steps back to the small cairn on Sgurr na Ciche's eastern crest, but instead of returning to bealach, continue east along the crest on pathless ground for 250m. Turn north-east and drop 150m. The route is straightforward, but occasional slight detours are need to avoid rock sections. The route then continues north-east over a rise, from where drop a further 250m north-east, picking a route carefully over grass avoiding rocky outcrops. Follow a burn down to the glen and pick up a stalker's track heading north-east. Follow this track north-east then north to the western end of Loch quoich where two dams are crossed. This is a good camping area if you're backpacking into Knoydart, even better if you've kayaked along the loch. From these dams an excellent track continues along the northern shore. This track was built to enable the construction of the dams in the late 1950's, therefore it shouldn't come as a surprise that after 4km, the track heads straight into the loch. Surprise no, but disappointment yes ! Having merrily walked or jogged along the track, being faced with a faint, wet path for the last few km back to the road is slightly disheartening. Back to the road, hopefully you've left a bike for the 10km+ back to the dam, as there's not much chance of hitching a lift around here.




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