Beinn a' Mhuindh may not be a high hill, but it's certainly eye-catching, its tilted layers of rock bearing striking witness to the tectonic forces that shaped the northwest Highlands. Named for the dramatic waterfall cascading down the west face, it translates as Mountain of Pissing, a name very much telling things as it sees them. A rough walk, if not a long one, Beinn a' Mhuinidh offers a stunning outlook on the Torridon hills, neighbouring Slioch, and down the length of Loch Maree, hands down the finest body of fresh water in the world.
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metres / Distance
miles
Detailed description
1
NH0375362391 Take the somewhat boggy track northwest along the base of the hill, following fence lines towards Loch Maree. Pass through a ribbon of pretty woodland beside the Kinlochewe River until just below the little hummock of Torr an Eoin.
2
NH0231163842 Turning right, attack the open hillside - overgrown in summer - to a boggy hollow behind the Torr. Bear north, ascending steeply onto a sloping shelf between crag tiers, a prominent feature in distant views of the hill. A vague path leads up this ramp, into the shallow corrie above the waterfall.
3
NH0251564934 Pass a giant boulder, and continue north up the ramp of Coire Each, still steep but now on easier grassy ground. Before reaching the skyline above the crags of Bonaid Dhonn, veer right to outflank a rock tier, gaining the broad west ridge of the hill, and a sudden impressive view over Gleann Bianasdail to Slioch. The broad ridge leads easily to the small cairn marking the high point.
4
NH0321066049 Follow the high ground southeast to a larger cairn above a small crag. Skirt right of the rocks, then descend steeply south. Pass east of a lochan in a hollow, and continue down rough ground to a larger scattering of lochans in the hummocks below Meallan Ghobhar.
5
NH0322264753 Pass between the pools, then skirt east of Meallan Ghobhar, before descending roughly south. Make for the vague spur overlooking the gorge of the Allt Chnaimhean
6
NH0353263640 Staying well north of the gorge, a sketchy trail - slippery when wet - descends the final slope, with a bit of bracken-bashing towards the bottom, to regain the Loch Maree path. It's a short stroll back to Incheril.
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Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 6.21 miles (10 km)
Total ascent: 692m
Time: 3:30 – 4:30 hours (Walking)
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Additional Information
Start/Finish:Incheril car park, Kinlochewe (as per Slioch), NH037624
Nearest town:
Gairloch
Terrain:
Well-used path along the Kinlochewe River. Trails are thinner and more intermittent on the hill, and there's plenty of rough, steep and more or less pathless ground.
Seasonal variations:
The lower slopes get bracken-choked in summer - watch out for ticks.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: Northwest Highlands – Met Office: West Highlands
Public transport:
Good luck. The Westerbus 700 service between Gairloch and Inverness might get you to Kinlochewe, but not every day. It's complicated.
Guidebooks:
The Grahams (SMC)
Maps:
OS Explorer 435 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 19 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
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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
- Loch Ossian round - Seven Munros by Train 15 Sep, 2023
This is a very worthwhile walk - next time I do it I'll definitely go up the way you suggest rather than via the very steep and heathery gully next to the waterfall, as per the SMC Grahams book!
It certainly gives a very different view of Slioch - from Loch Maree Slioch looks like a big fortified castle, from Beinn a Mhuinidh more like a great armchair!
It's a bit rough and brackeny at first but pretty straightforward and logical. Only disadvantage is no waterfall view (well not unless you've seriously miscalculated where the cliff edge is)
Quite a lot of options for Beinn a Mhuinidh, but personally I think including a trip through Gleann Bianasdail with the hill is worthwhile if doing it as a day walk. It's a good hill for a summit camp too - water sources near the top and a great view.