Inverlael Munros

Inverlael lies around 10km south of Ullapool on the A835, where a there is a hill-walker's car-park. There is a height barrier at the entrance to the car-park preventing access to campervans and other high vehicles.

If hiking the full route, this ends by the weather station at the western end of Loch Glascarnoch, some 16 km south-east from Inverlael, therefore a bike or other transport arrangements will ideally need to be organised.

The route can be shortened to return to Inverlael, however this would require Am Faochagach to be dropped from the itinerary.

From the car-park, follow an estate track eastwards into Inverlael Forest and onwards for just over 2km. The track crosses the River Lael, passes an old wall by a sign pointing to Beinn Dearg and comes to a junction .

Keep left at the junction and begin to climb uphill, shortly after which another junction is reached - again keep left. This track twists and turns as it climbs out of the forest and reaches a gate . Now on the old stalker's path, follow it for 4km as it climbs 350m and reaches the Allt Gleann a' Mhadaidh .

Cross the burn and follow the now soggy path above the northern bank of the Allt Gleann a' Mhadaidh for 1km. The path veers away from the burn, climbs over the north-west arm of Eididh nan Clach Geala, then drops slightly into Coire an Lochain Sgeirich. Sticking to the path, cross the Allt na Creige Duibhe (stepping stones) and continue around the southern base of Meall Glas an Ruighe to head up to a cairn just south of a small lochan on a grassy plateau.

Now away from paths, reach the small lochan, then head north-east and descend into a coire. Past a couple of little lochans, aim east, where the ground starts to level and a faint path is picked up.

Follow this path as it crosses the bealach at the head of Cadha Dearg and turn northwards in the direction of Seana Bhraigh.

More soggy ground next while hiking uphill and around the south-western side of Seana Bhraigh's minor top marked 906m . The peaty bealach below Seana Bhraigh is gained from where a faint path is followed to the summit with a small cairn. Fantastic views from this spot !

Approaching Seana Bhraigh from the south-east

Approaching Seana Bhraigh from the south-east

Crossing the moorland near Toman Coinich

Return to the bealach at the head of Cadha Dearg . From this point there are no paths to follow for around 3km and this combined with fairly featurless ground will test navigation skills !

Aim south-west from the bealach, gradually attaining height. After hiking around 1 km, rockier ground is met, there's a bit of a climb before gradients begin to level as a plateau at a height of just over 850m is approached.

The minor summit of Toman Choinich is met, beyond which the crest of its plateau travels west-north-west. Instead of sticking to this crest, aim due west to the burn in Coire Gorm, then up grass covered and perhaps soggy ground up Eididh nan Clach Geala's eastern flank.

Eididh nan Clach Geala's cairn with Beinn Dearg behind

Eididh nan Clach Geala's cairn with Beinn Dearg behind

Lines of rock below Cean Garbh

Following a faint path, leave Eididh nan Clach Geala's summit behind and head south-east downhill.

The path disappears into grass and sodden ground as the hillside steepens - keep heading south-east down and the path reforms nearing a wet bealach below.

Cross the bealach, negotiate a burn, and ignore a stalker's path heading east-west. Turn south and start climbing up wet grassy ground with lines of rock. Although pathless, a natural line up Ceann Garbh can be found, steadily becoming steeper with progress.

Heading up Meall nan Ceapraichean from Eididh nan Clach Geala

Heading up Meall nan Ceapraichean from Eididh nan Clach Geala

Beinn Dearg from the Bealach an Lochain Uaine

From Meall nan Ceapraichean, descend south-east on an obvious and well-worn path through stoney ground. In less than 1km, the grassy ground and several lochans of the appropiately named Bealach an Lochain Uaine are encountered.

By the most south-easterly lochan is the base of the "destitution wall" - a well constructed stone dyke that travels up the base of Beinn Dearg's north-east ridge then most of the way up this shoulder. For the most part, follow this wall uphill. There are a few rocky sections an the way that require a bit of a scramble up, though invariably to the right of any of these, a path can be found making an easier if less direct route up.

On the way to Beinn Dearg, just above the 'destitution wall'

On the way to Beinn Dearg, just above the 'destitution wall'

Hiking up Cona' Mheall with Beinn Dearg behind

From Beinn Dearg's summit return to the gap in the "destitution wall" and retrace your steps back down to the lochans at Bealach an Lochain Uaine .

At the bealach, cross over the wall to the grassy south side and look for an obvious boot-worn path heading east and downhill. The path contours below the bump marked with spot height 884m (or 886m on OS Landranger) and will lead you to the bealach below Cona' Mheall.

From the bealach the path continues south-east uphill until it meets with bouldery ground. The path then turns east and tries to pick a route on grassy ground between boulderfields, but higher up some boulderfields have to be crossed.

The long narrow summit crest of Cona' Mheall is met around 250m south of the highest point, from where a walk along a bouldery crest reaches the summit where a small cairn stands perched above some precipitious drops.

Descending Cona' Mheall

It's all change for the route onwards from Cona' Mheall - there are no paths of any sort !

From Cona' Mheall's summit, head north slightly and look for a way down between rocks aiming north-east. The first few metres of descent does require a bit of care as the ground is not only steep, but quite loose. Beyond this first steep section, the gradient lessens and grassy terraces are followed between lines of rock. Beware in mist the route down will require some navigation as these lines of rock have a tendancy to pull away from the crest of Cona' Mheall's eastern shoulder.

As height is dropped, grass and rock lines give way to heather and a faint path forms which is followed down to the southern end of Loch Prille. Cross the stream coming out of the lochan, taking some extra care as rocks are slippy and a waterfall thunders just below.

Start climbing up through deep tussock grass and gradually head south-south-east onto Am Faochagach's northern shoulder, from where an unrelenting uphill hike awaits. The minor rounded summit Meallan Bàn is met, where a well constructed conical cairn stands around two metres high.

Cairn on Meallan Ban, Am Faochagach beyond

Cairn on Meallan Ban, Am Faochagach beyond

On Am Foachagach's wide southern crest

Leave Am Faochagach's summit and head south-west dropping down a gentle slope to a wide flat area. This is followed by another gentle drop, this tìme through more stoney ground. As the ground levels, it becomes more grass covered and signs of a faint path can be found heading southwards - follow this path for the next 1km or so, crossing a wide plateau.

Ground begins to drop once more, beyond which it levels out again . Leave the path (more of a track by now) and head south-west. Boulders amongst grass are gone around and a boot-worn path evolves - follow this down. The path becomes more obvious with height lost as it makes a direct route for the level ground at the southern end of Loch Gharbhrain .

Some soggy ground is crossed, then the path continues around a morraine to meet with the Abhainn a' Gharbhrain . This is usually fairly straightforward to cross, though expect wet feet. It won't however be crossable in spate, in which case, instead head around the northern shores of Loch a' Gharbhrain and make two shallower river crossings by some old shielings.

Crossing the Abhainn a' Gharbhrain, Am Faochagach behind

Crossing the Abhainn a' Gharbhrain, Am Faochagach behind

Split in the path in Gleann na Sguaib

Seana Bhraigh can be approached seperately from other directions, through Strath Oykel is to be recommended. In which case the route above can be shortened by aiming direct from Inverlael to Eididh nan Clach Geala .....

Start as described above and when you get to the junction beyond the sign for Beinn Dearg, keep right and continue on the track to the edge of the forest. Out of the forest and now on a constructed path, continue hiking following the River Lael for a further 2km.

The path comes to a junction, also marked with a small cairn - take the left fork and climb uphill as the path cuts a defined route through heather. The path continues to the bealach above Lochan a' Chnapaich where its joins the above route between Eididh nan Clach Geala and Meall nan Ceapraichean.

The 'destitution wall' along Beinn Dearg

If no transport options are available to allow for a return from Loch Glascarnoch to Inverlael, then the route can be altered by missing out Am Faochagach and returning through Gleann na Sguaib .....

Having reached Bealach an Lochain Uaine as described above, alter the route by first heading up Cona' Mheall then returning to the bealach.

Up Beinn Dearg next, then one option is to return to Bealach an Lochain Uaine once more followed by a walk out through Gleann na Sguaib on a rough but decent stalkers path to meet up with the forestry tracks and return to Inverlael.

Alternatively follow the "destitution wall" along Beinn Dearg's north-western shoulder. This wall ends by the 700m contour , from where moorland is crossed for a further 2km while aiming north-west. Head northwards to descend steep heather-clad slopes back into forestry and onto a forest track which meets up with the track back to Inverlael.