Sgurr Mor and Sgurr an Fhuarain from Loch Arkaig

At the western end of 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 then turns westwards. From here on a very narrow and unclassified road a 12 mile drive travels through the mossy Mile Dorcha then hugs the northern shores of Loch Arkaig to its western end.

The road ends by a gate across the access to an estate track, just before which is a large parking area with designated bays for around 15 vehicles. If the car-park is full, there are various verge side parking areas before reaching the car-park, but care should be taken not to block passing places.

Heading along Glen Dessarry

Leave the car-park, head around the gate and begin hiking up the estate track. After just under 1km, the track comes to a junction by a few right-of-way signs - keep right as the track climbs uphill for a few metres.

The track drops down to the River Dessarry where the twin summits of Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh and Druim a' Chuirn overlooking Coire Chicheanais dominate the view ahead.

Continue hiking along the track for another 1km or so toward the estate house and outbuildings of Glendessarry . Just before reaching the buildings and after crossing a bridge over the Allt na Feithe, turn off the track and head uphill on a faint grassy track by a target practice area.

The track heads through a knackered old fence line then splits - ignore the ATV tracks off left and keep right on a path, heading uphill.

The path climbs and gradually begins to level out as the wild moorland of Feith a' Chicheanais is approached. After crossing the Feith a' Chicheanais, the path becomes vague and gradually disappears into grass as it drops towards Glen Kingie.

In Glen Kingie, the River Kingie needs negotiated (tricky or impossible in spate), followed thereafter by crossing the remains of an old walk and a rough track both heading east-west.

Ahead and directly above are steep grass covered slopes leading to the bealach between Sgurr Mor and Sgurr an Fhuarain. A continuous climb of 500m uphill, without paths to follow, is quite straightforward.

Sgurr an Fhuarain is possibly best bagged first, as this would leave options for descent from Sgurr Mor later.

On Sgurr Fhuarain, looking to Gairich

On Sgurr Fhuarain, looking to Gairich

At the bealach below Sgurr Mor

Standing on Sgurr an Fhuarain's summit, Sgurr Mor appears surprisingly close - it's just over 2km away.

On Sgurr an Fhuarain's summit about turn and re-trace footsteps back to the bealach between Sgurr an Fhuarain and Sgurr Mor.

From the bealach, begin heading up the slope of Sgurr Mor's east facing shoulder, the path now more obvious than on the climb up Sgurr an Fhuarain. As the route turns north-west, the crest narrows with the path narrowing and twisting as terrain becomes a tad rougher.

Further up, the path turns westwards for the final climb up rockier terrain to gain Sgurr Mor's summit crest. The faint path tries to take a fairly direct route while crossing undulating ground to head for Sgurr Mor's summit .

Approaching Sgurr Mor's summit from the east

Approaching Sgurr Mor's summit from the east

Looking back to Sgurr Mor from An Eag

The most direct route of return is to about turn and retrace footsteps back to the bealach between Sgurr an Fhuarain and Sgurr Mor, then return by the route taken from Glen Dessarry.

When guiding in this area, we often found people just didn't like the thought of the knee-bashing the steep continuous descent to the River Kingie gave and we would offer an easier though longer alternative.

This option begins by aiming downhill and southwards from Sgurr Mor on a well defined stalker's path that twists and turns as it descends. After losing around 250m of height, a shallow bealach is met, from where the path continues up Sgurr Beag , becoming faint as it approaches its summit.

The path becomes more obvious again while descending Sgurr Beag's grass-covered south-western crest to gain another bealach , this one wider than the previous and with a few small lochans.

An old stalker's path crosses the bealach from Loch Quoich, and this is followed back into Glen Kingie.

Walking out over the Feith a' Chicheanais

Walking out over the Feith a' Chicheanais