Folded into the Kintail backcountry between the coast and wild upper Glen Affric, Beinn Fhada and A' Ghlas Bheinn combine to make a tremendous tough round. Though relatively retiring, A' Ghlas-bheinn has craggy character and great views, while at its southern foot, the Bealach an Sgairne must be one of the classic through-routes of Scotland. But it's Beinn Fhada (aka Attow) that really steals the show. More a stretched-out massif than a single entity, the 'Long Mountain' sports multiple tops and remote craggy corries, with a high grassy summit plateau unique in the area, and the impressively rugged northwest ridge to end the day with a scrambly climax.
Fetching Map
Height Profile
metres / Distance
miles
Detailed description
1
NG9667421095 Follow the road east, cross a bridge, then just beyond the houses turn right onto a footpath leading up-glen through a field and then along the wooded Abhainn Chonaig. Cross open ground to a junction; turn left, descending to cross the river via a footbridge in a gorge.
2
NG9807222348 Turn right onto a track leading uphill into forestry. It's left at the first junction, straight on at the second and right at the third - look for old signposts to the Falls of Glomach. Crossing a burn, the track makes a steady ascent north to exit the woods close to a footbridge. It's possible to climb A' Ghlas-bheinn from here but a more interesting full traverse of the hill means first crossing the bridge and then heading for the Bealach na Sroine - it's a good path all the way.
3
NH0081324731 Once up on the high open plateau of the bealach head south, climbing rough pathless ground. Round the flank of Meall Dubh to reach a scenic lochan on a rugged col. The rocky lump of Creag na Saobhie is best climbed via a depression just to the right of the steepest ground. From here descend to a high col before zigzagging up the steep summit slopes of A' Ghlas-bheinn.
4
NH0082023101 Now on the well-used standard Munro path, descend the knobbly southeast spur of the hill. Several craggy sections are generally skirted to the left, the trail steep and quite eroded in places. Soon reach the Bealach an Sgairne. A narrow cleft between the craggy flanks of the two Munros, the bealach has a melodramatic feel, and you may well find yourself picturing the cattle drovers and ambushing clansmen who must surely have come this way. Heading west, the path descends out of the pass.
5
NH0069921374 At a fork in the trail go left, ascending into the mouth of Coire na Sgairne. The slabby cliffs and knobbled peaks to the west form a striking skyline, and one that you'll be traversing later on. From the upper corrie the trail zigzags to a col on Beinn Fhada's northern ridge. Heading south-southeast, ascend onto the huge tilted plateau of the Plaide Mhor, following the grassy path - wet in spots - up to the trig point and stone wind break on the summit of Beinn Fhada.6
NH0185919247 Retrace your steps briefly, then strike out west on a delightfully effortless jog over the Plaide Mhor. From the corrie cliff edge climb onto the broad top of Meall an Fhuarain Mhoir.
7
NG9999419621 The tenor of the day now changes as the mountain narrows dramatically into the northwest ridge. With some light scrambling and a degree of exposure, follow the crest over a series of little rocky summits. Climb onto the prominent peak of Ceum na h-Aon-choise (which a cartographic error on some OS maps makes look about 30m shorter and much less pointy than the reality on the ground!). A steep descent leads to the notch of the Bealach an t-Sealgaire. Seen head-on the next top, Sgurr a' Choire Ghairbh, looks impregnably cliffy, but proves amenable via an enjoyable scramble up a short slabby groove. More rugged ups and downs lead out to the final main top, Faradh Nighean Fhearchair.
8
NG9947820858 Still on pretty rugged ground, descend north to a notch just before the last rocky top (point 757m). Here cut left, where a path of sorts leads down off the rocky ground onto boggy slopes. Pick your own line, roughly west-northwest, down towards the little top of Beinn Buidhe, then take the broad heathery spur west, descending quite steeply towards the houses. Cross a deer fence (there's a spot that's reasonably easy to step over) then continue downhill beside a lower fence. Just before the houses cross right into a field to regain the approach footpath of stage 1.
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Difficulty: SevereDistance: 13.42 miles (21.60 km)
Total ascent: 1,720m
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 hours (Walking)
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Summits
A' Ghlas-bheinn 918 mBeinn Fhada 1032 m
Beinn Fhada - Meall an Fhuarain Mhoir 933 m
Beinn Fhada - Sgurr a' Choire Ghairbh 870 m
Additional Information
Start/Finish:NTS Countryside Centre in Morvich, or further up the road at the Kintail Outdoor Centre (parking limited here), NG966211
Nearest town:
Kyle of Lochalsh
Terrain:
A mix of forest tracks, clear hill paths, pathless rough ground, boggy bits, steep ascents and descents, and an exposed rocky ridge with some grade 1 scrambling to finish.
Seasonal variations:
The round described would be a big undertaking in winter. Steep ground on the descent of A' Ghlas Bheinn would need care, while the west ridge of Beinn Fhada is a grade I winter mountaineering route.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: Northwest Highlands – Met Office: West Highlands
Public transport:
Bus to Portree passes reasonably close to the route start.
Guidebooks:
Various variations mentioned in The Munros (SMC)
Maps:
OS Explorer 414 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 25 (1:50,000), OS Landranger 33 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Cluanie (01320 340 238); Lochcarron (01520 722357); Kyle of Lochalsh (0845 22 55 121)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH
- East Ridge of Beinn a' Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach 21 Jan
- A' Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire 4 Dec, 2023
- Meall na Teanga & Sron a' Choire Ghairbh - The Loch Lochy Munros 6 Nov, 2023
- Bynack More 19 Oct, 2023
- Beinn a' Mhuinidh 4 Oct, 2023
Grand stuff. Did this 15 or more years back and that western ridge of Beinn Fhada is utterly gorgeous.
Great hills, but please could you add "backcountry" to your list of words and phrases which should never be heard in the backdoors (in this country anyway).
Edit: Just noticed my typo for outdoors but I like it so I'll leave it!
Ha, busted!