Ladhar Beinn seen from the narrow Stob a' Choire Odhar

Ladhar Beinn and Sgurr nan Eugallt seen from Gleouraich

Introduction
This page describes the summits that are most easily accessed from Barrisdale Bay at Loch Hourn. The mountains in this part of Knoydart stand out proud without easy high ridges linking the main summits. Most of the mountains are easy for the main part, but do often include some occasional rock steps requiring pause for thought. Here, three munros can be climbed over two days. Additionally there are some other smaller summits that can be climbed from here.

Access to Barrisdale is normally achieved as a long walk in from Kinloch Hourn. This route is along a good path for 10km but with a lot of up and down. The walk will probably take about 3 hours to complete. Additionally, the walk in from Inverie is also relatively easy but involves the crossing of the Mam Barrisdale mountain pass at 450m.

Loch Hourn seen from Ladhar Bheinn

Luinne Bheinn
Luinne Bheinn appears to stand out proud and isolated from most angles. It's summit ridge is short, and the summit lacks any distinctive deep corries unlike Ladhar Bheinn. Despite these shortcomings, its approaches from different directions are all interesting and (outside winter conditions) mainly easy.

Luinne Bheinn can naturally be linked in with Meall Bhuidie (discussed in Loch Nevis). The rise from the saddle with Meall Bhuidhe gets you to the eastern summit ridge. The rise to the top from here negotiates some easy rock steps as usual to bring you on to the rounded narrow grassy top. The prominent view from the summit extends eastwards with the eye drawn along a glen to the head of Loch Quioch. Ben Aden and Sgurr na Ciche appear sit together, like brothers, each looking formiddable.

Sgurr a' Choire-bheithe and Luinne Bheinn seen from the west

Looking east from Luinne Bheinn with Loch Quioch below the cloud inversion

The approach from the north east to the summit ridge is pretty easy - a few slabs get in the way on this broad ridge but it's nothing hard. The north west ridge is steeper, rising in a series of grassy thrusts, interspersed with broad shoulders. The route is not difficult though, and a faint path at the higher part of the ridge will help to guide the way up.

Stob a' Chearcail and Sgurr a' Choire-bheithe seen from pt 849m on Ladhar Bheinn

The summit ridge of Luinne Bheinn

North east of Luinne Bheinn lie two sprawling Corbetts. Sgurr a Coire Bheithe (913m) and Sgurr na Eugalt (894m) have long east-west ridges starting from Loch Quioch in the east. I've not been up these summits but I've seen the slopes on the maps - quite craggy.

Ladhar Bheinn
Ladhar Bheinn is the jewel in the Knoydart crown. It's complex - no fewer than six ridges on it. It's got a deep corrie - Coire Dhorrcail, one of the more famous corries. The cliffs here rise 400m up from the floor and are seldom cimbed. This corrie is bound to the northwest by the narrow ridge of Stob a' Choire Odhair - mostly an easy walk but very narrow with long drops either side. To the south the corrie's bound by Stob a' Chearcail - very steep, grade 1 scramble and said to be very exposed.

The main ridge from the summit leading southeast sees three rocksteps - none difficult under summer conditions and none exposed. Two of the steps sit near the lowest part of the ridge (near Bealach Dhorrcail) while the third lies on the initial rise up the summit ridge. The steps appear to be more awkward in ascent (i.e. heading towards the summit) rather than descent.

Sgurr Coire Choinnichean seen from Loch Nevis

Inside Coire Dhorrcail

The narrow Stob a' Choire Odhair seen from Ladhar Bheinn

Easy stalkers tracks take you to the bottom of Coire Dhorrcail and Mam Barrisdale where ascents of Ladhar Bheinn can be made. A subsidiary corrie to Coire Dhorrcail (terminating south of Bealach Dhorrcail) is said to be the easiest ascent to the summit ridge. From Mam Barrisdale, access to Ladhar Bheinn's summit ridge is best not attempted direct to Stob a' Chearcaill, as this is a steep route. Instead easier slopes are found further west just west of the saddle between Stob a' Chearcail and point 849m from Coire a' Phuil.

Looking south east from Ladhar Bheinn to Stob a' Chearcail

The main top and summit ridge of Ladhar Bheinn

The summit ridge of Ladhar Bheinn

From Inverie, access to Ladhar Bheinn is most scenic via the Aonach Sgoilte ridge running southwest of point 849m. Access to the ridge is best found at Mam Suidheig from the southern approach. Once on the ridge, there is a little up and down, but progress is easy along a faint path to point 849m, where the summit ridge is attained.