Carn Mor from Glen Dessarry
Bike and hike route to Carn Mor in Morar
After a cycle along a forestry road through Glen Dessarry, a direct hillwalking route up a grass-covered incline leads to the summit of Carn Ban overlooking the head of Loch Morar.
Route outline
| Corbetts | ||||
| Walk ascent | 750m (2460ft) | |||
| distance | 10km (6m) | |||
| time | 3:45hr | |||
| Bike ascent | 285m (930ft) | |||
| distance | 15km (9m) | |||
| time | 1:00hr | |||
| Start/finish | Western end of Loch Arkaig Grid Ref : NM988916 | |||
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From the western end of Loch Arkaig, a cycle along a forestry road through Glen Dessarry leads to a ricketty old bridge over River Dessarry. Above the bridge, long, wide and undulating grass-covered crests rise to high ground pitted with little lochans, above which stands the cairn on the rocky summit of Carn Ban, overlooking the head of Loch Morar.
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Route description
1. Getting to Loch Arkaig
Car park by end of Loch Arkaig
In the Great Glen, Gairlochy and its locks on the Caledonian Canal sit a couple of miles west of the Commando Memorial above Spean Bridge.
From Gairlochy the narrow B8005 heads up to Loch Lochy's southern tip then turns westwards. From here on a very narrow and unclassified road a 12 mile drive travels through the mossy Mile Dorcha then hugs the northern shores of Loch Arkaig to its western end.
The road ends by a gate across the access to an estate track, just before which is a large parking area with designated bays for around 15 vehicles.
If the car-park is full, there are various verge side parking areas before reaching the car-park, but care should be taken not to block passing places.
2. Through Glen Dessarry
River Dessarry
Leave the car-park, head around the gate at the end of the road and begin cycling westwards along the estate track. After just under 1km of cycling, the track comes to a junction 
by a few right-of-way signs, turn left, downhill towards the buildings at Strathan.
Before coming to Strathan, take a branch in the track to cross a bridge over the River Dessarry then head into forestry. A short distance into the forest, another junction is met, turn right and cycle uphill on a track towards Glen Dessarry.
Cycle along the fine track for around 4km to the end of the forestry 
above lonely A' Chuil Bothy. The track turns northwards, looses a little height and heads back into more forestry.
Bridge at end of track
over a little gorge which can be quite impressive if river is in spate and fast flowing ! Leave your bike here.Bridge at end of track
3. Carn Mor
On Meall nan Spardan, Carn Mor comes into view
On foot, don't cross the bridge, but instead stay on the south bank of the river and follow some ATV tracks for a short disance over really soggy ground until a fire-break in the trees is met. Aiming south-west, turn away from the tracks and begin hiking uphill on a grass-covered hillside. An old fence-line is met, indicating the edge of forestry and open hillside ahead.
For the next 1km or so, a fairly continuous climb tracing the course of a burn upstream leads uphill and onto the crest of Meall nan Spardan 
. This wide crest is undulating and pitted with small lochans making for a delightful hike with Carn Mor's summit coming into view ahead.
Upon nearing Carn Mor's summit, its rocky top appears to block the route ahead. This apparent difficulty is easily bypassed and Carn Mor's summit cairn 
is reached.
View from Carn Mor to Eigg and Rum
View from Carn Mor to Eigg and Rum
4. Return
Bidein a' Chabhair from Carn Mor
You could simply about-turn and re-trace your steps back to the bridge in the forest for a pleasant cycle back to the road-end.
For a slight variation on this, from Carn Mor's summit, initially head northwards and pick up a line of old fence-posts heading north-east towards Druim a' Choire Odhair. Upon reaching the head of Coir an t-Searraich, a fine run or hike on grass can be enjoyed while following the course of the Allt Coire an t-Searraich.
The Allt Coire an t-Searraich and Sgurr nan Coireachan
. The path marked on maps in the forest is alas, no longer, having being devoured up by the dense tree plantation. On my last visit, river levels were low and I could run along the bed of the Allt Coire an t-Searraich to meet with the path on the northern bank of the Allt a' Ghiubhais. This in turn is followed back to the bridge , for a cycle back to the end of the public road by Loch Arkaig.The Allt Coire an t-Searraich and Sgurr nan Coireachan
5. Alternatives
On the ridge above Coire an Eich looking to Carn Mor
The first time I headed up Carn Mor, I started climbing from above A' Chuil Bothy , following the course of the Allt Coir a' Bhoganaich onto the high ground east of Carn Mor. This route is fine enough, though with less cycling, more distance on foot is covered reach to Carn Mor and even more for the return to A' Chuil Bothy when compared to the route above.
Bidein a' Chabhair on the way down Carn Mor's north side
Bidein a' Chabhair on the way down Carn Mor's north side
Route profile »
Maps and GPX downloads »
Weather forecasts »
| Regional | MWIS - Northwest Highlands |
| Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
| Seasonal | SAIS - Lochaber Midge forecast |
Alternative and nearby routes »
Loch Arkaig Corbetts | |
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From the western end of Loch Arkaig, a route following grass-covered crests, old walls and fence-lines, takes in 3 Corbett peaks of Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoigh, Fraoch Bheinn and Sgurr Mhurlagain on the edge of the Rough Bounds of Knoydart. Peaks : 3 Corbetts
Ascent : 1900m (6230ft) Distance : 20km (12m) Time : 8:10hr |
Glen Dessarry Munros | |
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A cycle along Glen Dessarry leads to a gully scramble and a traverse following old walls on the fine ridge from Sgurr na Ciche over Garbh Chioch Mor to Sgurr nan Coireachan. Peaks : 3 Munros
Ascent : 1510m (4950ft) Distance : 29km (18m) Time : 7hr |
