Meall na h-Èilde, Geal Charn and neighbours from Loch Arkaig

Achnasaul by Loch Arkaig

In the Great Glen, Gairlochy and its locks on the Caledonian Canal sit a couple of miles west of the Commando Memorial above Spean Bridge.

From Gairlochy the narrow B8005 heads up to Loch Lochy's southern tip before turning west to travel along the mossy Mile Dorcha to Loch Arkaig, passing the beautiful Eas Chia-aig on the way.

Around 2km along the northern bank of Loch Arkaig is Achnasaul and the buildings of the Mowi fish farm. Verge side parking is possible in the shade of some trees by the access to a field.

Track leading to Glas Bheinn

Head back up the road passing the entrance to the fish farm, cross the bridge over the Allt Dubh and turn left up a track in some woodland. Through a couple of gates and passing under a mast, follow the track as it makes it way north-east uphill.

The track crosses one of the tributaries of the Allt Dubh (there was a post with a red marker where I was last here), which is where I left it and started hiking up open hillside. A fairly gentle plod over grass climbs 400m, with ever-expanding glorious views.

Glas Bheinn's summit crest is reached, a short distance from its small cairn marking the top .

Meall na h-èilde from Glas Bheinn's summit

From Geal Chàrn's small cairn, head north following the pathless crest of the hill gradually losing a little height. Approaching the northern end of Geal Chàrn's summt crest, descent begins to steepen and around 200m is dropped down grass and heather to meet with the Allt Tarsuinn below - a lovely place to stop, refresh water-bottles and take in the views of the Loch Lochy hills to the east.

Cross the Allt Tarsuinn and strike uphill aiming north-east on Meall na h-Èilde's grass-covered south-western shoulder. After climbing around 200m or so, gradient begins to level out where a minor summit (marked with a spot height of 681m) is easily by-passed.

Terrain becomes a bit damp with some peat-hags needing a leap or two before the final grassy ascent up Meall na h-Èilde.

The Loch Lochy hills from the Allt Tarsuinn

The Loch Lochy hills from the Allt Tarsuinn

Geal Chàrn from Meall Coiire nan Saobhaidh

Leaving Meall na h-Èilde's small cairn behind, follow the line of fence-posts travelling initially northwards. The line of fence-posts turn north-west and drop through some patches of boulderfield to Bealach Choire a' Ghuirein, where a couple of puddles reflect the views of Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh ahead.

A faint path can be picked up aside the fence-posts as they travel up the grass-covered eastern shoulder of Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh and onto its summit .

Keeping to the line of fence-posts, a gentle drop down the delightfully grass-covered western crest of Meall Coire nan Saobhaidh leads to heather covered Bealach Càrn na h-Urchaire with its small lochans.

Geal Chàrn's trig pillar and view westwards

Geal Chàrn's trig pillar and view westwards

Sgùrr Chòinnich from the Allt an Fhithich

Keeping to the line of fence-posts, Geal Chàrn's trig pillar is left behind for more hiking over pleasant grass-covered hillsides while aiming westwards with Sgùrr Chòinnich in views ahead.

The fence-posts drop to a wide bealach with a lochan below the rise of Càrn Dubh . Rather than take the effort to head over this bump, I opted to save my energy and leave the fence-posts and contour around Càrn Dubh's northern side to meet with the Allt an Fhithich .

Climbing up over heather and grass while aiming north-west, the steep and rough ground of Sgùrr Chòinnich's south-east face is avoided, reaching the hill's north-eastern shoulder some 750m distant from its summit.

Once on the crest, the fence-posts are met once more and followed to Sgùrr Chòinnich's summit with its small untidy cairn and from where a rather fine panorama of the Rough Bounds of Knoydart is viewed.

Bridge over the Allt Mhuic

The fence-posts continue from Sgùrr Choinnih's summit westwards, so for a return to Loch Arkaig, they need to be left behind and instead a route aiming southwards made.

More delightful grassy terrain is crossed while losing height on the gentle slope of Sgùrr Chòinnich's southern shoulder. While descending and looking over to Geal Charn, there are some weird gorges to be seen cutting through this hill's west-facing lower slopes.

Around 2km after leaving Sgùrr Chòinnich's summit, the gradient begins to steepen and a change of direction to south-east leads down to the Allt Mhuic where a bridge crosses the river just below a small dam.

Over the bridge and now above the east bank of the Allt Mhuic, a track heads downhill to meet with forestry roads which return to the road above Loch Arkaig around 2km west of Achnasaul.

Waterfall on the Allt Tarsuinn

From the car-park by the Eas Chia-aig waterfall, a marked path heads up the eastern side of the Abhainn Chia-aig.

The path joins a fine track to continue on more level ground through the forest. After 1.5km the track ends at a turning circle , from where a rough path twists and turns to reach a stile at the forest end.

Now on a defined but wet path, a bridge over the Abhainn Chia-aig is reached, after which a faint path follows the east bank of the Allt Tarsuin upstream.

The burn begins to turn north-west leading to a lovely waterfall - leave the faint path and strike directly up the steep grass covered slopes ahead. There's a fairly steady climb of over 400m up a steep grass covered slope to reach Meall na h-èilde's summit , where a line of posts is met shortly before the small cairn on the top is gained.

[Note that this alternative route was initially written before the hydro scheme on the Abhainn Chia-aig was constructed and was subsequently amended.]