Monar's Munros

Munros above Loch Monar

Hillwalking route up Sgurr a' Chaorachain and Sgurr Choinnich

Set back from Glen Carron, Sgurr a' Chaorachain and Sgurr Choinnich are two Munros linked by a ridge above Glen Uig. A cycle along a fine estate track reaches the foot of these mountains and routes can be varied to include nearby Bidean an Eoin Deirg or Maoile Lunndaidh.



Route outline


Munros

Sgurr a' Chaorachain, 

Sgurr Choinnich, 

Maoile Lunndaidh

Walk ascent 1230m (4030ft)
         distance 11km (7m)
         time 4:50hr
Bike ascent 300m (980ft)
         distance 11km (7m)
         time 1:00hr
Start/finish Craig, nr Achnashellach
Grid Ref : NH040493
Terrain
easy hard
Nav
easy hard
Effort
easy hard
Scenery
ok fab


Sgurr a' Chaorachain and Sgurr Choinnich are two Munros that stand on a headwall glimpsed when travelling past Craig in Glen Carron.

A fine cycleable estate track leads to the base of these mountains which can then be bagged in a circular route following crests and rims of corries.

Though not a Munro, nearby Bidean an Eoin Deirg is a distinctive peak to the east of Sgurr a' Chaorachain and deserving of the extra effort to reach. Maoile Lunndaidh is further east still, but with only 600m of additional ascent also worth the detour effort.



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Route description


1. Getting to Craig

Railway crossing at Craig

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.


2. Bike to Pollan Buidhe

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

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

Keeping to the main track, continue around the base of Sgurr nan Ceannaichean for another 2km, to where the track takes a sharp left turn and there is a small cairn on the right to mark the start of a footpath. Leave bikes here.

Crossing the Allt a' Chonais via the wire bridge

Crossing the Allt a' Chonais via the wire bridge


3. Sgurr Choinnich

Above Bealach Bhearnais, heading up Sgurr Choinnich

Above Bealach Bhearnais, heading up Sgurr 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 Sgurr Choinnich.

Hiking up Sgurr Choinnich'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, Sgurr Choinnich's summit crest is gained.

Approaching the summit of Sgurr Choinnich

Approaching the summit of Sgurr Choinnich

There is a short distance to walk along Sgurr Choinnich's crest to gain the summit , with the path travelling quite close to an airy drop into Coire Choinnich below.

Approaching the summit of Sgurr Choinnich

Approaching the summit of Sgurr Choinnich


4. Sgurr a' Chaorachain

Sgurr a' Chaorachain from Sgurr Choinnich

Sgurr a' Chaorachain from Sgurr Choinnich

From Sgurr Choinnich'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 Choinnich , the col between Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a' Chaorachain, is neared.

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

On the way up Sgurr a' Chaorachain, Sgurr Choinnich behind

On the way up Sgurr a' Chaorachain, Sgurr Choinnich behind

Higher up the slope becomes more gentle and easier underfoot approaching the remains of Sgurr a' Chaorachain's summit trig point within a circular stone dyke on top of a grass-covered plateau.

On the way up Sgurr a' Chaorachain, Sgurr Choinnich behind

On the way up Sgurr a' Chaorachain, Sgurr Choinnich behind


5. Bidean an Eoin Deirg

Maoile Lunndaidh and Bidean an Eoin Deirg from Sgurr a' Chaorachain

Maoile Lunndaidh and Bidean an Eoin Deirg from Sgurr a' Chaorachain

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

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

If intending to return from Bidean an Eoin Deirg, retrace steps to Sgurr 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 !


6. Return to Craig

Descending Sgurr a' Chaorachain

Descending Sgurr a' Chaorachain

Leaving Sgurr 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, Sgurr nan Ceannaichean behind

On the track out, Sgurr nan Ceannaichean behind

Alternatively head north-west and begin to head down the side of Sgurr a' Chaorachain's northern shoulder. Pathless and quite steep, this route takes a more pleasant line, ending up with a hop or ford across the Pollan Buidhe river (depending on water level) to pick up the track in Glen Uig , around 500m away from where bikes have been left.

On the track out, Sgurr nan Ceannaichean behind

On the track out, Sgurr nan Ceannaichean behind


7. Detour to Maoile Lunndaidh

Carn nam Fiaclan above Drochaid Mhuilich

Carn nam Fiaclan above Drochaid Mhuilich

From Sgurr 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 Carn 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 Carn nam Fiaclan, terrain leading to the summit is mostly grass-covered interspersed with boulderfield and lines of rock.

Beyond Carn nam Fiaclan, a very enjoyable wander over a grass-covered plateau following a faint path, leads over Creag Toll a' Chroin 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 Mhor.

Descending Maoile Lunndaidh towards Glen Uig

Descending Maoile Lunndaidh towards Glen Uig

Follow the line of this shoulder westwards, then as it steepens, north-west, to cross the burn tumbling down from Fuar-tholl Mor. Now in Glen Uig, head towards Glenuaig Lodge to pick up the track in the glen from where around 4km of walking returns to where bikes have been left.

Descending Maoile Lunndaidh towards Glen Uig

Descending Maoile Lunndaidh towards Glen Uig





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