UKH

Road access to many Knoydart mountains is closed at the Quoich Dam due to a massive landslide which is still active. Highland Council posted this recently: 

 https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/11500/loch_quoich_landslip_update

Note that the road is not expected to open until mid 2019.

Having visited the site today, it does not appear to be an option to take access along the road on foot or mountain bike. Rather than waste a day, it would be better to take one of the alternative options:

For Spidean Mialach, take the right-of-way from the roadside just short of Kingie and approach the Munro along its Eastern ridge. Return the same. If for any reason you need to descend to the road alongside Loch Quoich, this should be treated as an emergency which should be notified to the Police as there is no safe way past the Quoich Dam and the alternative route (an ATV track) provided for estate use involves a river crossing which could be hazardous.

Other Quoich mountains would require access from Glen Kingie, Loch Arkaig, Arnisdale and/or Barrisdale or even Glen Shiel. All involve longer approach routes.

Pictures of the site appear on my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nic.bullivant

Thanks I was planning to go there this weekend.

Nae luck if you live in Kinlochourn.

I was thinking the same, but apparently only one resident is affected on a daily basis. He works for one of the estates and has a daily travel across the dam, the ATV track and across the river to keep an eye on some farm animals and back home. I think he lives up in Glen Quoich. He's going to have a quiet Christmas!

Thanks for the update, that’s really helpful advice re alternative routes.

Hi, Do you know how I can get an update on the road closure please? We were planning a walk up Gairich in May (for my husband's last Munro) ironically, chosen because easily accessible. Is there a way through on foot now, and places to park? Or is there a website I can consult nearer the time?

Keep an eye on the news section of the MCofS website:

https://www.mountaineering.scot/news/kinloch-hourn-road-closure-will-last-m...

Or you could start walking (or cycling?) at Poulary and follow the forestry track up Glen Kingie. Bit longer obviously, but ties in nicely with a descent of the western end of Gairich.

Thanks!

http://www.kinlochhourn.com/

"Following a meeting on the 16th January between The Highland Council and the engineers we are informed the road will be open in time for the Easter weekend.
This will of course be subject to the Highland Council’s opening of the road to the public"

I was on this hill a couple of weeks ago. The road had a barrier a mile or two before the dam so there was an extra bit of walking. I was told to walk across below the dam and if I heard an alarm I was to 'run for my life'!

Theres an update from one of the locals on walk highlands, see the last post - https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85467&sta...

That's a pretty impressive landslide. That slope must be less stable than it looks.

I (and my family) was in Kingie Lodge at the time of the landslide (the closest house to the dam). It was massive. Sounded like a very large alpine avalanche. Surprisingly little dust though.

It certainly put the kibosh on our plans for the week!

Alternatively, you could drive to the end of the road at the head of Loch Arkaig, take the path to Kinbreack cross the River Kingie if not in spate, then ascend Garich Beag from the west then on to Gairich. 

Hey folks, any update on the road? Details seem very sparse on Highland councils site.

http://www.kinlochhourn.com/ is still saying Easter - and since their livelihood is affected I'd expect them to have updated by now if there was any significant chance of a delay

According the Lochhournhead B+B Facebook page the road is now open (from 18th April). 

Crossed the landslide area today on a new stretch of road, no problems.

its a very impressive and humbling landslide, hard to believe in Scotland with our relatively benign climate and geology.