Càrn Chuinneag from Glen Calvie – hillwalk & cycle

Gorge on River Carron

North of Inverness, the A9 heads over the Black Isle to the Dornoch Firth, at the head of which is Ardgay. A narrow road heads westwards from this village, at the end of which is a turning area by the entrances to Glencalvie Estate and Alladale Wilderness Reserve.

By the turning area there is limited parking for a few vehicles. If full, there are several roadside laybys on the road approach.

Carn Chuinneag from Glen Calvie

From the parking area, cross the road and head downhill to a bridge over a river. As a small detour, heading westwards (signposted) for 500m or so, a path leads to the lovely little waterfall of Eas Charron.

Follow the road as it passes a magnificent tree house, heads around Glencalvie Lodge and passes some houses before heading into birch woodland by the Water of Glencalvie.

Now on an estate track, follow the track as it progresses southwards through woodland, crossing the Water of Glencalvie . Through a gate and out of most of the woodland, the western summit of Càrn Chuinneag comes into view ahead.

After a further 3km on the track, the track swings eastwards, by which is a small untidy cairn marking the start of a stalkers path heading uphill.

On Càrn Chuinneag's summit looking to Ben Wyvis

The stalkers path heads up the shoulder of Càrn Chuinneag's western peak. It's grassy and soggy in bits as it twists a route up the steep side of A' Chìoch. There's a little respite before the path hits screes, then zig-zags uphill.

The path levels out and comes to a junction with a cairn - turn sharp left (north-east).

If you're like me, you'll be wanting to get to the top of both peaks, therefore you'll need to leave the path and strike directly up the fall-line over heather and some boulderfield to aim for the westerly summit . The top of this is quite rocky, a bit reminiscent of Ben Avon, albeit on a much smaller scale.

The route to the main summit from the westerly top is pathless but straightforward, simply aim eastwards, dropping around 50m on a wide bealach, followed by a gentle climb as you try to keep to grass-covered terrain.

Càrn Chuinneag's main summit is a rocky place where a trig point stands partically protected by a circular dyke. Fine views in all directions !

Descending the stalkers path on Càrn Chuinneag

From Càrn Chuinneag's summit, begin to retrace your steps north-westwards. Instead of turning westwards to the wide bealach, keep north-westwards and descend downhill where you'll meet up with the path again , around 1km east of where it was left.

Follow the path westwards around Càrn Chuinneag's westerly summit to meet up with the junction . Retrace your steps back to the estate track below A' Chìoch and return through Glen Calvie to the roadside.