peaks ascent distance time start/finish maps	Spidean a'Choire Leith (1055m, Munro 75) Mullach an Rathain (1023m, Munro 108) 1280m (4,200ft) 6km (4m) 2:45hr 4km e of Torridon Village (NG 936 566) OS landranger 19, 25 and OS Outdoor Leisure "Cuillin and Torridon Hills"
main route summary  Liathach, meaning "the Grey One", is situated in the heart of the Torridon. Forbodding looking on first aquantiance, there are some chinks in Liathach's armour which has allowed a fairly easy route to develop over time. This route (described below) heads in from the south on the A896, with starting and finishing points 2km apart. Some easy scrambling is to be had over the Am Fasarinen Pinnacles between the munros, however, for those of you who are "top bagging" things are significantly more difficult as one top, Meall Dearg, is reputed to be the most difficult 3000ft peak on the British mainland. Liathach is made of terraced sandstone, but the highest peaks are topped with quartzite blocks.
main route outline The route described aims steeply up to the ridge, turns west, bags the two munro peaks and scrambles over the Am Fasarinen Pinnacles, before turning on scree back down to the road. Spidean a'Choire Leith The route up Liathach starts from the west side burn on the A896, 700m west of the cottage. There is plenty of roadside parking nearby. A well constructed path heads up the side of the burn. Head up this path and cross the burn just a minute or two after setting off ! Further up, hands are needed to clamber up a couple of granny-stoppers. The path heads steeply uphill as it hugs the eastern side of the burn and heads into Toll a'Meitheach. Eventually the constructed path finishes at around c400m, from where on a worn path continues through heather, over small loose boulders and up fine scree. Up to the base of the dark sandstone terraces, the path takes a sudden right turn. It is at this point that the SMC guidebook suggests a possible alternative route, which makes a direct ascent to Spidean a'Choire Leith. I would not recommend taking this option, since you'll end up clambering up wet pathless grass, slipping as you zig-zag trying to find a route up, over and between the terraces. Better to take the right turn and follow the obvious path, steep in bits, up to the ridge near Bidean Toll a'Mhuic. The views start to open up. Turn left (west) and follow a path along the crest. This is narrow in bits before reaching the boulders on the start of the climb up to Stob a'Choire Liath Mhor. Just when you think you've arrived at this top, there's just a bit more. From this top, there's a short drop, then a climb up quartzite blocks to reach the pyramid summit of Spidean a'Choire Leith. This is a fantastic spot to take in the views. Am Fasarinen From the summit head south-west directly for the start of the Am Fasarinen pinnacles. Do not be persuaded by a path that heads of right (west), keep to the bouldery crest right down to the short bealach. At this bealach there's some dramatic rock gaps to the right - a good spot to frame Beinn Dearg in a photo. You'll also pick up a path again. The pinnacles now need to be crossed or by-passed. Am Fasarinen Pinnacles are great fun, and not overly difficult to climb over, just stick to the crests with the linking paths. Be warned that these peaks are made of sandstone and the rock is crumbly and loose in bits (I have had a couple of minor falls here due to the unstability of the rock). If the weather is wet or windy, then the fun is lost and taking the by-pass path is to be recommended. The by-pass path is however vertigo-inducing, so great care is needed, particularly at two points where the path swings back into the mountain-side and errosion has taken its toll. Ground here has weathered and worn away and is often damp, which causes major problems particularly if iced over. Mullach an Rathain After coming off the end of the Am Fasarinen Pinnacles, there is relief and you can stick your hands back into pockets. The path is followed over grass to the edge of coire from when things get a bit more bouldery for the last pull up to Mullach an Rathain. A superb spot to stay for a while looking at all the peaks. Return Head west downhill for a few metres, where a cairn marks the start of the descent down on the pink gravel. This is an excellent run if you like going fast ! Not great scree, just loose gravel for zig-zagging quickly downhill. Once the grass is reached, a burn is crossed and the ground gets a bit sodden. Your feet will probably remain dry up this point, but expect to get wet feet and mucky legs on the remainder of the descent down to the road. As you walk along the road back to the carpark, you'll have time to admire the mountain that's just been climbed over. Keith's last munro. Liathach's western summit, Mullach an Rathain was Keith's last munro in 2003, details are here.

OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here torridon and shieldaig area weblinks Get the local area weather forecast here See todays conditions on the nearby Torridon Webcam Lots of useful info in Shieldaig.org and Visit Torridon Good food and accommodation at the Torridon Hotel and Inn Torridon Youth Hostel is here some alternatives The main route described omits two tops. One of these is easy, the other will require rock climbing if you are a puirist and stick to the ridges. Liathach can also be added onto the Beinn Alligin or Beinn Eighe routes. Meall Dearg and the Northern Pinnacles Meall Dearg is connected to Liathach's main ridge via a spur from Mullach an Rathain. This connection is called the Northern Pinnacles and, as the name suggests, involves some scrambling and rock-climbing. However it is possible to climb up to Meall Dearg and then reach the main ridge avoiding this difficulty. Start from the car-park at the eastern end of Liathach and head up the well maintained path into Coire Dubh Mor. At the highest point on the path, near the first lochan, turn off the path and head east-south-east uphill on pathless ground. Reach Loch Coire na Caime and climb grassy, loose and very steep ground upto the bealach between Meall Dearg and the Northern Pinnacles. Turn north-east to reach Meall Dearg's summit. Return to the bealach, then initially head west, dropping a bit of height. The ground is steeper than on the eastern side of the bealach and looser too, so care is needed. Contour around the coire and reach the north-west spur of Mullach an Rathain, from where it's a fairly easy walk to the munro summit. Stuc a'Choire Dhuibh Bhig and connecting to Beinn Eighe This top can easily be reached from Bidean Toll a'Mhuic, it's only a climb of around 70m from the bealach on fairly easy bouldery terrain. It can however be ascended from the east. It does however look imprenatable from this direction, but it's much easier than it first seems. Start from the car-park at the eastern end of Liathach and head up the well maintained path towards Coire Dubh Mor. At around c300m, come off the path and head west and start climbing. Turn north-west further up over heather and some loose sections to gain the crest where one short easy section of scrambling awaits. Pass this and climb to the summit. Liathach from Alligin and Dearg to the north-west This is technically the easiest route up Liathach. At the bridge where the Allt a'Bhealaich meets the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil, head south-east up wet, heathery ground to Sgorr a'Chadail, from where it is a pleasant walk over mainly grassy ground to Mullach an Rathain.

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