Càrn Gorm from Cannich

River Cannich

West of Inverness, the A831 heads from Beauly down through Strathglass then westwards through Glen Urquhart to Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness. At the southern end of Strathglass is the village of Cannich.

While the Glen Urquhart section of the road is straightforward, the road through Strathglass narrows to a single track with passing places.

Parking is available in a layby with a notice board just north of the village, close to the bridge over the River Cannich.

Carn Gorm from Carn Cul-Sgor

From the layby by the bridge over the River Cannich, follow the road west through Strathglass for approximately 500m. Immediately after crossing a small humpback bridge , a faint set of ATV tracks can be seen heading directly uphill through bracken aside woodland. These tracks wind steeply upwards beside a burn, gaining around 100m in height.

The route then flattens across a damp, level area before climbing again to reach a tall deer-fence . This needs crossed, though my dog was successfully coaxed underneath.

On the far side, progress slows through thick heather while heading for the rocky outcrops below Càrn an t-Sionnaich . Just north of this minor rise lies a small steep bouldery drop, then further heather - less dense with altitude - leads to the minor summit of Càrn Cul-Sgòr .

On Càrn Gorm's summit looing west

On Càrn Gorm's summit looing west

Descending down the track to Cannich

Descent may be made by retracing the ascent route. However, a more rewarding return can be made by continuing south from Càrn Gorm's summit. This descent offers a gentler gradient and lower down follows the developing burn in Coire Buidhe through merging streams and attractive little waterfalls.

Having dropped down to a height of under 300m, an overgrown track is joined, descending to a gate in the woodland boundary fence below.

Though clearly no longer in use by vehicles, this track winds pleasantly through the trees, with a few gentle climbs, eventually rejoining the outward route near the flat, damp area below the deer fence .