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peaks
ascent distance time start/finish maps |
carn nan Gobhar (992m, Munro 153)
Sgurr na Lapaich (1150m, Munro 24) An Riabhachan (1129m, Munro 29) An Socach (1069m, Munro 67) Mullach na Dheiragain (982m, Munro 167) Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan (1151m, Munro 22) An Socach (921m, Munro 269) Mam Sodhail (1181m, Munro 14) Beinn Fhionnlaidh (1005m, Munro 128) Carn Eighe (1183m, Munro 12) Tom a'Choinnich (1112m, Munro 41) Toll Creagach (1054m, Munro 77) 4940m (16,200ft) 55km (34.5m) 13hr running, or 2 days back-packing Loch Mullardoch Dam (NH224317) OS landranger 25 |
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main route summary Starting and finishing from the Mullardoch Dam in Glen Cannich, this route is long and varied, though it can be back-packed over 2 days or split into 3 shorter outings. There is a real sense of remoteness in this area, with no roads or tracks along Loch Mullardoch. High main peaks give fine views to Kintail and Torridon. There are no technical difficulties on this route apart from some very easy scrambling on Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, Sgurr na Lapaich and east of Carn Eighe. |
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main route outline Getting there In Cannich, by the traffic lights, a road is marked 'Mullardoch 9m'. Head up this to the dam at the end of the road . Carn nan Gobhar From the northern end of the dam, head up and around the house. Follow the track down to the boat house, then continue up a rough track past the Chisholm cairn. The track becomes a wet boggy path with occasional wooden planks to aid progress. At the Allt Mullardoch, the path splits - turn right and follow a distinct path up the burn's eastern side for 2km. Further on, the path starts to turn e, leave it and continue nwn on a very faint path over heathery ground uphill. Reach the bealach between Creag Dubh (a top) and Carn nan Gobhar, turn w and cross easy ground to reach Carn nan Gobhar's bouldery summit with two cairns - the northern one is the summit. Sgurr na Lapaich On a path, head wnw over boulderfield to a tiny lochan (not marked on map and indistinct after long dry periods) on the bealach. The path, now very obvious, continues up to Sgurr na Lapaich, where some boulders will need scrambling over just below the summit. The summit is a fine place to stop and take in the views, particularly towards Lurg Mhor and Loch Monar, and there's a decent cairn to shelter out of the wind. An Riabhachan Leave the summit and head sw on a path downhill. In fine conditions the route to the bealach is obvious, however in mist, careful navigation is required as the faint path seems to split, with one route aiming off right, down to the coire. From the bealach, uphill on the path, occasionally zig-zagging on the ridge, reach a tidy cairn on An Riabhachan's long wide crest. The summit cairn is 750m further on. An Socach (Cannich) Contine for nearly 2km to a third cairn on An Riabhachan's sw top, then look for a loose path heading nw. Reach a minor bealach then cross a slab and follow the path down to Bealach Bholla. Strong winds can funnel through here ! Uphill next, steep in bits and on a path, reach a minor top on An Socach's e arm. Continue to the trig point and have a bite and take in the view. Mullach na Dheiragain No longer on a path, head sw and drop 300m to the wide rim of Coire Lungard. Follow this around to Meall Shuas, then descend very pleasant grassy ground to Loch Mullardoch some 500m below. If you're back-packing over a couple of days, then by the Gobh-alltan is a fine spot to stay overnight. To continue, cross the river, then a track, then follow a vague path climbing uphill by the west side of the Allt Cam and its pretty waterfall. The path disappears into the grass higher up. It's a real haul over wet grassy ground to reach Mullach Sithidh, sw of which a narrow bealach leads to Mullach na Dheiragain. The views from this munro are fine, however Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, the turning point on the route, appears a very long way away ! Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan Head s on a distinct path and grassy ground to a bealach. The hill narrows as it climbs. Sections of boulders have then to be crossed before the descent down to the next bealach. A fine path is followed up the 300m ascent around a coire to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan's summit. A lofty place with a fine cairn and wind shelter. The views west make the effort worthwhile. An Socach (Affric) Aim se from the summit and follow a worn path around Coire nan Dearcag, over some bumps to Stob Coire na Cloiche. Continue ne down 100m, then over a wet rise followed by a 100m climb on the peat and boulder path to the large cairn on An Socach. Mam Sodhail Follow a path ne to a minor top (marked 906m), then strike downhill ne, still on a path, to Bealach Coire Ghaidheil. A stalker's path crosses the bealach, and ahead another very obvious path heads uphill. Follow this path for around 1km to the 1000m contour, then aim ne over gravel to the minor top (marked 1108m on the OS map). Stick to the crest, Mam Sodhail's summit is 1km further on. There's the remains of a building on the way. A huge cairn is built on the top - this was the first trangulation point used by the OS in Scotland - it now makes a fine shelter in which to get out of the wind. Beinn Fhionnlaidh From Mam Sodhail, head n on a path to the bealach below Carn Eige. Don't go up this peak, continue n contouring around it and fill up your water-bottle. Drop to bealach Beag, then climb 100m on a good path up to Beinn Fhionnlaidh's shoulder, then reach the tidy summit cairn. From here, there's an excellent view back down Loch Mullardoch. Carn Eige Return to Bealach Beag, then climb 350m on a well defined path around the rim of Coire Lochan to the small untidy cairn on Carn Eige. This is a superb vantage point ! Tom a'Choinich Aim e down to a slightly wet flat area and continue over Stob a'Choire Dhomhain. The hill's crest turns se and reaches some shattered rocks. They can be by-passed on the s side. Once this narrow section is left behind, the crest widens and turns ene up Sron Garbh. Down some scree with care to Garth-bealach then progress up An Leth-chreag following occasional fence-posts. Down what looks like some man-made steps, then over one more bump to continue following fence posts to the summit of Tom a'Choinich. Toll Creagach There are some sharp drops on the eastern side of this hill, therefore careful navigation in mist might be needed to find the path down. The path down to Bealach Toll Easa starts directly down, then zig-zags along the north side of the crest. In summer this path is obvious, but in winter it's buried under the snow. From the bealach follow the path and posts up towards Toll Creagach's west top, then continue wnw for just under 2km over the broad grassy shoulder to the summit - the last of the day's 12 munros. Return From Toll Creagach, you'd think the route choice would be the faint path that heads ne to Creag a'Bhaca. However further down the ground is covered in really deep thick heather, with hidden wet mossy holes, making for slow tiring progress - not what you need at the end of a really long day. So instead, from Toll Creagach's summit, head due e and follow the Allt Fraoch-choire down towards the dam, it's still heathery, but far easier going. The dam can't be crossed and the ground immediately below it is unforgiving, so stick to the road, even if it means a short climb back uphill to the car !
Mullardoch Circuit record
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Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here
mullardoch area weblinks
routes nearby
split into shorter routes 4 munros north of Loch Mullardoch  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 it 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 1˝km. Cross the burn and continue w over peat hags to start climbing up the grassy slopes on An Socach's s shoulder. Reach the summit trig point and take in the views. Follow the reverse route described on the left down to Bealach Bholla and over An Riabhachan, 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, until the obvious route to Bealach na Cloiche Duibhe is found. Up Carn nan Gobhar, you might be tempted to head sws 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 ! 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. Ascent : 1650m, distance : 19km In from Glen Affric  From Cannich, drive up the Glen Affric road to a bridge 2km before the road end where there is plenty of parking space available. A forestry track heads w, follow this through the regenerating forest for 2.5km to a junction. Keep left and continue for just under 1km. Turn right and head n 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 ˝km 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 e along the long ridge over Mullach Cadha Rainich to Sgurr na Lapaich (worthy of munro status ?), then continue down se, then e and pick up a stalkers path that travels down to the Affric road, from where it's 3km back to the bridge. Ascent : 2320m, distance : 30km Ceathreamhnan group from Alltbeithe  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. 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 n 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 w 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 sw 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 se along the ridge for 1km, then drop down on grassy ground. More enjoyable is the scramble to Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan's w top, from where aim s and pick up some fenceposts, then continue over Beinn an t-Socaich back to the hostel. From Alltbeithe, ascent : 1450m, distance : 16.5km |
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mullardoch circuit
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