Càrn Mhic an Toisich and Meall a' Chrathaich

Entrance to Bhlàraidh Wind Farm

The A82 runs the length of Loch Ness, with Invermoriston situated roughly halfway between Inverness and Fort William. From the village, the A887 heads westwards, and after about 3 km the entrance to Bhlàraidh Wind Farm is passed.

Parking is available in a lay-by around 400m beyond the entrance.

Meall a' Chrathaich behind turbine 13

From the lay-by, the road is followed back to the entrance to Bhlàraidh Wind Farm, where access is gained through a side gate on the right of the main gate. A fine, fairly smooth wind-farm track is then followed uphill. The main track is kept to throughout, any side tracks being ignored, for just over 4km to a junction marked by a small sign showing 400m elevation.

A left turn is made here, losing a little height before climbing once more as the track gradually swings northwards. At a junction beside turbine number 6 , a side track leads towards Loch Liath. From this point, Càrn Mhic an Toisich can be seen beyond the loch, partly hidden behind Càrn na Caorach - this is the second objective of the day.

To continue to Meall a’ Chrathaich, from turbine 6, the main track is kept to as it veers right and climbs to turbine 13 , the highest in the array, situated just below Meall a’ Chrathaich. Bikes are best left here.

Beyond the turbine, no path exists; a line is picked out over heathery and wet ground towards the foot of the hill. The heather on the slope, thick at first, becomes shorter higher up, making for a straightforward ascent to Meall a’ Chrathaich's summit , where a solitary trig point stands. Views are extensive: Ben Wyvis to the north, Meall Fuar-mhonaidh to the east, and the ridges of Strathfarrar, Mullardoch and Affric to the west and north-west.

View to Ben Wyvis from Meall a' Chrathaich's summit

View to Ben Wyvis from Meall a' Chrathaich's summit

Càrn Mhic an Toisich above Loch Liath

Turbine 13 is returned to and bikes collected for the return to turbine 6 . From here, taking the side track, the route heads towards and around the southern side of Loch Liath, crossing the Allt Bhlaraidh below the loch's dam to reach a sign by a junction in the track. Bikes are left here.

Now on foot, a wet line of ATV tracks is followed westwards below a tall deer fence. The going underfoot is often damp yet pleasant enough. The track and fence gradually turn south-west, gaining height before a stile is reached. Leaving the tracks here, a line is taken directly for Càrn Mhic an Toisich.

The initial ground is heathery, but a faint path soon develops up the hill's grassy east-facing slope and onto its wide crest. A straightforward walk leads to Càrn Mhic an Toisich's summit on which stands a tidy, moss-covered cairn. track. Bikes are left here.

Looking back to Meall a' Chrathaich from Càrn Mhic an Toisich's summit

Looking back to Meall a' Chrathaich from Càrn Mhic an Toisich's summit

The return

Returning to the southern end of Loch Liath , bikes are picked up and the track followed back uphill to turbine 6 (a shortcut is possible on foot to turbine 4, but not by bike). Thereafter a mainly freewheeling, fast descent leads back to the roadside.