4 munros north of Loch Mullardoch
Ascent : 1650m, distance : 19km
A quick route up an interesting peak, made quicker if you head in on a bike.
Take the boat up to Seldom Inn for an easy day out !
The boatman (Carl) at Mullardoch dam will, for a fee, take groups up to Seldom Inn at the foot of An Socach. He can be booked in advance (phone number available from Cannich Campsite) and has a good few stories to tell about the area, particularly from a stalker's point of view. (You could choose to walk along the northern shore of the loch, however after a promising start, the path deteriorates into a wet mucky mess that constantly climbs and drops. If the loch level is low, you might think about going along the pebbled shore - bad idea, the ground just sinks under your weight and saps your strength.)
From Seldom Inn, follow a wet path along the north side of the Allt Coire a'Mhaim for 1½km. Cross the burn and continue west over peat hags to start climbing up the grassy slopes on An Socach's south shoulder. Reach the summit trig point and take in the views.
Follow the reverse route described on the left down to Bealach Bholla, over An Riabhachan and up to Sgurr na Lapaich. Care is needed coming off Sgurr na Lapaich's summit, particularly in mist as the ground is made up of loose grass and boulders. It's easier once the obvious pathed route to Bealach na Cloiche Duibhe is found. Up Carn nan Gobhar, you might be tempted to head south-east-south over Mullach na Maoile - don't ! Below this minor top the ground becomes quite steep and covered in deep heather with hidden holes to catch tired ankles ! Instead, from Carn nan Gobhar, stick to the reverse of the route on the left and you'll return to the dam in one piece.
It is also possible to bag these four munros coming in from Strathfarrar to the north, more details are
here.
In from Glen Affric
Ascent : 2320m, distance : 30km
Glen Affric road to a bridge 2km before the road end where there is plenty of parking space available. A forestry track heads west, follow this through the regenerating forest for 2.5km to a junction. Keep left and continue for just under 1km. Turn right and head north over easy terrain aiming directly for Toll Creagach.
Follow the reverse of the section of route described on the left over Tom a'Choinich, Carn Eige and Beinn Fhionnlaidh to Mam Sodhail.
To return, either head sws for ½km then pick up the path that heads down through Coire Leachavie to join the path heading back out through Glen Affric. Alternatively from Mam Sodhail, head east along the long ridge over Mullach Cadha Rainich to Sgurr na Lapaich (worthy of munro status ?), then continue down south-east, then east and pick up a stalkers path that travels down to the Affric road, from where it's 3km back to the bridge.
Ceathreamhnan group from Alltbeithe
From Alltbeithe, ascent : 1450m, distance : 16.5km
The three most easterly munros in the Mullardoch circuit can be easily reached from remote Alltbeithe YH in Glen Affric. The problem is deciding how to get to Alltbeithe.
The shortest route is from Cluanie, 9.5km to the south. Initially on a track, this deteriorates into a wet peat-boggy path. The thought of a 100m climb back up this at the days's end is really offputing!
Coming in from Morvich to the west via Bealach an Sgairne is longer at 11km but certainly more enjoyable, however it's on foot all the way and there's a 200m climb on the route out. This route does however give the possibility of adding the little corbett Sgurr Gaorsaic. Grass covered ground with a fence-post line to follow from Loch a'Bhealaich to Sgurr Gaorsaic's summit plateau where small lochans lie with small cairn just to their north on the summit. The fence-post line is followed east downhill to a bealach then up to the Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan's western top, from where it's an easy scramble over to the main top.
The best way in however is to cycle the 13.5km from the road-end in Glen Affric along the track on the south side of Loch Affric. You'll enjoy the changing views and it's pretty flat most of the way.
From Alltbeithe, head north on a good path following the Allt na Faing. Into Coire na Cloiche, once the rate of ascent lessens, turn wnw and aim for An Socach.
About turn and stick to the path that travels west over a slight rise to the bealach before Stob Coire na Cloiche. Don't climb up this, instead aim wnw down very steep loose grassy terrain to the ground just below Loch Coire nan Dearcag. Cross the burn and head up to the crest of Carn na Con Dhu south-west shoulder. Up over Carn na Con Dhu, continue to Mullach na Dheiragain.
Return to Carn na Con Dhu, then slog up the 300m to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan's summit. The obvious route choice back to Alltbeithe is to head south-east along the ridge for 1km, then drop down on grassy ground. More enjoyable is the scramble to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan's western top, from where aim south and pick up some fenceposts, then continue over Beinn an t-Socaich back to the hostel.
