Càrn a' Chaochain from Plodda Falls

Plodda Falls car-park and track heading to Cougie

West of Inverness and Loch Ness, the A831 forms a loop between Beauly and Drumnadrochit. At its westernmost point lies the small village of Cannich, from where an unclassified road heads south-west, following the River Affric upstream.

The road passes Fasnakyle Power Station, crosses the river, then narrows before reaching the little village of Tomich. Beyond Tomich it becomes narrower still and rather muddy, likely due to timber traffic, for the remaining 4km to the end of the public road.

Here a large car park serves Plodda Falls - the falls are well worth a visit - there's a signed trail leading into the woods to reach them.

From the car park, a road-track heads south-west and is followed either on foot or by bike.

Through forestry, a slight rise is gained before the gradient eases and the track descends gently towards Garve Bridge, a somewhat rickety construction.

The trees open a little to give a view to a distant hill - unfortunately not Càrn a’ Chaochain, but instead the higher skyline of Aonach Shasuinn. Cattle are occasionally encountered along this stretch and appear fairly placid.

As the buildings and clearings of Cougie are approached, the track reaches a junction beside a red-roofed hut - the left fork is taken.

Nearing Cougie, view ahead to Aonach Shasuinn

Nearing Cougie, view ahead to Aonach Shasuinn

Càrn a' Chaochain's crest seen from the gate above the woodland

Beside the little cairn, a very wet and muddy set of ATV tracks departs south-east into woodland. These are followed as best as possible, with drier ground reached as the worst of the bog is passed.

A more defined but overgrown track, smothered by grass and heather, continues uphill, crosses a small burn, and eventually leaves the trees to reach a gate in a deer fence.

Through the gate and onto open hillside, the track continues generally south or south-east over heather. The track does become rather indistinct and at one point appears to swing south-west, but this proves to be a set of ATV lines heading in the wrong direction - instead keep heading south-east.

After crossing a burn, higher up the slope eases and the track reaches a small cairn on Bealach Faith na Gamhna. Here the track is left, to instead begin climbing south-west on a faint path through heather. The path fades quickly, but after gaining roughly 100m of height a small knoll is reached, topped by a neat cairn with fine views.

Continuing south-west, the route passes above a sizeable lochan, the heather becoming shorter and the going easier underfoot. The first of Càrn a’ Chaochain’s three 700-metre tops is then reached, marked only by a tiny pile of stones and lacking a spot height on OS maps.

Around 150m further on lies the second top , distinguished by a trig point from where excellent views are afforded over Affric and to its mighty peaks - this summit is given a spot height of 704m.

On Càrn a' Chaochain's middle peak looking to Affric's mountains

On Càrn a' Chaochain's middle peak looking to Affric's mountains

On Càrn a' Chaochain's eastern knoll looking to Càrn Mhic an Toisich and Meall a' Chrathaich

Return is by the same route with rather different views ahead compared to the uphill - Càrn Mhic an Toisich and Meall a' Chrathaich dominate the landscape with the turbines of Bhlàraidh windfam nestled between them.