The Fisherfield Deargs

Destitution Road to Dundonnell

Around 12km south of Ullapool, the A832 branches off the main A835 at Braemore junction by the Corrieshalloch gorge and visitor centre. This road climbs over moorland and drops to Dundonnell at the southern tip of Little Loch Broom. Corrie Hallie is situated around 3km south of Dundonnell.

By Corrie Hallie, close to a bright orange (now more rust coloured than orange) snow-barrier, there is a long layby where there is room for around 10 vehicles. There is more parking in a few spots just to the south of the layby.

On the track into Fisherfield

Compared to walking, biking in will cut down the journey time considerably, allowing. The alternative on foot takes a slightly different route, following a rough footpath to Shenevall Bothy, 2km north-west of Achnegie.

From the layby at Corrie Hallie, cross the road and start uphill on a decent track by an orange snow-gate. The track turns and meets a gate, beyond which is a field, most likely containing livestock (probably sheep, but I've also seen cows here).

Into the field, follow the track for 2km uphill and through woodland. The track comes to watercrossing , which should be easy to cross, but if in spate, there a wooden bridge slightly upstream. The track thereafter turns and climbs steeply for 1km to reach its highest point, marked by a cairn .

Beyond the cairn, the track comes to a junction - the right hand fork is the footpath heading to Shenevall Bothy, which unfortunately isn't really cycleable. So if on bike, stay on main track which crosses undulating ground for around 2km, with good views of An Teallach ridge on the right and views ahead to Fisherfield with Beinn Dearg Mòr gradually revealing itself.

The track drops in a series of turns to the Abhainn Loch an Nid in the Strath na Sealga below, with a final turn northwards as it reaches the glen floor. Nearby is a lovely birch woodland which is a beautiful place to camp.

Strath na Sealga and Beinn Dearg Mor

Strath na Sealga and Beinn Dearg Mor

ATV tracks in Strath na Sealga

The track ends by the rather dilapidated building at Achnegie and a path takes over. Follow this path north-west for a short distance to where a bend in the Abhainn Strath na Sealga comes close. Leave the path and cross the river (difficult and dangerous in spate).

Around 500m ahead, signs of ATV tracks on a slight rise can be seen - aim for this . Once on the tracks (not marked on maps), follow for around 2km around the foot of Beinn a' Chlaidheimh towards the buildings of Larachantivore. Before reaching Larachantivore, the tracks turn southwards and reach the eastern bank of the Allt Gleann na Muice.

Cross the Allt Gleann na Muice at a suitable point (difficult in spate, there used to be a wire across the river by Larachantivore, but is no longer there).

Once onto the river's western bank, a well-worn path is met travelling below the eastern and southern faces of Beinn Dearg Mòr - there are some summer rock-scrambling routes from this direction - see 'Highland Scrambles North' published by the Scottish Mountaineering Club.

Path aside the Abhainn Gleann na Muice

Path aside the Abhainn Gleann na Muice

Beinn Dearg Bheag from the bealach above Coire Toll an Lochain

From the junction , take the right fork and follow a rough path as it begins to climb gently through Gleann na Muice Beag. After climbing around 150 metres, the path swings southwards - leave it here, aiming northwards and climbing through deep grass and over occasional boulders. The ground levels out with Loch Beinn Dearg below and to the left. Ahead, the cone of Beinn Dearg Bheag can be seen peeking above the hillsides.

Traverse a grassy hillside, initially aiming below some crags, then above some crags, and then over gently rising ground to aim for the bealach between Beinn Dearg Mòr and Beinn Dearg Bheag. There are several erratic boulders at the bealach, including a quite astounding naturally formed rock structure.

From the bealach, follow a crest northwards. A faint path begins to form - trace this up Beinn Dearg Bheag's southern shoulder. Higher up, the ground becomes quite loose as the crest narrows and turns north-eastwards.

On the summit of Beinn Dearg Bheag, looking to Sàil Mhor

On the summit of Beinn Dearg Bheag, looking to Sàil Mhor

Beinn Dearg Mòr from the bealach above Coire Toll an Lochain

From the summit of Beinn Dearg Bheag, turn around and retrace your steps back to the bealach below .

Follow the crest south-eastwards above Coire Toll an Lochain as it gently climbs over grass-covered terrain. You'll reach the base of Beinn Dearg Mòr's imposing screes , where a path can be seen zigzagging uphill (reminiscent of Sgùrr èilde Mòr in the Mamores!). Follow this path as it ascends approximately 150 metres to a small marker cairn at the western end of Beinn Dearg Mòr's summit crest.

Beinn Dearg Mòr's main summit and eastern top with An Teallach between

Beinn Dearg Mòr's main summit and eastern top with An Teallach between

Beinn Dearg Bheag above Coire Toll an Lochain

From Beinn Dearg Mòr's summit, turn around and return to the small cairn at the south-western end of the summit. Descend the path through the screes back to the bealach between Beinn Dearg Mòr and Beinn Dearg Bheag.

From the col, you could simply retrace your route back to Achnegie.

Alternatively, from the bealach and near the unusual rock structure, head north-east down into Coire Toll an Lochain. The descent is fairly steep, grass-covered and secure underfoot. Around the lochan in the coire, cross its outflow and hike down grassy terrain with hidden divots towards Loch na Sealga.

By the loch's shoreline, you'll find a well-defined, though rough, path . Follow this path east-wards. The path turns away from the loch and at the end of a long straight heading south-east , leave it crossing pathless grass-covered ground toward where the Abhainn Srath na Sealga and Abhainn na Muice meet. Unless in spate, crossing the two rivers shouldn't be too troublesome, unlike the surrounding ground on the northern bank, which is boggy with deep grass hiding wet holes.

Weird rocks on the bealach above Coire Toll an Lochain

Weird rocks on the bealach above Coire Toll an Lochain