Meall Blàir and Sgùrr Choinnich

In the Great Glen, Gairlochy sits beside the Caledonian Canal a few miles west of Spean Bridge and the Commando Memorial.

From Gairlochy, the narrow B8005 heads northwards aside the southern end of Loch Lochy before winding westwards through the moss-covered Mile Dorcha towards Loch Arkaig, passing the beautiful Eas Chia-aig waterfall on the way.

Beyond the eastern end of Loch Arkaig the road narrows further, twisting and turning as it rises and drops while travelling through forests. Around 11km beyond the end of the B8005 and having passed the Allt Mhuic Butterfly Reserve, a cattle-grid gate marks the western edge of asection of forestry where there is space to park several vehicles without obstructing access. This serves as the end point of the route.

The walk itself begins a further 2.5km east along the road beside a small hydro building where there is ample parking.

From the hydro building , a well-constructed track climbs steadily uphill at a gentle gradient. Older and fainter tracks join from the right at intervals as height is gained above Loch Arkaig.

After around 250m of ascent, the slope of the hillside begins to ease and shortly thereafter, the track reaches a small hydro dam at the outflow of Loch Blàir where the track ends.

East of the dam, various ATV tracks attempt to thread a route across damp and often boggy ground. Occasional marker posts mark points on the tracks, though doesn't really help as there are various tracks which heading in different direction.

Gradually turning north-east, and as height is gained, the wet ground progressively gives way to firmer grassy slopes interspersed with rocky slabs.

The broad summit ridge is reached beside the first of a few minor tops, which is marked by a small cairn.

Continuing eastwards, the crest undulates gently past a few scattered lochans and minor rises before reaching the highest and most easterly of Meall Blàir's summits .

A trig point stands on the summit and, despite the hill's modest height, the views are extensive.

If out to hike just Meall Blàir, the return is by the same route.

To continue to Sgùrr Choinnich, begin to head south-east from the trig point. Crossing undulating and rather featureless terrain dotted with numerous small lochans could prove a challenge to navigate in poor visibility.

Around 100m of height is gradually lost while heading towards the flat ground below the broad shoulder of Meall Lochan nan Dubh Lochan. Crossing this shoulder leads to its highest point , marked by a small cairn above some rocky slabs that provide a little shelter.

Continuing north-east along the crest, passing a post with nails and rope (for stag ponnies ?), a gentle descent leads towards the wide bealach below Sgùrr Choinnich. Here the ground becomes increasingly wet and marshy, pitted with peat hags and a few small lochans.

After crossing the bealach, a line of old iron boundary posts is picked up and these are followed uphill all the way to the summit of Sgùrr Choinnich.

The summit is marked by a small untidy cairn at a bend in the line of old posts, from where grand views westwards towards the Rough Bounds of Knoydart and northwards to the mountains surrounding Glen Quoich can be savoured on clear days.

Retrace steps briefly from the summit before leaving the line of iron posts and begin descending south-west down Sgùrr Choinnich's broad grassy slopes, more or less aiming directly for the hydro dam on the Allt Cheanna Mhuir.

Upon reaching the dam, a rough but decent track is picked up which descends steadily towards the forests above Loch Arkaig. Having lost around 250m of height from the dam, the track meets with a more substantial forestry track traversing the slopes of the hillside above the loch.

Turn right onto this track and follow it westwards.

A small bird hide is passed on the way, built to overlook the nesting territory of sea eagles in the forests on the opposite side of Loch Arkaig. On our visit, we didn't see any eagles, but were surprised by a pine marten running along the road towards us before disappearing into the undergrowth.

The track continues for around 3km, with the rocky upper slopes of Sgùrr Mhurlagain rising prominently above the treetops in view ahead, before eventually reaching the road beside the cattle-grid gate and the end of the route.