Loch Quoich Munros & Corbetts  

Getting there
Head west along the A87 from Invergarry for 8km, then take the unclassified narrow road towards Kinlochourn. Keep on this to the Loch Quoich dam, some 18km from the junction on the A87.


Gleouraich
5km west of the dam, by some forestry, there is a bridge over the Allt Coire Peitireach with limited parking for a few cars. Just to the west of the bridge a stalker's path heads uphill through the thick rhodedendrons. Follow this path up by the burn, the path then turns away to zig-zag up towards Sron a'Chuilinn, the southern arm of Gleouraich. Once on this, the path keeps to the western side of the crest, giving good views down to Glen Quoich and over to Sgurr a'Mhaoraich. Don't be tempted by shortcutting directly towards Gleouraich, it's far easier and quicker to stick on the path. A slight drop is reached before the final pull up towards Gleouraich's summit, where the stalker's path turns in towards the coire where there is a hide out of the wind. Stick to the crest and a path will reappear to continue to the summit crest and the cairn 300m further on.

Spidean Mialach
Between Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach sits Creag Coire na Fiar Bhealaich, a significant top, and beyond it, a 300m drop to Fiar Bhealaich. Leave Gleouraich and follow the path east that keeps mainly to the coire's edge. The path is mainly over boulders and stone, but fairly easy underfoot. After Creag Coire na Fiar Bhealaich, the path swings, then zig-zags to drop down to the bealach. The initial climb up Spidean Mialach is on a path cutting across steep grassy ground. The ground starts to get more bouldery, where I find it easier to turn slightly off to the right and keep on grassy ground. This also seems to make a more direct ascent to the summit, just avoiding the minor top marked 977 on the OS 1:50000. A large untidy cairn sits on the summit with some shelter to get out of the wind.

Return
Just south of the cairn, look for a path heading east-south-east gently downhill. This path changes often from rocky to grass to bog. Keep on it right down to below Coire Dubh where the 3 burns meet. Cross the burns, then pick up an old stalker's track heading east-south-east. Follow this track for 2km down to the road, from where it's a few minutes back to the bridge.




There's parking for a handful if cars immediately by the dam. Tackle the gate and cross the dam. Head along a path heading south initially by the loch, then veering away from the shoreline. This path, though well defined and probably a stalker's track prior to the construction of the dam, is mucky and wet over much of it's length to the drop down to the forest. At the forest, cross the junction and head up some peat-bog and wet grass to join the fine stalkers path that heads westwards up Gairich's long east arm. Continue for 3km along this path, which becomes fainter, to the base of Gairich's steep 300m climb. The path appears to head around the hill, don't follow it, instead head directly uphill. Higher up the path is met again and followed to the cairn on the summit. Gairich is a fine vantage point, with Sgurr na Ciche appearing very distant.

Return
Either return by the route up, or alternatively take a variation along the lochshore. To do the latter, retrace your steps from Gairich's summit for 1.5km, then strike north-east and roughly follow the Allt na h-Airigh down to the loch. This latter descent is wet and grassy, but pretty quick and enjoyable - not recommended as an ascent route though ! If the loch level is low, it is possible to make a slight shortcut. Follow the shore line back to the dam.
See also the Glen Kingie page for more details




Though not necessarily the most enjoyable route, the quickest and easiest way to attain Sgurr a'Mhaoraich is to make a direct ascent from the roadside, 3km past the bridge over Loch Quoich. Park just after a burn and by a track heading up towards Coire nan Einicheallach. Start up this track, past the pylons and follow it to where it pulls alongside the west bank of a burn coming downhill. Cross this burn, then head north-west up over wet tussocks to aim for Leac nan Gaidhseich. The terrain easies further up and the southern arm of Sgurr a'Mhaoraich is reached. Occasional faint paths are traced over heather, grass and rock. There are some interesting erratic boulders on the way, with a particularly large one, balanced picariously and looks as if it could easily be pushed over and tumble all the way down to the loch. Further up the eastern arm of Sgurr a'Mhaoraich is met approaching from the right, from where an obvious path is joined to follow to the summit.

Return
The most obvious route back is to retrace your steps. However, this route will frequently be facing a south-westerly wind, so you might be tempted to head earlier into the coire. This alternative presents no problems, except a lot of saturated ground !