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munros
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A'Ghlas Bheinn (918m, Munro 273)
Beinn Fhada or Ben Attow (1032m, Munro 100)
Ciste Dhubh (979m, Munro 173)
Aonach Meadhoin (1001m, Munro 135)
Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg (1036m, Munro 96)
Saileag (956m, Munro 205)
Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe (1027m, Munro 105)
Sgurr na Carnach (1002m, Munro 134)
Sgurr Fhuaran (1067m, Munro 70)
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corbetts
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Sgurr an Airgid (841m, Corbett)
Am Bathach (798m, Corbett)
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ascent
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3140m (10,300ft)
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distance
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35km (22m)
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time
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running : 6hr, walking : 11hr*
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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start
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Glomach Falls carpark (grid ref : NG978223)
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finish
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Torrlaoighseach (grid ref : NG953167)
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maps/guides
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GPX data
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download file
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| terrain |
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easy |
| difficult |
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| navigation |
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easy |
| testing |
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| effort |
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stroll |
| long day |
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| scenery |
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ok |
| stunning |
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main route summary
A challenging route over changing terrain - flat heath, narrow ridges, river crossings and boulder field, this route has it all ! Excellent tracks and paths penetrate into the area and views are stunning - all the way to Torridon, Skye and beyond. If you don't feel like moving fast, the route can be done over two days, staying overnight at Camban bothy.
main route outline
Getting there
Kintail lies to the north-west of Invergarry and is approached via the A87. A bike is needed for the return and this should be left near the recently renovated house of Torrlaoighseach, just east of Shiel Bridge. The start of the route is from the Forestry car-aprk for the Falls of Glomach. To get to this, drive from the north side of the Croe Bridge on the A87 just before Inverinate, along the old road heading east towards Morvich. After 1km, a side road off left, with a sign discouraging access, continues for a further 2km to the Glomach Falls carpark - watch out for speed bumps en route !
A'Ghlas Bheinn
From the Glomach Falls car-park, the obvious route is to follow a track heading east. As this track enters a field, signs warn of bulls - ever felt you weren't welcome ? So don't head this way, instead, from the car-park follow the track up initially towards the
Falls of Glomach (sign-posted) for around 800m, then head right, downhill, back towards forest and cross a bridge. After the bridge, go through a gate and follow the track to another gate into a cleared area of forest - turn sharp left and follow the deer-fence uphill. The ground is a bit of a pain climb up as rotting tree branches and roots churrned up by forestry operations will trap unwary feet. Upon leaving the Forestry Commission's land, the gradient sharpens and continues steeply up loose grassy ground for the next 350m of ascent. The ground levels out, becomes a bit wet, then starts the last gentle climb on a faint path to A'Glas-bheinn's summit with its small cairn.
Beinn Fhada
Leave A'Ghlas Bheinn's summit and head south-east-south on a well defined path that sticks to the crest of the hill's southern shoulder. There are a few rises on the way, and a steep last drop to reach a cairn at the narrow Bealach na Sgairne. Follow the decent path west for just under 1km to a junction in the path marked with a cairn. Keep to the high path (left) which travels into Coire an Sgairne, then zig-zags up onto the crest of Beinn Fhada's north shoulder. Follow the path up for a short distance to a burn, then leave it and aiming directly uphill, walk up over wet ground. The broad shoulder starts to turn left (east), some sections of boulders are crossed and the trig point is reached. Spectacular views all round !
Ciste Dhubh
From the trig, follow a path initially south-west-south, turning gradually eastwards as it follows the crest of the hill for over 1km to then climb the minor summit of Sgurr a Dubh Doire. Turn south-east and drop 600m down steep, but easy, grassy terrain to the Allt Cam-ban - a good place to stop and take in the views. Camban bothy, just a short distance along the path, provides shelter out of dreich weather, or if you fancy splitting this route over two days, is a decent location or an overnight stop. Cross the river, then head on wet ground up the north-west arm of Ciste Dhubh. The ground is ever steepening, but drys out further uphill. As the ascent starts to level out, the summit with its small cairn can be seen ahead. Ciste Dhubh's top is an interesting place with some sharp drops on its eastern side
Aonach Meadhoin
Head south from Ciste Dhubh's small cairn on a very obvious path downhill. The path by-passes the rise marked 877m on its western side and continues down to the wet ground of Bealach a'Choinich. Fill waterbottles here, as there are no other burns on the remaining route. Cross the burn, then aim up wet ground to start picking up a path heading for Sgurr an Fhuarail's northern arm. The going underfoot becomes drier further up as the wide hillside narrows into a ridge of sorts, becoming increasingly bouldery. On Sgurr an Fhuarail, you realise that Aonach Meadhoin is slightly higher and therefore the munro summit and there is a short connecting ridge to traverse. Aonach Meadhoin's wide flat dome-like summit is very unlike Sgurr an Fhuarail's narrow bouldery peak.
Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg
Leave Aonach Meadhoin, head west-south-west and you'll be confronted by a short but very narrow ridge - easily by-passed over boulders on the left (south). From here a good path hugs the coire down to the bealach. Ahead, the climb up Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg takes less effort than expected. At the top, cross a dyke and head north-east, with care, on a very narrow ridge to the huge well constructed cairn. Excellent views from this airy summit !
Saileag
Return along the ridge to the dyke, then head north-west along the grassy crest to another slight rise, before heading west down over bouldery ground. There is one little bit of easy scrambling ahead up another rise to c 900m. Thereafter, just follow the path around Fhraoch Coire to the bealach and up to Saileag's grassy top.
Sgurr nan Spainteach
The path continues down over grass covered ground, west-south-west to Bealach an Lapain. If you need a quick exit from the route, then a stalker's continues from here, south directly down to the forestry and A87 below. If you're short of water, there are a few springs in the coire to the north, but you'll need to descend 20-30m to reach them depending on the recent rainfall. Leaving the bealach behind, there are quite a few rises and false summits to reach Sgurr nan Spainteach, a full 2km further on, however a good path follows the crest.
Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe
Head west-south-west from this top. Bound over boulders and scramble down one slightly tricky step to reach the bealach before Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe. The path veers right to the north-west, then turns back to zig-zag up some scree onto some boulders, which can hold snow until quite late in the season. Beyond this, the large summit cairn is reached. Stop here for a while and drink in the wonderful views. The view down Loch Duich is, however better from just a bit further on.
Sgurr na Carnach
From Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe's large cairn, head initially west for 400m and admire the view over Loch Duich. Next keep to the right side of the crest, where grassy ground (or snow covered in winter) make for much easier going than the boulders on the crest. Rejoin the main path and reach the bealach underneath Sgurr na Carnach. The path heads slightly right and follows an easy line, initially on grass, then stone to zig-zag its way to the top of Sgurr na Carnach.
Sgurr Fhuaran
Some care is needed coming off this summit, particularly in icy conditions - the gaps between boulders will trap weak ankles ! Not so obvious at first, the path travels generally north, and zig-zags between the boulders, eventually levelling out on grass at the bealach below. From the bealach, head up a distinct path, which branches out in all directions as it progresses - I guess walkers have tried to guess the easiest route - take the route take suits you. I've found it to be slightly easier keeping to the left branches, whereas paths on the right will end you up with an occasional scramble over loose rock or scree. Although Sgurr Fhuaran's cairn is on the small side and quite untidy, this is an awesome summit to pass what's left of the day - views are just stunning, particularly over Loch Duich and to Skye. However the best part is being able to look over all the peaks that have been climbed over today - amazing !
ReturnYou could continue over the remaining 'Sisters', however a fantastic run on a path down the grass covered north-western arm of Sgurr Fhuaran will get you smiling - it will also test those knees and thigh muscles ! Drop a full 1050m, down to the River Shiel, wade across it (quite easy, even in spate) and cross the field to reach the road near the renovated house of Torrlaoighseach, where you've hopefully left a bike nearby to cycle back to today's start.
Start this route as described on left and bag A'Ghlas Bheinn and Beinn Fhada. Return to the junction in the paths, 350m down and a river needs crossed - this can be very difficult in spate. Continue down Gleann Choinneachain on the excellent path. When the path hits wet grass, look for a mucky path off left to a sharp dip down to a bridge over the Abhainn Chonaig. Cross the river, through a gate in the deer-fence into a field that has bulls and/or rams and follow the track back to the car-park.
Park where you can near Morvich, then get on your bike and cycle along the road to a gate, just after the Kintail Outdoor Centre. A signpost points the way down the glen on a good track. Cycle 6km down this track to Glenlicht House and drop off your bike by the nearby ruin. Follow a good path to cross two bridges, then continue for another 4km to the watershed. Cross the Allt Camban, which can be a bit of a challenge, then head up Ciste Dhubh as described on the left. Continue over Sgurr an Fhuarail, Aonach Meadhoin, Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dearg and Saileag as described on the left. From Saileag, head north downhill for 1km to a height of around 750m, then turn north-west and drop down to cross the burn (quite difficult in spate) to return to your bike at Glenlichd.
A bike or other transport arrangments will be needed as the start and finish of this route are a long distance apart. 
Although not included in any of the Munro routes in this page, this corbett gives superb views across to the Kintail peaks and over to Beinn Sgritheall . It also requires very little effort and could easily be ascended in a couple of hours.
Am Bathach is a fine little hill dwarfed by its neighbours. Although often climbed with Ciste Dhubh and Aonach Meadhoin as a circuit, a pleasant afternoon's walk can be had by just taking it easy and ascending this corbett on its own.