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Munros
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Beinn Liath Mhor (926m, Munro 258)
Sgor Ruadh (962m, Munro 195)
Maol Chean-dearg (933m, Munro 247)
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Corbetts
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Fuar Tholl* (907m)
An Ruadh-stac* (892m)
* see alternative routes below
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Ascent
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2150m (7050ft)
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Distance
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21km (plus 7km return) (13m, plus 4m)
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Time
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walking : 9hr*, running : 5hr,
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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Main route summary
The mountainous area between Glen Carron and Glen Torridon is known as Coulin Forest and several Munro and Corbett peaks sit in it waiting to be explored.
Maol Chean-dearg and Beinn Liath Mhor are vast bouldery summits, whereas Sgorr Ruadh has a narrow ridge leading to the grassy top pearched above a dark coire.
Superb views are to be had from the summits and ridges over to Torridon, Applecross and Skye.
Although considerable ascent and a fairly substantial distance are involved in this route, the majority is fairly easy going and on fine paths.
A bike or some other transport arrangement is required for the return from Coulags to Achnashellach along the narrow A890.
The two nearby Corbetts are also worth visiting, with Fuar Tholl being a prominent landmark as seen from Loch Carron. These can be done with detours from the main route, with just one or two Munros in a circuit, or just on their own. Some short sections of easy rock-scrambling are required to attain either of these summits.
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| main route outline | print route |
Getting there
This route is one of the few that can be accessed directly from a train-halt - Achnashellach is on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line. If coming by car, there is a red phone-box on the A890, 14km north-east of Lochcarron. Parking is available for several vehicles. Try and arrange transport to avoid a 7km walk back along the road from Coulags.
Beinn Liath Mhor
Start from car-park by phonebox at Achnashellach and head up the track to Achnashellach halt. Cross the railway line, go through a gate and continue 50m up a track. The track comes to a junction, turn left, don't aim towards the Coulin Pass. Through gate in deer-fence, further on, look for a sign and stone marker, which point left onto path and through circular gate in the deer-fence. Follow the path up. Out of forest there is a large sign (now torn), by which there is a waterfall - careful it's a bit wet underfoot to view it ! 1 km on, the path comes to a junction - stay straight on. A few metres further on, another junction is reached, marked by a cairn - again stay straight (turning right will take you up the south side of Beinn Liath Mhor which is through deep heather and requires more ascent along the undulating ridge). Continue following path up for 3km, past Loch Coire-Lair the lochan at the bealach between Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgor Ruadh. On a faint path, turn north-north-east over grass and slabby ground, over a minor summit (marked 769 on the OS map) to drop to another lochan at c710m. Pick up path that heads up over boulders then steep ground, then turns north-east as the ascent flattens out.
Flat rock, then boulders lead to Beinn Liath Mhor's summit.
Sgorr Ruadh
It is perfectly possible to head north-west from Sgorr Ruadh and pick up the right-of-way to Bealach na Lice, however this will take you to thick heather for the slog up Maol Chean-dearg. Far batter is to aim directly for Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh.
Return to lochan on the bealach between Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgor Ruadh. Cross the Coire Lair path, then, on a faint path, head west-south-west up grass then boulders to the north-west ridge of Sgorr Ruadh. Pick up an obvious path to follow for ½km to Sgorr Ruadh's summit - the drop into Coire Lair becomes a bit exposed near the summit, but the ridge flattens out onto grass when approaching the cairn.
Maol Chean-dearg
Retrace steps back down 50m to grassy section, then aim south-west directly downhill steep scree and heather - tough going for just over 1km. Reach Loch Coire Fionnaraich and cross the burn at the loch's outflow. Continue south-west uphill, over wet slippy grassy ground for 1km and pick up the path heading to Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh. Upon reaching the bealach, turn north and follow a rough path that twists and turns up steep ground through boulders and scree.
Cross a rocky minor top, then some grass clad ground to reach the last climb up Maol Chean-dearg, which is very bouldery. There is a large cairn on summit and stunning views onto Liathach.
Return
Return to Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh and down the path into Coire Fhoinnaraich. Follow a good path to Coulags, stopping at the bothy on the way.
Cycle, drive or head back on foot along road to return to Achnashellach.
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Coulin Forest from above Craig
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Beinn Liath Mhor and Liathach above Sgurr na Feartaig
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Sgorr Ruadh from Liathach
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Cassie on Sgorr Ruadh with Fuar Tholl behind
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Heading up the Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh path
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Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh from Maol Chean-dearg
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Ptarmigan hiding and protecting her nest on Maol Chean-dearg
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On Maol Chean-dearg looking to Liathach
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An Ruadh-stac from Maol Chean-dearg
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'Fingal's Dog Stone' below Sgorr Ruadh
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Coire Fhionnaraich bothy below Sgorr Ruadh
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Maol Chean-dearg, Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh from Sgurr Choinnich
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Adding in An Ruadh-stac to Maol Chean-dearg
Additional ascent : 400m, additional distance : 3km
see purple route on map
Sometimes a detour is so short that it makes plain sense to add in a nearby peak.
An Ruadh-stac is a case in point, so much so that it seems almost redundant to do it just on its own.
South-east of Maol Chean-dearg's summit is Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh.
Go south-west from this col and head around the south side of the lochans.
Aim directly up An Ruadh-stac via the bouldery and rocky-terraced east ridge.
Some easy scrambling is enjoyed on the way to attain the summit.
Return to bealach.
Fuar Tholl with Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh
Additional ascent 325m, additional distance : 4km
see green route on map
Having hiked over Beinn Liath Mhor and reached the summit of Sgorr Ruadh, initially turn eastwards and aim in this direction for 500m.
Pick up a faint path to drop south to Bealach Mhor - beware the ground can be slippy. From the bealach, continue south-east-south to reach Fuar Tholl's first bump, Creag Mainnrichean with it's views of Fuar Tholl's cliffs. Some slight scrambling is required to gain the next bump. Drop to the next gap and up to the summit of Fuar Tholl.
To get off Fuar Tholl, it is probably easiest to return to Bealach Mhor and head down on the path into Coire Lair.
However, it is possible to get down south-east over Sgurr a'Mhuilinn to the railway line, but careful route picking will be required to avoid the sections of slabby rock.
North
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Liathach
Situated in the heart of Torridon, Liathach has some fine scrambling and the hardest mainland Munro Top
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North-east
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Beinn Eighe
Lots of varied route choices over rocky and bouldery summits. Coire Mhic Fhearchair is simply stunning
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South-east
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Monar
Varied terrain and peaks with excellent views to Torridon and Skye. Accessed by good tracks.
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South-west
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Applecross Corbetts
Dramatic cliffs and buttresses defend plateaux and summits. The views are stunning !
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West
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Beinn Damh
A dramatic little peak. Ideal for a fairly relaxed afternoon's ascent, the main route up is pathed and easier than it looks.
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