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peaks







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distance
time

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Luinne Bheinn (939m, Munro 234)
Meall Buidhe (946m, Munro 222)
Ladhar Bheinn (Larven) (1020m, Munro 111)

Sgurr nan Eugallt (894m, Corbett)
Sgurr a'Choire-Bheithe (913m, Corbett)
Sgurr Choire Choinnichean (796m, Corbett)

3650m (12,000ft)
43km (27m)
running : 9:20hr, walking : 20hr

Kinlochourn (NG943070)
OS landranger 33

main route summary
Probably the most beautiful area in Scotland, it is accessed from Inverie to the south (via ferry from Mallaig), Arnisdale to the north (by private ferry), or, as described here, by the superb route along the south side of Loch Hourn. Although there are no difficulties, this is a long route and many people decide to camp at Barrisdale and split the journey over two or more days. The views from all the summits are fantastic views, with that from Stob a'Choire Odhair back down Loch Hourn being particularly fine.


main route outline

Getting to Kinlochourn
Head west along the A87 from Invergarry for 8km, then take the unclassified narrow road marked to Kinlochourn. Travel to the end of this road, which gets narrower the more west you proceed. Just before arriving at Kinlochourn, the road drops steeply and twists as it tries to avoid the river coming out of Loch Coire Shubh.

Barrisdale
A car-park has been made from reclaimed land near the end of the road and at time of writing (and since 1991) you are obliged to deposit 50p into a jar. Leave this car park and walk along the road to its end. Along a constructed path hugging water's edge, walk initially over narrow and bouldery sections with drops into the clear water of Loch Hourn. As the area widens, the path travels over easier ground with some sections overgrown with rhoededendrons. The path turns a corner and Ladhar Bheinn comes into view - a very long way away ! A large hut is reached and the path turns, then climbs slightly to a bridge over a river. After a bit of wet ground, the path then climbs 100m and drops back to sea-level. Cross two burns, then climb another 100m on the path, followed by another drop to sea-level. Cross another burn - you're now approximately half way to Barrisdale, with Eilean Mhogh-sgeir on your left, which is a good landmark for judging distance on the return. Continue on path through heather and grass and over more burns. A third and last climb, is followed by a drop to a ruin and onto a track. Follow this track for 2km to Barrisdale "bothy" and "campsite". Recent work has seen the bothy receive an upgrade.

Luinne Bheinn
Pass the buildings and continue along the track to cross the River Barrisdale on a wooden bridge. Keep on track aiming uphill and not to house on left. Further up, keep right on path that climbs uphill towards Mam Barrisdale. Just before the pass, turn left over wet grassy ground then start the climb up Luinne Bheinn which is initially wet and steep. Further up a vague path that sticks to the crest can be found and followed. There is another more obvious path on the west side of the hill, don't be tempted by this as it tends to be very wet and boggy underfoot. The path continues to the summit of Luinne Bheinn which has two cairns andcracking views, particularly north over Barrisdale and beyond.

Meall Buidhe
Continue over Luinnie Bheinn and its subsiduary eastern top then drop down the path to a flattened area at 750m. Turn south-west off the path over wet, grassy and sometimes steep ground to pick up some old iron fence posts at the next bealach. A path is picked up that continues along the ridge, by-passing the summit of Meall Coire na Gaoithe'n Ear on its north-west side. You'll find some interesting rock strata before the climb up Meall Buidhe. It is steep in places on the last pull up to the cairn on Meall Buidhe's south-east top. From this top top, turn west, following the path towards the main summit and its small untidy cairn.

Ladhar Bheinn
Aim due north over grassy, wet ground- careful of embedded loose boulders. After where the ground flattens out, look for an easy grassy route off right (east), from where grassy, wet ground picks its way through the rock to follow a small burn. The burn is crossed further down at a point where it joins another burn coming from Luinne Bheinn. Ground stays wet and grass gets longer and thicker as you leave the burns and gently climb north. Aim to cross the Mam Barrisdale path west of the pass and continue towards Stob a'Chearcaill. Nearing this rocky outcrop, a path apears, which should be followed up. A short scramble, is followed by a turn left onto a fainter path that aims for bealach west of Stob a'Chearcaill. The main path is picked up again, which turns north-west aiming for Ladhar Bheinn, still some 2km away. There are a couple of minor summits to cross with a short stiff scramble on one. The path continues all the way to Ladhar Bheinn's summit ridge which has three tops, the second cairn being the true summit. The trig point is surprisingly on the lowest of these summits. Amazing views in all directions !

Return
Return to the most easterly cairn, then taking care, follow the path along the narrow crest heading north-east. Climb up Stob a'Choire Odhair, a fine viewpoint with views north and east. Continue, by dropping down along the path to a grassy area at around 750m with a slight incline ahead. Turn south-east off the path and drop down on wet, grassy steep ground. When you reach the burn flowing down the coire, pick up a wet boggy path aiming north-east. Further down this path improves, passing old Scots Pine trees, with fine views over Loch Hourn to Beinn Sgritheall. The path turns south-east and climbs for a bit, then drops into, and zig-zags through, thick ferns to reach the sea. Depending on the tide and the height of the River Barrisdale, it is possible to walk directly across Barrisdale bay, otherwise, follow the path back to join the track at the bridge and continue back through Barrisdale. Return to Kinlochourn on the same route in - the three 100m ascents on the way seem much harder than on the walk in !

Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here


knoydart area weblinks
Get the local mountain weather forecast here
Todays conditions on BBC Knoydart cam and the Kintail cam
Stay in the Tomdoun Sporting Lodge or Inverie's Pier House Hotel
Kinlochourn Estate website is here
Details of the ferry from Arnisdale to Knoydart are here


routes nearby
On the road into Knoydart are Loch Quioch munros
Just bordering Knoydart are the Glen Kingie munros
To the north, over Loch Hourn is Beinn Sgritheall

alternatives
Add in some Corbetts.

Sgurr nan Eugallt and Sgurr a'Choire-bheithe
Start 2km before the end of the road by Loch Coire-Shubh at a hut where there is some parking available. Head up a track aiming west and reach the north-east arm of Sgurr nan Eugallt at the bealach between it and Sgurr Dubh. The corbett's summit is 1km south-west on the ridge. From the summit, aim south-east for 150m, then turn south-west and drop down steep grassy ground to reach the bealach at c210m with a path crossing it. Continue south-west up Slat Bheinn, then drop to a lochan, picking your way over grass and through boulders. From this lochan, aim directly uphill to the summit of Sgurr a'Choire-bheithe.

Leave the summit and aim west, dropping 100m to a rise and follow a faint path down to the Mam Unndalain. Follow the path up Luinne Bheinn and continue over Meall Buidhe and Ladhar Bheinn as described in the main route on the left. Return along Loch Hourn.

Total ascent : 3600m, distance : 37km


Sgurr Choire Choinnichean
From Kinlochourn, head to Barrisdale, ascend Luinne Bheinn and continue to Meall Buidhe as described in the main route on the left. From Meall Buidhe's small cairn, aim down west, then up An t-Uiriollach. West again for 1˝km, then downhill on steep ground through a natural beech forest to Loch an Dubh Lochain and cross the Inverie River using a bridge near a dam at the outflow. North-west next, and a good slog uphill to reach Sgurr Coire Choinnichean's north-east shoulder, from where turn south-west for 1km to attain the corbett's summit.

Return to the bealach between Sgurr Coire Choinnichean and Stob an Uillt-fhearna. A long trudge is then required to continue over Stob an Uillt-fhearna to the Mam Suidheig and then east for 1km, before turning north-east up to the Aonach Sgoilte. Join up with the main route described on the left at the minor top marked 849 on the OS map and continue to Ladhar Bheinn then back to Barrisdale and Kinlochourn.

Total ascent : 3900m, distance : 51km



knoydart