Glen Roy East

The village of Roy Bridge lies on the A86, a few miles east of the junction with the A82 at Spean Bridge. In the village by the bridge over the River Roy, a junction with a sign indicates the way to Glen Roy.

Head up this road which is single track with passing places. The amount of sheep-shit along this road is quite something (therefore expect to use the jet-hose later) !

The road twists and turns through woodland, then comes out and climbs to a view point with parking area.

After dropping downhill and around 12km on from Roy Bridge, a bridge over the River Roy is by the roadside, around 1km before reaching Brae Roy Lodge. Parking is limited, though there should be enough room to squeeze a couple of cars without blocking access to the bridge or obstructing the adjacent passing place.

Head across the bridge over the River Roy, it's sturdier than it looks, then up to a small green hut.

Behind the hut, ground is covered in deep grass and there are no paths to follow - it's just a case of finding a line up the steep hillside ahead that suits. The parallel roads are crossed without really being noticed and after climbing around 350m, the hill's gradient begins to ease, the ground cover becomes less dense and a minor summit at 673m 1 is reached.

Turning south-east a wide bealach is crossed and a line of old wooden fence-posts are met. The wooden posts are followed to a higher bealeach between another minor summit 2 (at 763m) and Càrn Dearg's summit - though I detoured to the minor summit first just to get the views !

On this higher bealach, a faint path can be found that traces a route up to Càrn Dearg's summit 3 upon which a small cairn rests.

Rather than re-tracing your route up, a circular route can be made. To do this, from Càrn Dearg's summit cairn, head west-north-west and descend a gentle and damp gradient. A bealach is crossed followed by a slight rise up to the minor summit of Càrn Bhrunachain 4.

Some careful navigation is required next, particularly in mist, to avoid the gash in the hill ahead that heads down to Coire na Reinich (see left of photo).

From Càrn Bhrunachain turn west and hike around 300m before turning northwards. Once past the gash, a lovely bound down heather and deer-grass reaches the Allt na Reinich and back to the bridge over the River Roy.

The route begins just north of a pair of farm buildings in Glen Roy, shortly before the road begins to turn northeast. A rickety wooden bridge crosses the Allt Bhreac Achaidh nearby, and there is space for parking.

This approach is only possible when river levels are low, otherwise use the wooden bridge below Càrn Dearg for access. Additionally, a tall deer fence is encountered above the eastern bank of the River Roy - a fallen post provided access during my visit and no gates were visible nearby.

Once across to the eastern bank of the River Roy, pick up a track heading briefly southwards to cross the Allt Bohaskey. From here, begin the ascent up grassy slopes after stepping through a crumbling old wall.

Higher up and through heather, the climb is a little tedious at times, but once on Leana Mhòr's crest, the going becomes far more enjoyable, with a scenic walk over gentle grass to the summit 5, where a small cairn marks the top.

From Leana Mhòr's summit, the route can be extended over to Càrn Dearg, or you can simply retrace your steps back to Glen Roy.

Creag Dhubh is set apart from the other hills on the eastern side of Glen Roy by a stretch of moorland, making it best suited to a standalone outing.

The route begins from the car park at Cille Choirill Church. Head uphill over a grassy knoll, then descend slightly to reach a wire fence topped with rather rusty barbed wire - there’s a gate a short distance to the east.

Cross the fence and continue across a patch of heather, which soon gives way to more pleasant, grass-covered ground. The ascent gradually curves eastward up Creag Dhubh's gentle western flank.

On Creag Dhubh's summit 6 stands a pointed trig point, from which wide and distant views can be enjoyed on a clear day.