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munros
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Slioch (981m, Munro 170)
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ascent
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1035m (3,400ft)
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distance
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18km (11m)
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time
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running : 2:40hr, walking : 6:15hr*
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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profile
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location
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start/finish
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Incheril near Kinlochewe (grid ref : NH039624)
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maps/guides
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This area is covered by 1 OS Landranger 1:50000 or 1 OS Explorer 1:25000 map :
 
 
 
 
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GPX data
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download a GPX file of the main route
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| terrain |
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easy |
| difficult |
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| navigation |
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easy |
| testing |
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| effort |
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stroll |
| long day |
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| scenery |
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ok |
| stunning |
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images
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view photos of the route and hills
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main route summary
Slioch, majestic and therefore often featured on calendars, is one of those mountains that looks truly impenetrable from most viewpoints. However there is one fairly easy route going in from the south-east along the beautiful shores of Loch Maree. Good paths are used, which pass waterfalls and lochans to reach superb views, including an expansive vista over Fisherfield - one of Scotland's last true wildernesses. Although the route described is fairly easy, Slioch has some unusual topography, which in mist can be quite confusing, therefore well-honed navigation skills are essential.
main route outline
Getting there
Just east of Kinlochewe on the A832, a sign points to Incheril. Turn down onto this narrow road, cross the ridge and drive on for around 700m to a large car-park built in the late '90s.
From Incheril along Loch Maree's northern shore
From the car-park, go through a gate in the tall deer-fence and turn left onto the path. There's lots of sheep around here, continue for around 1km, through a gate and cross the Allt Chnaimhean via a bridge. Follow paths on the east side of the Kinlochewe River for another 1km. Reach a junction in path usually marked by stones placed in the shape of arrow and turn right away from river. Continue over wet ground past a old sheep-pen, probably hidden by huge ferns in summer, to reach the shores of Loch Maree. The path continues along the shore to a bridge over the Abhainn an Fhasaigh.
Slioch
Cross this bridge then through a gate and turn right off the main path then head uphill. A couple of minutes on, there's a little burn with a small waterfall to fill up bottles. Continue to a junction in the path marked by a cairn and take the left fork. Follow the badly erroded path uphill, wet in bits and with some occasional clambering over rocks. Reach a bealach between Sgurr Dubh and Meall Each at 500m then aim north-west into Coire na Sleaghaich. Flat for quite a bit, continue over this and cross the burn then pick up a path that zig-zags uphill to the eastern of two lochans, south-east of Slioch's summit. Turn north on an obvious path up steep bouldery ground, that eases of onto grass. Path starts to become faint, turn slightly to right off path, aiming for the shallow lochan (not marked on OS 1:50,000) just below Slioch's summit. Cross wet ground, then one last pull to reach the trig-point. Slioch has two tops, both marked at 980m on my OS map. The south top with the trig point now not considered to be the summit, though it does give excellent views over Loch Maree to Torridon and beyond. Head over to the northern top to tick of the munro and get wonderful, expansive views over the Fisherfield peaks to An Teallach and beyond.
Return to Incheril
The easiest way back is to return by the same route.
Race route
In 2008, Slioch had its first hill-race. Part of the Scottish Hill Running Long Series, the Slioch Horseshoe Hillrace differs only slightly from the route described above. The route follows the main route up to the summit, heads over to Sgurr an Tuill Bhain, then heads south-east directly for the path and return to Incheril. The route was revised and extended slightly in 2009.
More information is on the Scottish Hill Racing website page
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Alternatives
With a little more effort, taking either or both of these variations make the route up to Slioch feel that bit wilder. Neither of these routes add any significant distance, but some extra effort is required for the additional ascent.
Get the views earlier
Distance : same, ascent : add 110m
Instead of heading into Coire na Sleaghaich, just before the path levels out near Meall Each, turn left and head up very steep heathery ground. There's no obvious path up this until the minor summit of Sgurr Dubh is reached, from where a faint path is picked up and followed over the next bump and down to the lochans.
Continue up to the summit and either back via the routes up or the one described below.
Return via Sgurr an Tuill Bhain
Distance : same, ascent : add 65m
From the Slioch's north top, aim initially east over easy ground. The ground narrows, but no difficulties are encountered. Climb to summit of Sgurr an Tuill Bhain, where you are rewarded for the extra effort with some fine views. It is possible to head directly south-west down into Coire na Sleaghaich on a faint path to meet up with the main path back, Alternatively head south to meet up with the burn flowing out of Coire na Sleaghaich and return along the path on the northern side of Abhainn an Fhasaigh. Both of these descent routes require some care over occasional loose scree.
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