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Killilan and Iron Lodge Corbetts
West of Plockton and Kyle of Lochalsh, the three Corbetts of Aonach Buidhe, Faochaig and Sguman Coinntich guard the approaches to Affric, Monar and Cannich.
Main route summary
A road heads up Glen Elchaig, from where the hills can be readily accessed.
The hills can easily be bagged in separate outings, however a fine long day can be spent taking them all in.
The broad grass covered slopes and summit plateaux make for easy going, however navigation can be tricky in mist.
Views to Kintail, Torridon, Applecross and Skye are quite spectacular.
Corbetts |
Aonach Buidhe (899m)
Faochaig (868m)
Sguman Coinntich (879m)
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Ascent |
1850m (6,075ft)
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Distance |
33km (21m)
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Time |
walk : 11:20*, run : 5:10hr *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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Start/finish |
Killilan
(grid ref : NG940303)
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Profile
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Maps
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Which map to choose ?
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Downloads
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Terrain | easy |
 | difficult |
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Navigation | easy |
 | testing |
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Effort | stroll |
 | long day |
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Scenery | ok |
 | stunning |
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Meanings |
Aonach Buidhe : 'yellow ridge'
Faochaig : 'the whelk'
Sguman Coinntich : 'mossy peak'
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Route detail & map »
Getting there
- On the A87, 11km east of Kyle of Lochalsh, just outside of Dornie, a narrow road is marked towards Killilan.
- Head along this road for 8km to a bridge over the River Ling.
- Just beyond the bridge and over a cattle-grid, there is a parking area for several cars.
Note this route passes through areas with livestock.
Aonach Buidhe
- Leave the car-park behind and follow the road into Killilan Estate.
- At the phone box, turn right, cross the bridge and continue following the road to the keeper's house at Faddoch.
Shortly beyond this, the road becomes a fine track and followed for 8km past Loch na Leitreach and the house and buildings at Carnach up to the small house of Iron Lodge.
- The track then becomes a decent path, which splits 350m further on.
Take the right fork and cross the An Crom-allt via a bridge.
- At a convienient point, leave the path and head northwards directly uphill.
The ascent is steep and pathless, but straightforward.
- Heather lower down gives way grassy ground higher up, from where it's an easy slog to Aonach Buidhe's summit.
Faochaig
- Leave Aonach Buidhe's summit, head west to the western top, then drop west-south-west.
- Grass at first, then steep heather to meet a wall and rusty old iron posts traversing the bealach ahead.
- Cross the bealach and climb westwards up more heather.
- Above a flat area, the Leac na Nighinn - a narrow shoulder - is climbed to gain Faochaig's broad grass covered summit plateau, from where it's a 500m walk to the cairn on the top.
Sguman Coinntich
- Drop 200m height heading southwards and pick up the undulating ground that climbs gently towards Sron na Gaoithe.
- Another bit of height is lost, followed by a gradual climb up grass covered terrain.
- The long summit is reached, with a cairn at the south-western end and stunning views.
Return
- Leave the cairn, aim south-east, pass some rocks, then head directly downhill.
Although pathless, the terrain is easy underfoot.
- Drop to a stalkers' path, turn west and follow the path down to Glen Elchaig and return along the road to Killilan.
Photos of route »
Faochaig from the south-east
LAMM 2009 competitors running over Faochaig
Aonach Buidhe from Faochaig
LAMM competitors overnight stop at Carnach
Sguman Coinntich from Sgurr an Airgid to the south
Heading down the track through Glen Elchaig
Sguman Coinntich zoomed in from Aonach Buidhe
The Torridon mountains from Aonach Buidhe
Heading up Faochaig
Aonach Buidhe from Faochaig
Sron na Gaoithe and Sguman Coinntich from Faochaig
Sunset over Beinn Sgritheall from Sguman Coinntich
More photos are on Flickr !
Alternative routes »
Alternative tracks up and down for shorter routes
Take your pick for shorter days on these hills !
Direct route up Sguman Coinntich
Just beyond the phone box in Killilan, leave the road and follow a track heading north-east.
Reaching a building, turn right and continue on a path uphill for 1km.
Leave the path, cross the Allt a'Choire Mhoir and aim direct for Sguman Coinntich's summit.
Direct route up Faochaig
From the buildings at Carnach, a fine stalkers' track heads north-west following the east bank of the Allt Domhain.
Higher up the track reaches wet grass covered ground, from where it's an easy slog up to Faochaig
Tracked route up Aonach Buidhe
Beyond Iron Lodge, the track becomes a path, then splits as described in the 'Main Route'.
Instead of taking the right fork, take the left fork and follow the path up aiming northwards.
On approaching the bealach between Faochaig and Aonach Buidhe and before meeting the rusty old fence-posts, look eastwards and a fairly recently constructed track can be seen travelling up hill.
Follow this track for a bit, then cross grass covered ground to Aonach Buidhe's summit.
Interactive OS map
Falls of Glomach
One of the highest waterfalls in Britain !
Other hill routes nearby »
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Monar's mountains
Varied terrain and rugged peaks with excellent views to Torridon and Skye. Accessed by good tracks.
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Mullardoch and Affric
12 Munros above beautiful Loch Affric and Loch Mullardoch. Can be done in one long outing, or more easily split into 3 or 4 shorter days.
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Kintail's Brothers & Sisters
Various routes up the iconic Five Sisters of Kintail and their neighbouring Munros and Corbetts are all described in detail.
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Above Glenelg and Arnisdale
A sea-level start and steep path make for a fine hike up Beinn Sgritheall. Easily extended to include the neighbouring Corbett peaks.
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Applecross Corbetts
Stunning high cliffs and butresses protect vast plateaux, however the range is readily accessed to gain wonderful panoramas
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Accommodation & food »
Forecasts & other useful info »
Guided days on these mountains »
We don't have any guided events up the Killilan Corbetts currently on our calendar of regular events.
If you would like a bespoke day or two hiking over these peaks, we would be delighted to organise something for you and your group.
Check out our
Bespoke Guiding page for more information.