Seana Bhraigh from Corriemulzie

Car park by the old school house

In Sutherland, the A837 travels from Bonar Bridge at the head of the Dornoch Firth to Lochinver on the North West coast. On this road, around 30km west of Bonar Bridge, sits Oykel Bridge where there is a hotel and a few houses.

From Okyel Bridge a narrow road heads south following the west bank of the River Oykel. The road comes to a line of 6 houses, beyond which there is a turning circle .

Beyond the turning circle there is an estate track heading south-west and this can be driven along. However, the track can be rough in places with wet potholes, so if you are fond of your vehicle and it has low ground clearance, it would be advisable instead to head in by foot or on bike.

Follow the track as it turns south over the River Einig , then takes a sharp turn right. Continue onwards for around 3km, the track takes a sharp turn, crosses a burn , then comes to a junction - keep straight on and continue for another 3km.

The track comes to the end of the forest by a cattle-grid - I parked here last time to keep out of wind. Around 1km further on is the end of the road for hillwalker's vehicles where there is a car-parking area by The Schoolhouse and Duag Bridge.

Shoogly bridge over the Allt a' Choire Bhuidhe

Cross Duag Bridge, shortly after which is a junction - keep left on the main track (turning right leads to Loch an Daimh and eventually Ullapool). Follow the track for 3km through woodland to Corriemulzie Lodge . The track comes to an abrupt end at a gate just past the lodge. Seana Bhraigh and Creag an Duine can be seen ahead in the distance.

Camping by Corriemulzie River

Camping by Corriemulzie River

On Seana Bhraigh's summit looking to Coigach

The track fords the river, which should be easy to cross in fair conditions. In spate this will be tricky, if impossible to cross, in which case head upstream for a few metres where there is a wooden bridge (on my last visit this bridge was near to collapse).

Once over, continue along the track for around 500m to meet up with a cairn shortly before the track crosses Corriemulzie River. This cairn marks the start of rougher track heading south-west - follow this for another 500m or so to yet another small cairn which marks the start of ATV tracks heading southwards uphill away from the track (the track heading south-east comes to a dead-end).

The ATV tracks climb gently at first, then turn and head uphill towards the spur of Meallan Odhar. Passing a few flag-stones on the way, the tracks end by a tiny cairn on the summit of this minor hump .

From this summit turn left 90^o and aim directly uphill south-east over heather and some short sections of boulderfield. You'll come to a small lochan on Seana Bhraigh's north-east shoulder, behind which a faint but obvious path leads south-west up the crest.

Spring snow in Luchd Choire

Spring snow in Luchd Choire

From Seana Bhraigh over the mid summit to Creag an Duine

The easiest route for return is to simply re-trace your steps back down into Strath Mulzie.

An alternative begins with a return to the lochan on Seana Bhraigh's north-east ridge. Beyond this continue tracing the faint path down the ridge to the mouth of Loch a' Choire Mhòr . The river flowing out will need crossing, from where a track heads northwards to return.

Another option would be a visit to Creag an Duine - the impressive mountain on the other side of Luchd Choire. This detour takes in a relaxed walk over the wide expanse of Seana Bhraigh's plateau and its minor summit marked '906m' or '905m' depending on which map you use. Travelling northwards around the coire, the plateau narrows with a fairly exposed, but technically easy scramble up loose ground to Creag an Duine's summit - An Sgùrr .

Heading towards Creag an Duine

Heading towards Creag an Duine