The Fisherfield forest seen from Sgurr Fiona

The Fisherfield Forest
The Fisherfield estate is quite isolated from the surrounding road. An Teallach and the Big Strath na Seala river guards entry from the north while Loch Maree restricts access from the south. The west sees vast low boggy moorland and rivers that quickly become uncrossable in wet weater conditions. The east is probably the quickest, safest way in and even then it's 8km from the road. The northern, eastern and southern approaches are the easiest means of access with paths to follow. The eastern approach from Destitution road has an excellent path and the Poolewe approach is also known to be good.

The main summits are all munros that form a horseshoe round Gleann na Muice which drains northwards to Strath na Sealga. All summits can be done in a long day from the Shevanal bothy. The four eastern munros are all easy with the three northernmost summits being very rocky.

An Teallach seen from Strath na Sealga

Beinn a' Chlaiddeimh, Sgurr Ban, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair & Beinn Tarsuinn
Easy approaches to these eastern summits can be made from the east from near Loch an Nid - some slopes are quite slabby though. The waters downstream are generally easy to cross where the track from Dundonnell comes down to meet the strath. Camping is possible high up but vegetation is thin so options are limited for those wanting a comfortable might.

Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair seen from Beinn Tarsuinn

Beinn a' Chlaiddeimh seen from Sgurr Ban

Beinn a' Chlaiddeimh, 916m, is the most isolated summit out of the four summits, being about 2km from the saddle at 650m. The final summit ridge is rocky, but the remainder of the ridge is the usual mix of grass and protruding rock. From the saddle at 650m, the ascent to Sgurr Ban, 989m, is a long moderate rise up a large boulder field for most of the 300m ascent. In descent, this ground is toilsome and progress is slow balancing from one rock to the next.

Looking down Gleann na Muice from Beinn Tarsuinn

Fionn Loch seen from A' Mhaighdean

The descent from Sgurr Ban is easier underfoot towards Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, but the ascent on the other side of the 820m saddle initially takes a steep scree path where the slope becomes a ridge higher up at a more moderate angle. At 1019m, Mulloch Coire Mhic Fhearchair is the highest summit in the Fisherfield estate. The descent of 250m down to the next saddle is also rocky for the first 100m drop, but becomes a mix of grass and rock, with a couple of easy rock steps to tackle further down.

Beinn Tarsuinn seen from Sgurr Ban

Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair & Beinn Tarsuinn

The 851m summit of Meall Garbh can easily be avoided by following a well worn path beneath its northwest face. The path at times is steep, but never difficult in summer conditions. The rise to Beinn Tarsuinn at 937m is pathless up a wide grassy slope with rocky outcrops.

The descent to the 525m saddle towards A'Mhaighdean starts with an interesting narrow ridge. This is the highlight of the walk, with one section able to cause pause for thought for some people. A convenient path bypasses this section about 40m down on the southern slopes. Once off the ridge, steep slopes are followed down to moorland and the saddle point where the the walk for A'Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor begins.

A'Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor
The next two Fisherfield munros are the most remote - A'Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor. To the southeast of A'Mhaighdean, 967m, lies a saddle at 525m. The rise up to summit makes its way up easy rocky terraces to the long grassy south east flank of the mountain. From here, a 1km trudge up the grassy slopes takes you to the summit of A'Mhaighdeam. Steep cliffs hang below the northern summit, plunging into Fuar Loch Mhor. The eye is led westward down the west ridge to Dubh Loch and Fionn Loch and the moors beyond. The road in this view is 16km distant at the small village of Poolewe. Towards the south lies Beinn Lair, rising in dramatic form above its long northern band of cliffs.

Ruadh Stac Mor seen from A'Mhaighdean

A' Mhaighdean seen from Beinn Tarsuinn

The northeastern descent follows a path eastwards down a steep grassy slope down to a saddle northeast along a broad ridge of grass and rock. Beyond the saddle point, the rise upto Ruadh Stac Mor (918m) is very steep, following a scree run through a band of crags. Some people will elect to go round to the much gentler north side and ascend the summit from there. A good stalkers path heads northwest down from the saddle point from here it is possible to contour round to Raudh Stac Mor's north side. The rise to the summit from here is a moderate rise up slopes of grass and rock to the stoney northwest ridge.

Returning back down the slopes to Lochan a' Bhraghad, make your way north following the stream down to intercept the stalkers path which can then be followed east down into Gleann na Muice. The path is of good quality, and dry underfoot. Once in the basin of Gleann na Muice, the path is followed to a crofthouse where the river is crossed and you then make your way across wet ground to Strath na Sealga. At this point another river is crossed, which is often wide and deep, and you end up at the Shenavall bothy where a good nights rest can be had.

Beinn a' Chlaiddeimh and Beinn Dearg Mhor seen on the path to Shevanall Bothy

Beinn Dearg Bheag and Beinn Dearg Mhor seen from the south

The Loch Maree Peaks
Three summits lie on the north side of Loch Maree. While all of them are comparatively close to the main road, they all demand long walks - particularly Beinn Lair. Beinn Lair and Slioch are the most impressive of the three, throwing down enourmous cliffs. Slioch appears impregnable when seen from the west while Beinn Liar hides all its cliffs from the main road.

Looking down Loch Maree from Slioch

The northern slopes of Beinn Lair seen from Beinn Tarsuinn

Slioch
Despite it's defiant look, Slioch (980m) is easily climbed from the south east from Kinlochewe. Despite the slopes of Slioch being only 2km from the road around the shore of Loch Maree, there is no access from that direction. The walk into the base of Slioch is a good 5km from the car park at Incheril. The path is good, and follows the north bank of Kinlochewe River and Loch Maree to a large roaring tributary of Abhainn an Fhasaigh.

Looking down Gleann Bianasdail to Loch Maree

Sgurr Dubh, on Slioch's south east ridge

Here the path branches off into three routes, with one heading up towards Slioch. The path heads for a gap on the ridge east of Sgurr Dubh. The path is well worn and evidently popular. You emerge into Slioch's southeastern corrie, and continue to follow the path upto the corrie, before the path turns left beneath some crags to emerge onto Slioch southeast ridge. Two loachan nestle on this ridge, and the path winds its way steeply up the slopes above onto easier ground higher up. A further lochan is found (not on map) just below Slioch's southern top.

From Slioch's northern top, the full drop of the northwest face becomes apparent steeply dropping away for 500m. The northern view into the Fisherfield forest isn't the most dramatic presentation of this region, but with An Teallach seen in the distance, you get an appreciation of just how remote the area is. The descent from Slioch follows its pronounced east ridge down towards the subsidiary top of Sgurr an Tuil Bhain (934m), from where a descent down steep grassy slopes is made south to Slioch's southeastern corrie where the main path is picked up back down to the car park.

Sgurr an Tuil Bhain, seen from Slioch

The fisherfield estate, seen from Slioch

East of Slioch lies some low hills - but then comes Fhionn Bheinn. The usual route is from Achnasheen and is very grassy/heathery all the way to the top. The slopes are moderate and smooth all the way so it's not the most exciting hill from this angle. From Loch Fannich it shows a bolder face and makes a better walk from here - getting to Loch Fannich is another matter though.

The Destitution Road peaks
These are the summits that face the Destitution road. There are only three mountains, one of which is An Teallach. The other two summits are Sail Mhor seen to the west and Creag Rainich to the south east. An Teallach is regarded by many as the finest peak on the Scottish Mainland - quite rightly so as it has the most spectacular ridge overlooking the highest overhang in the best Scottish Corrie.

Sail Mhor seen from An Teallach

An Teallach
Despite An Teallach having a fearsome reputation, both principle summits can be climbed without difficulty from Dundonnell. From a good layby, a well worn path starts from the road going out behind a house. The path is quite boggy, and poorly built. In addition to the map, a good path also follows the stream up the corrie beneath the north slopes Glas Meall Mor. This path emerges onto the ridge at Sron a' Choire. An Eastern approach can also be used to enter the corrie south of Glas Meall Mhor. This Corrie headwall here is very steep and holds snow into June - but is used nonetheless. From this northerly approach, the summit ridge of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuil (1052m) is quite steep in places, with one rock step offering an easy scramble. Above the rock step, the path follows the ridgeline with a pronounced drop on the eastern side to the summit trig point.

An Teallach seen from the southeast

Loch Toll an Lochain seen from Sgurr Fiona

Sgurr Fiona seen from Bidein a' Ghlas Thuil

East of the Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill, there's another ridge with a scrambling section. I haven't been on that ridge either but the ridge soon broadens out to boulder slopes. The summit ridge linking the two munros, Sgurr Fiona and Bidein a' Ghlas Thuil is easy all the way, but steep work is found on the rise upto Sgurr Fiona (1060m). It's quite a steep rise to Sgurr Fiona from the saddle, but the path is well worn. This path follows route below the ridge to begin with, before emerging onto the north ridge where a little easy scrambling can easily be avoided. On the return from Sgurr Fiona, the north ridge ends in a precipice and so should be departed by the path beforehand.

The narrow ridge forms the southern arm of the Corrie nestling Loch Toll an Lochain where a 300m high overhang lies. This overhang starts right beneath Lord Berkerleys seat - an airy stance but not the scariest! The scariest part of the ridge lies with the Corrag Bhuidie pinnacles. I haven't been on this ridge yet.

Lord Berkeleys seat from Sgurr Fiona

Bidein a' Ghlas Thuil seen from Sgurr Fiona

The east ridge of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuil