Munros above Loch Monar

Railway crossing at Craig

West of Inverness and the Black Isle, the A890 travels from Achnasheen through Glen Carron towards Lochcarron and Kyle of Lochalsh. On the road, around halfway between Achnasheen and Lochcarron, is the collection of houses that make up Craig.

In Craig, there is a railway crossing, opposite which is the entrance to Achnashellach Forest car-park, where there is room for around 10 cars in the dense woodland. Beware, midgies can be ferocious in the shelter of the trees !

If intending to arrive by train, the Inverness to Kyle line passes through Craig, with the nearest station being at Achnashellach Halt, around 4km to the west.

Sgurr a' Chaorachain and Sgurr Choinnich from the track in Glen Uig

Leaving the car-park behind, head across the A890 to the railway crossing and through the gates over the line.

Now in a field, possibly with livestock or stag-ponies, follow an estate track eastwards to woodland by the River Carron. A bridge crosses the river, beyond which the tracks splits , - take the track heading left and uphill.

The track climbs quite steeply for around 1km, coming to another junction with a signpost to the right to woodland - keep left on the track heading uphill.

Uphill for a further 1km, a deer-fence enclosing the forest is met with a gate and side entrance . After heading through the gate, a little more ascent arrives at the head of a hidden glen, where the track turns southwards. The track drops a little and passes another branch which heads to dam over the Allt a' Chonas.

Crossing the Allt a' Chonais via the wire bridge

Crossing the Allt a' Chonais via the wire bridge

Above Bealach Bhearnais, heading up Sgùrr Choinnich

On foot, follow the worn and soggy path that heads south-east from the small cairn to meet with a wire bridge over the Allt a'Chonais.

Cross the bridge (which requires care, but is fun), then continue up a section of track for around 300m to where it ends abruptly. A rough stalker's path leads onwards which climbs gently for around 2km to reach Bealach Bhearnais where three hillsides converge.

Upon approaching the bealach, and as the stalker's path becomes fainter, strike south-eastwards up a grass-covered slope to reach the western shoulder of Sgùrr Chòinnich.

Hiking up Sgùrr Chòinnich's western shoulder a faint path begins to form, becoming more obvious with height gained. There are a few sections of rough terrain, perhaps requiring hands on rock, but all straightforward and before long, Sgùrr Chòinnich's summit crest is gained.

Approaching the summit of Sgùrr Choinnich

Approaching the summit of Sgùrr Choinnich

Sgùrr a' Chaorachain from Sgùrr Choinnich

From Sgùrr Chòinnich's summit, continue along its crest to a small cairn on a slight rise. The cairn marks a change of direction to east-north-east - in mist the route isn't very obvious from here and if following the crest of the summit it could be easy to pulled south-east !

From the small cairn begin to head east-north-east, descending down a worn path. The path zig-zags as it tries to pick a way down the easiest terrain though some bare rock needs crossing as Bealach Coire Chòinnich , the col between Sgùrr Chòinnich and Sgùrr a' Chaorachain, is neared.

After crossing the grass-covered col, the initial climb up Sgùrr a' Chaorachain's western shoulder is quite rough, with some clambering up rocky terrain.

On the way up Sgùrr a' Chaorachain, Sgùrr Chòinnich behind

On the way up Sgùrr a' Chaorachain, Sgùrr Chòinnich behind

Maoile Lunndaidh and Bidean an Eòin Deirg from Sgùrr a' Chaorachain

To the east of Sgùrr a' Chaorachain is Bidean an Eòin Deirg, a 'Munro Top', very shapely and worthy of a visit if just for the fine views eastwards from its summit .

The distance between Sgùrr a' Chaorachain and Bidean an Eòin Deirg is around 1.5km with the route travelling along a crest following the rim of Coire an Lochain Ghaineamhaich and Coire Dearg Mòr.

If intending to return from Bidean an Eòin Deirg, retrace steps to Sgùrr a' Chaorachain. If heading to Maoile Lunndaidh, retrace footsteps for around 300m, then head northwards to descend some rough terrain north-east to Drochaid Mhuilich - you might find a map and case that I dropped here many years ago !

Descending Sgùrr a' Chaorachain

Leaving Sgùrr a' Chaorachain's trig point behind, head northwards on a wide grass-covered slope for around 750m, losing around 150m of height to a point where the slope levels out and where two options await.

Heading north-east, one possible route follows the line of the hill downwards beginning pleasant enough and meeting up with the Allt an Lubhain Bhuidhe. Lower down, terrain becomes steep and loose with the track in Glen Uig being met around 2km east of where bikes have been dropped off.

On the track out, Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean behind

On the track out, Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean behind

Càrn nam Fiaclan above Drochaid Mhuilich

From Sgùrr a' Chaorachain's summit, begin to head northwards down wide grass-covered slope. There is no path to trace as the slope of the hill is descended as it turns around Lochan Gaineamhach to reach heather-clad ground lower down .

The Allt an Lochan Ghaineamhaich is easily hopped over, followed by a crossing of the flat ground of Drochaid Mhuilich to reach the foot of Càrn nam Fiaclan.

Above and ahead, a path can be seen picking a route through heather, then loose stoney ground higher up, which requires the occasional bit of clambering. Onto the wide crest of Càrn nam Fiaclan, terrain leading to the summit is mostly grass-covered interspersed with boulderfield and lines of rock.

Beyond Càrn nam Fiaclan, a very enjoyable wander over a grass-covered plateau following a faint path, leads over Creag Toll a' Chròin perched above a fine coire, to reach the cairn on the stone-covered summit of Maoile Lunndaidh .

To descend Maoile Lunndaidh to Glen Uig, leave the summit and head slightly west of north down a wide slope, mainly grass-covered but soggy in bits with a few patches of boulderfield. After around 1km, cross a small burn, begin to turn westwards and drop down onto the western arm of the minor summit of Creag Dhubh Mhòr.

Descending Maoile Lunndaidh towards Glen Uig

Descending Maoile Lunndaidh towards Glen Uig