Ceannacroc Munro & Corbett Circuit

Heading in by Ceannacroc Lodge

The A87 travels from the A82 at Invergarry in the Great Glen towards Kintail and eventually on to the Isle of Skye.

As the road climbs westwards from Invergarry then drops northwards through Glen Loyne down to Glen Moriston, it meets with the A887 approaching from Invermoriston on Loch Ness.

Around 2km east of this junction, the road crosses the River Moriston, by which is the entrance to Ceannacroc Power Station and Ceannacroc Estate. Old Ceannacroc Bridge just downstream of this, hidden in forestry. There is room to park two or three cars by the bridge without causing any obstruction.

Looking up the River Doe

Leaving Old Ceannacroc Bridge behind, cycle up the tarred road heading into Ceannacroc Estate. Cycle past Ceannacroc Lodge and its associated buildings and outhouses. A couple of houses are passed, one on your left, then another on the right, immediately after which the road becomes rougher and splits by a wooden shed - take the right fork.

Through a gate,continue cycling up the track for a further 6km as it hugs the southern bank of the River Doe, heading through woodland to open moorland. The track comes to a couple of buildings by some hydro-works - leave your bike here.

Behind the buildings, the track splits - now on foot, take the right fork aiming north-west (the route returns by the left fork). Around 300m further on, the track splits again - keep to the right, head over a bridge and carry on up the track as it follows the west bank of the Allt a' Ghlinne Fhada for 1km to more hydro works.

Cross over the river onto its east bank, aim over wet rush grass, then directly uphill eastwards on heathery slopes. After ascending slopes of around 300m, more level ground is reached which leads onto the summit of Càrn a' Choire Bhuidhe at 847m.

Leaving Càrn a' Choire Bhuidhe behind, follow hill crests north-westwards over grass covered ground interspersed with some boulderfields to gain Aonach Shasuinn's summit with its cairn and remains of a small shelter.

Shelter just east of Aonach Shasuinn's summit

Shelter just east of Aonach Shasuinn's summit

Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh from Aonach Shasuinn

From Aonach Shasuinn's main summit, head west over a delightfully grass-covered crest then some stoney ground to a cairn on Aonach Shasuinn's western summit . Continue westwards and drop down a grass-covered slope to Bealach an Amais. The head of the track coming up from the hydro works by the River Doe reaches this bealach - handy for an 'escape route' if needed !

Looking west from Bealach an Amais, the shoulder of An Elric rises on the left. Just to the north of this crest, a faint path can just about be made out climbing and heading westwards. Follow this path as it rises slightly then contours on An Elric's grass-covered north-facing slopes.

The path aims for the bealach, Cadha Riabhach, to the south of Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh - I left the path around 1km east of this bealach and dropped down to the Allt Garbh , then clambered up Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh's south-facing grassy slopes, picking up a line of tall old iron fence-posts higher up.

On Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh's summit looking back to Aonach Shasuinn

On Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh's summit looking back to Aonach Shasuinn

Tigh Mòr na Seilge and Càrn na Coire Mheadhoin from Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh

On Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh's summit, about turn and re-trace your steps to the large cairn . Continue following the line of old iron fence-posts south-west to the grassy bealach Cadha Riabhach .

Turning south-east, a moderately gentle climb up pathless grass covered slopes leads onto Càrn a' Choire Ghuirm. Beyond this minor bump, fairly level ground is crossed, some of it soggy and of peat-hags, followed by another gentle climb up onto the crest of Tigh Mòr na Seilge . A faint path is picked up as Tigh Mòr na Seilge's crest turns south-west towards the base of Càrn na Coire Mheadhoin.

Climbing up more grass leads to a stone and boulder covered crest, with the path disappearing as quickly as it arrived. Higher up, gradient easies as terrain becomes more pleasant underfoot and the cairn on Càrn na Coire Mheadhoin , a 'Munro Top' is reached.

On Sàil Chaorainn looking back to Càrn na Coire Mheadhoin

On Sàil Chaorainn looking back to Càrn na Coire Mheadhoin

Aonach Shasuinn from Sàil Chaorainn

My intention was to continue onwards to Sgùrr nan Conbhairean then Càrn Ghluasaid and descend to Allt Coire Sgreumh via Bealach na h- Aon-luirg. However, with light fading fast on late afternoon in mid-December, I abandoned this idea and made the decision to shorten my route . . .

From Sàil Chaorainn head southwards along the wide, flat summit plateau to reach the rim of Coire nan Lochan Uaine. Turn left and follow the coire's edge down Sàil Chaorainn's south-eastern shoulder and up the rise of Càrn a' Mhadaidh-ruaidh . North-east next over grass to the top of Coire Liath followed ideally by a traverse of An Reithe - I just needed to get onto the track by the Allt Coire Sgreumh before the last of the day's light disappeared, so descended directly from Coire Liath, which was fine, if rather tough going through deep heather lower down.

Last of day's light, looking back up Sgùrr nan Conbhairean

Last of day's light, looking back up Sgùrr nan Conbhairean