Beinn Enaiglair and Meall Doire Fàid from Braemore

Around 12km south of Ullapool, the main A835 trunk road meets with the A832 by Braemore junction, beside which is a large car-parking area, bus shelter and the entrance to Braemore Estate.

On the A832 side of the junction is the Corrieshalloch Gorge visitor centre. There is a charge to park vehicles here and gates close at a fixed time, but the facilities are good - toilets, café and even motorhome waste disposal. A visit to Corrieshalloch Gorge and the Falls of Messach via the constructed footpaths and viewing platforms is highly recommended.

From Braemore junction car-park, head to Braemore Estate gate-house, then follow a fine track heading north-west. After around 1.5km the track comes to the entrance for the main estate house , just before which there is a junction with another track heading off right and uphill.

Follow this other track as it passes another smaller house and some outbuildings then continues through some forestry, to meet with a gate in a deer-fence. Through the gate, keep to the track as it passes a loch with boathouse, then climbs gently with Beinn Enaiglair in view ahead. Passing a grass-topped dyke, the track comes to a cairn - leave the track here and follow a faint path directly uphill and above the Allt a' Chumhainn with a few lovely little waterfalls.

A further 1.5km on from the cairn and just over 200m higher, the path arrives at Bealach nam Bùthan . Leave the path at this col and over grassy terrain, climb up fairly steep ground between rocky outcrops. Higher up the ascent easies and a faint path can be picked up to follow to Beinn Enaiglair's summit . Fine views from the top, but with being on a fairly large plateau, you may have to wander a bit to get the best pics !

A straightforward return can be made by re-tracing your steps back down Beinn Enaiglair's southern slopes.

On my most recent visit I opted to head along Beinn Enaiglair's north-western shoulder in order to savour more views over Coigach. After pausing by the cairn on a minor rise and around 1km on from the summit, I turned westwards and enjoyed a fine downhill run over heather and grass. I reached the track around 1km north where it was left earlier and followed it southwards to the cairn by the Allt a' Chumhainn and retraced my steps back.

On my first time up Beinn Enaiglair, we were in fine conditions and had plenty of time, so opted to extend our planned route up to Beinn Dearg. Easier than expected, we went over Iorguill and followed the 'destitution wall' to Beinn Dearg's summit followed by a return out via Clach na h-Aide.

Meall Doire Fàid is a lower satellite of Beinn Enaiglair, divided from it by the broad Bealach nam Bùthan at a height of around 550m. Adding this little hill to the route makes little difference to the overall distance but involves roughly 200m of extra ascent.

Begin as for Beinn Enaiglair from the Braemore Junction car-park, but instead of following the estate track, look for the small sign “Hill access” and take a worn path heading east beside a fence. It leads to a gate, beyond which a rather soggy path winds around a felled forestry enclosure. A further gate follows, after which open moorland is gained and progress made northwards over heather and thick grass.

The slope steepens gradually and, along the way, gives fine views to An Teallach and down Loch Broom to Ullapool. Higher up the heather thins, a few rocky outcrops are skirted, and Meall Doire Fàid’s small summit cairn crowns the rise above steep ground falling away to the north.

To continue to Beinn Enaiglair, traverse west or east to avoid the steep northern face. The easier eastern line drops gently over heather, then curves northwards to the southern shore of Loch Bealach nam Bùthan, from where the bealach is soon gained and the view ahead to An Teallach framed beautifully. From here, either return to Braemore or continue up Beinn Enaiglair.

For a short day just heading up Meall Doire Fàid, simply return the same way.

540m/5km/2:10hr