Eastern Fannichs Munros

This circular route starts and ends from near the northern end of Loch Glascarnoch, by the roadside of the A835, around halfway between Dingwall and Ullapool.

There is a rough parking area on the west side of the bridge over the Abhainn an Torrain Duibh by a small weather station. In summer this car-park can be full, in which case alternative parking can be found in a lay-by around 500m up the road by the southern end of Loch Droma.

From the car-park, head east across the bridge over the Abhainn an Torrain Duibh, to where a wooden sign indicates the 'Suggested route' to Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich via Altan Wood. This is also the start of the route up An Coileachan and Beinn Liath Mhòr a'Ghiubhais lì !

Now on a track, head up it through forestry for around 2km to arrive at the highest point in the track . If you don't fancy bagging the Corbett, Beinn Liath Mhòr a' Ghiubhais Li, stick to the track (and skip to section 3).

For Beinn Liath Mhòr a' Ghiubhais Li, instead of staying on the track, leave it and strike directly uphill through some tired looking pines and over soggy grass-covered ground. A fence-line is reached and crossed, above which the heather-clad northern slopes of Beinn Liath Mhòr a' Ghiubhais lì are hiked up.

Heather gives way to grass and the flat area of Cnap a' Ghiubhais Li, pitted with lochans, is crossed. Beyond the lochans, the hill's gradient steepens again before approaching patches of boulderfield - the summit of Beinn Liath Mhòr a'Ghiubhais lì is not much further.

On the summit of Beinn Liath Mhòr a'Ghiubhais lì a circular wall of stone stands surrounding a flat boulder in which a small metal sphere is embedded - remains of a trig point ? Decent views from here over to Ben Wyvis to the east and over to An Teallach in the opposite direction.

Leaving Beinn Liath Mhòr a' Ghiubhais Li, a pleasant hike over the undulating grass and heather clad ground of Drochaid a' Ghiubhais Li, leads to the northern slopes of Meallan Buidhe .

To miss out Beinn Liath Mhòr a'Ghiubhais Li, from the highest point on the track, continue on the track a bit further until a junction is met , with a sign pointing downhill to 'Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich via Footbridge' - follow this and cross the Abhainn a' Ghiubhais lì via the bridge.

Ahead there is an obvious track - stick with this for around 1km to where it turns southwest and becomes fainter. Leave the track at this point and turn southwards to cross fairly pathless and heather-clad ground to reach another bridge to re-cross the Abhainn a' Ghiubhais lì.

Now on the southern bank of the Abhainn a' Ghiubhais Li, strike south-south-west uphill and through deep heather. With height gained, the heather becomes more stunted and progress becomes easier as the ground above the eastern shores of Loch Gorm by Meallan Buidhe is reached - this is where the route from Beinn Liath Mhòr a'Ghiubhais lì merges.

A path begins to develop and becomes very obvious as it nears the southern end of the loch and above a short bealach. Cross this bealach and begin hiking up the northern slopes of An Coileachan. The path swings in towards the coire surrounding Lochan Dubh Bhealaich Bhain then quickly disappears. Head directly uphill and by keeping slightly west of the crest of An Coileachan's northern spur, steep ground and boulderfield higher up can be avoided.

The ground levels, becomes more grass covered and An Coileachan's summit is reached, where a large well-constructed cairn stands above rocks that provide shelter out of any westerly winds. Fine views in all directions from here.

About turn on An Coileachan and re-trace your steps along its broad northern shoulder for 200m or so. Turning north-west, begin to lose height while descending towards Bealach Bàn. There are some sections of boulderfield to cross on the descent, but very soon these are left behind.

Upon reaching grassy Bealach Bàn , a faint path forms and is followed across the col and uphill. Gradually more and more boulderfield forms as Meall Gorm's minor south-east summit (pt 923m) is reached.

Continuing further along the hill's crest, ground cover becomes more pleasant and the remains of a stalkers shelter that collapsed in the early '90s is met. Meall Gorm's summit is not much further, where a small pile of stones markes the highest point.

Not the most exciting summit !

Continuing north-west along the crest, the path tries to avoid most of the stoney ground while around 100m of height is lost. The path merges with a more defined stalkers path approaching from the south and this is traced as it skirts around the minor bump of Creachan Rairigidh, then heads up the grass-covered slopes of Meall nan Peithirean , with Sgùrr Mòr in full view ahead.

From this minor top, head north-west and start climbing up the slopes of Sgùrr Mòr. Another path approaches from the south, crosses the slopes ahead and heads into the coire above Loch an Fhuar Thuill Mhòir. Winter snow lies in this coire, covering the path well into spring.

Ground begins to rise more steeply and weird solifluction erosion terraces are crossed. A path approaches from the right (east) and Sgùrr Mòr's broad summit is reached, where a large well-constructed cairn stands above steep drops into Coireag Barr an Fhialaidh below. This is a superb vantage point with wonderful views in all directions.

About-turn by Sgùrr Mòr's large cairn retrace your steps for a bit on the path. Keeping to the path, follow it initially southwards around the top of Coireag Barr an Fhialaidh. The path turns eastwards as it zig-zags down grass-covered slopes. After losing around 150m of height, the path encounters bouldery ground and meets with a wall, in which is embedded a small stone shelter .

Beyond the shelter, the wall disappears and a faint path travels north-east over delightful grass-blanketed ground. The damp ground of a bealach below Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich is gained - water-bottles can be refreshed here.

Although a constructed stalkers route heads north-east from the bealach, look instead for a less obvious path making its way eastwards up between boulders. After a short steep climb, the faint path turns and makes directly for Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich's summit , on which there are two small untidy cairns.

To begin a return to Loch Glascarnoch, one option would be to head northwards from Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich's summit towards the hydro track by the Allt a' Mhadaidh. Given the terrain on this descent, where thick grass hides boulders and divets, this route becomes quite tedious, made worse by ending with a 3km walk along the roadside.

A far better option for return is to head east along Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich's broad boulder-covered summit, then turn south-east and to drop down to a bealach before the minor summit of Creag Dhubh Fannaich . Occasional sections of path travel between patches of boulders as progress is made descending the ground beyond Creag Dhubh Fannaich, where a defined ATV track is picked up.

The ATV track is followed eastwards down to the bridge over the Abhainn a' Ghiubhais lì . All that then remains to re-trace steps through the forest and return to the roadside by Loch Glascarnoch.