Sgurr na Feartaig from 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.

Estate track into Glen Uig, Sgurr na Feartaig in view

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 another branch in the track is met - a sign indicates this is not a walkers route, but is the way to a small hydro scheme.

Sgurr na Feartaig from the Allt a' Chonais

Sgurr na Feartaig from the Allt a' Chonais

Sgurr na Feartaig's cairn

Over the Allt a' Chonas, strike directly uphill through heather to meet with a stalkers path that comes from the north-east. Follow this stalkers path as it climbs uphill, slightly to the east of the crest of Na Meallanan Buidhe. Higher up, gradient easies as the flat plateau of Sgurr na Feartaig's northern shoulder is reached.

After descending a little, the stalker's path meets with Loch Sgurr na Feartaig . In fine, calm weather the view of Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a' Chaorachain reflected in the loch is quite something !

Beyond the loch, the stalker's path doesn't aim for Sgurr na Feartaig's top, rather it heads around the west and contours around 50m below the summit. Therefore after Loch Sgurr na Feartaig is reached, leave the path and aim due south. It's uphill for a bit, on grass covered ground.

On Sgurr na Feartaig's summit, Lurg Mhor beyond

On Sgurr na Feartaig's summit, Lurg Mhor beyond

Sgurr na Feartaig's west top with Skye and Coulin beyond

With other fine Munro and Corbett peaks nearby, there are several options to hike an extended route - see 'Alternative and nearby routes' below.

To continue on a circular route along Sgurr na Feartaig's crest, from the summit, head due west over grass covered ground and pick up the stalkers path around 200m from the cairn. Follow the stalker's path as it travels south-west on a wide ridge, passing an interesting, broken gash in the crest, to drop to a bealach , where a stalker's path heads down into Coire nan Each - an 'escape route' if needed in poor weather.

Keep to the path on the crest as it climbs westwards and along to Sgurr na Feartaig's western summit where a small pile of stones sitting in grass marks the highest point . Fine views to be had, including a full uninterrupted panorama of Skye's Cuillin ridge.

Descending on the stalker's path, traverse Sgurr na Feartaig's westerly slopes down to a pass, where, by a lochan, the stalker's path meets another path heading up from the south. Turn right onto this path, aiming northwards around rocks and to a break in a line of crags above Carn Mor. The path twists and turns down a heather-clad steep nose to a bealach before Carn Mor, where it turns westwards and drops onto moorland. Getting ever more soggy, the path makes its way northwards to a gate in a deer-fence.

On the path descending to Glen Carron

On the path descending to Glen Carron