The Munros Vol 2 - Northern Highlands and the Cairngorms

• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Updates
• Reviews
• Further Reading

View Sample Route Map

Route 40: Sgurr na Ruaidhe (993 m), Carn nan Gobhar (992 m),

Sgurr a’ Choire Ghlais (1083 m), Sgurr Fhuar-thuill (1049 m)

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Pronunciation: Skoor na Roy-yer; Karn nern Go-er; Skoor uh Hother Glash; Skoor Ooer Hillyer
Translation: Red Peak; Hill of Goats; Peak of the Grey-green Corrie; Peak of the Cold Hollow

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Distance: 24km (6km of which can be cycled)
Ascent: 1550 m
Time: 6 hours 30 minutes (plus time for walking/cycling back along the road)
Maps: OS sheet 25; Explorer map 430; Area Map 10
Start: follow the rough track uphill
Parking: roadside at junction of track near the Allt Coire Mhuillidh
Hostel: YHA Cannich; independent, Cannich
B&B/hotel: Cannich; Struy
Camping: Cannich
Access: see Route 39 for access restrictions to Glen Strathfarrar. Scottish Natural Heritage, tel: 01463 723132 or 01463 761235; Gatekeeper, tel: 01463 761260

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Glen Strathfarrar is surely one of Scotland’s most enchanting glens, and these four hills on its northern side offer an excellent circuit over mixed but fairly easy terrain in a wonderful setting. Although the group forms a natural circuit, the start and finish points are several kilometres apart; if a bike can be left near the road where the walk ends, this will enable you to avoid a long road walk at the end of the day.

Start where a track joins the road between Loch Beannacharan and Loch a’ Mhuillidh and follow this uphill until it turns into a footpath. The path follows the Allt Coire Mhuillidh for a couple of kilometres until it crosses a burn coming off the south of Sgurr na Ruaidhe, then it turns right and climbs the grassy southwest ridge of the hill in a direct line up to the summit. Just before the top there is a very slight dip before the cairned summit is reached at 28900 42602 (2hrs 40mins).

Descend west-northwest down a broad grassy ridge to a col, then climb the ridge on the other side almost due north to a plateau at its top, then curve around the top of Carn nan Gobhar’s southeastern corrie before the short climb to its summit. The top of this hill is covered in mossy boulders. The summit cairn is to the right of the summit ridge at 27311 43880 (3hrs 25mins).

From the southern end of the bouldery summit ridge, head southwest down a wide mossy ridge, then veer to the west when the ridge begins to narrow, until you reach another col. Climb the ridge on its far side, which is narrower and steeper than before, until the stony summit of Sgurr a’ Choire Ghlais is reached. There are two cairns and a trig point on top: the cairn to the right (north) is the higher at 25843 43048 (4hrs 15mins).

Drop down over the jumble of boulders to the northwest, where the ridge narrows and easier ground is reached. Follow it for just over 1km to the foot of Creag Ghorm a’ Bhealaich, then climb the sharp ridge quite steeply to a small cairn perched on its summit crest overlooking Coire na Sguille at 24477 43497. From here there is a gentle descent to the west before the final easy climb up Sgurr Fhuar-thuill to a prominent cairn at 23581 43750 (5hrs 10mins).

The descent follows a good stalker’s path which starts just to the west of the next col at 23025 43684. A small cairn marks the start of the path which clings to the side of Sgurr na Fearstaig’s south ridge, then passes to the east of the dark waters of Loch Toll a’ Mhuic. From the loch the path follows the Allt Toll a’ Mhuic and in 3km brings you back to the road a short distance above the stalker’s cottage at Inchvuilt.