Ceannacroc Circuit
Hike and bike route up Sail Chaorainn, Aonach Shasuinn and Carn a' Choire Ghairbh
East of Loch Cluanie, a track heads from the old Ceannacroc Bridge into the wilds, from where some Munros, a couple of Corbetts and a few Munro Tops can be linked in a remarkable high-level hike.
Route outline
Munros | ||||
Corbetts | ||||
Walk ascent | 1300m (4260ft) | |||
distance | 19km (12m) | |||
time | 6:55hr | |||
Bike ascent | 180m (590ft) | |||
distance | 15km (9m) | |||
time | 1:15hr | |||
Start/finish | Ceannacroc Lodge Grid Ref : NH226105 | |||
Terrain |
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Nav |
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Effort |
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Scenery |
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Ceannacroc forest lies between Glen Affric and Glen Shiel and is encircled by a ring of Munro and Corbett peaks waiting to be bagged on a wonderful high-level hillwalk.
In the glens, estate tracks enable bikes to reach to the heart of this wilderness where hydro schemes have tamed the area. One of the tracks continues up the length of Gleann Fada to Bealach an Amais - an excellent 'escape route' should weather turn foul. Higher up, most of the ground is grass covered, with some areas of stoney ground needing crossed. Paths are few and far between.
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Route description
1. Getting to Ceannacroc Lodge
Heading in by Ceannacroc Lodge
The A87 travels from the A82 at Invergarry in the Great Glen towards Kintail and eventually on to the Isle of Skye.
As the road climbs westwards from Invergarry then drops northwards through Glen Loyne down to Glen Moriston, it meets with the A887 approaching from Invermoriston on Loch Ness.
Around 2km east of this junction, the road crosses the River Moriston, by which is the entrance to Ceannacroc Power Station and Ceannacroc Estate. Old Ceannacroc Bridge just downstream of this, hidden in forestry. There is room to park two or three cars by the bridge without causing any obstruction.
2. Aonach Shasuinn
Looking up the River Doe
Leaving Old Ceannacroc Bridge behind, cycle up the tarred road heading into Ceannacroc Estate. Cycle past Ceannacroc Lodge and its associated buildings and outhouses. A couple of houses are passed, one on your left, then another on the right, immediately after which the road becomes rougher and splits by a wooden shed - take the right fork.
Through a gate,continue cycling up the track for a further 6km as it hugs the southern bank of the River Doe, heading through woodland to open moorland. The track comes to a couple of buildings by some hydro-works - leave your bike here.
Behind the buildings, the track splits - now on foot, take the right fork aiming north-west (the route returns by the left fork). Around 300m further on, the track splits again - keep to the right, head over a bridge and carry on up the track as it follows the west bank of the Allt a' Ghlinne Fhada for 1km to more hydro works.
Cross over the river onto its east bank, aim over wet rush grass, then directly uphill eastwards on heathery slopes. After ascending slopes of around 300m, more level ground is reached which leads onto the summit of Carn a' Choire Bhuidhe at 847m.
Leaving Carn a' Choire Bhuidhe behind, follow hill crests north-westwards over grass covered ground interspersed with some boulderfields to gain Aonach Shasuinn's summit with its cairn and remains of a small shelter.
Shelter just east of Aonach Shasuinn's summit
Shelter just east of Aonach Shasuinn's summit
3. Carn a' Choire Ghairbh
Carn a' Choire Ghairbh from Aonach Shasuinn
From Aonach Shasuinn's main summit, head west over a delightfully grass-covered crest then some stoney ground to a cairn on Aonach Shasuinn's western summit . Continue westwards and drop down a grass-covered slope to Bealach an Amais. The head of the track coming up from the hydro works by the River Doe reaches this bealach - handy for an 'escape route' if needed !
Looking west from Bealach an Amais, the shoulder of An Elric rises on the left. Just to the north of this crest, a faint path can just about be made out climbing and heading westwards. Follow this path as it rises slightly then contours on An Elric's grass-covered north-facing slopes.
The path aims for the bealach, Cadha Riabhach, to the south of Carn a' Choire Ghairbh - I left the path around 1km east of this bealach and dropped down to the Allt Garbh , then clambered up Carn a' Choire Ghairbh's south-facing grassy slopes, picking up a line of tall old iron fence-posts higher up.
On Carn a' Choire Ghairbh's summit looking back to Aonach Shasuinn
On Carn a' Choire Ghairbh's summit looking back to Aonach Shasuinn
4. Sail Chaorainn
Tigh Mor na Seilge and Carn na Coire Mheadhoin from Carn a' Choire Ghairbh
On Carn a' Choire Ghairbh's summit, about turn and re-trace your steps to the large cairn . Continue following the line of old iron fence-posts south-west to the grassy bealach Cadha Riabhach .
Turning south-east, a moderately gentle climb up pathless grass covered slopes leads onto Carn a' Choire Ghuirm. Beyond this minor bump, fairly level ground is crossed, some of it soggy and of peat-hags, followed by another gentle climb up onto the crest of Tigh Mor na Seilge . A faint path is picked up as Tigh Mor na Seilge's crest turns south-west towards the base of Carn na Coire Mheadhoin.
Climbing up more grass leads to a stone and boulder covered crest, with the path disappearing as quickly as it arrived. Higher up, gradient easies as terrain becomes more pleasant underfoot and the cairn on Carn na Coire Mheadhoin , a 'Munro Top' is reached.
On Sail Chaorainn looking back to Carn na Coire Mheadhoin
On Sail Chaorainn looking back to Carn na Coire Mheadhoin
5. Return to Ceannacroc Lodge
Aonach Shasuinn from Sail Chaorainn
My intention was to continue onwards to Sgurr nan Conbhairean then Carn Ghluasaid and descend to Allt Coire Sgreumh via Bealach na h- Aon-luirg. However, with light fading fast on late afternoon in mid-December, I abandoned this idea and made the decision to shorten my route . . .
From Sail Chaorainn head southwards along the wide, flat summit plateau to reach the rim of Coire nan Lochan Uaine. Turn left and follow the coire's edge down Sail Chaorainn's south-eastern shoulder and up the rise of Carn a' Mhadaidh-ruaidh . North-east next over grass to the top of Coire Liath followed ideally by a traverse of An Reithe - I just needed to get onto the track by the Allt Coire Sgreumh before the last of the day's light disappeared, so descended directly from Coire Liath, which was fine, if rather tough going through deep heather lower down.
Last of day's light, looking back up Sgurr nan Conbhairean
Last of day's light, looking back up Sgurr nan Conbhairean
Route profile »
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Weather forecasts »
Regional | MWIS - Northwest Highlands |
Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
Seasonal | SAIS - Lochaber Midge forecast |
Alternative and nearby routes »
Cluanie Munros | |
Above the northern shores of Loch Cluanie, hiking along the connecting ridges of A' Chralaig, Mullach Fraoch-choire and Sgurr nan Conbhairean gives superb views over the Five Sisters and Affric to Skye, Torridon and beyond. Peaks : 5 Munros
Ascent : 1850m (6070ft) Distance : 23km (14m) Time : 8:50hr |
Meall Dubh from Glen Moriston | |
From Glen Moriston and Glen Loyne, excellent estate tracks put in place for the construction of windfarms enable a bike to be used to cycle up the hillsides of Meall Dubh, leaving a mere 1km of hiking to reach its summit. Peaks : 1 Corbett
Ascent : 850m (2790ft) Distance : 25km (16m) Time : 2:30hr |
Beinn Loinne from Cluanie | |
The old road from Kyle of Lochalsh climbs from Cluanie Inn to a height of over 400m, from where a soggy hike over a lochan-pitted moorland reaches the trig point on Druim nan Cnamh, the highest point on Beinn Loinne. Peaks : 1 Corbett
Ascent : 620m (2030ft) Distance : 17km (11m) Time : 5:15hr |
Affric Corbetts | |
In a quiet corner south-west of Glen Affric, paths lead away from the main trails to the foot of a circular hillwalking route bagging the grass-covered Corbett peaks of Aonach Shasuinn and Carn a' Choire Ghairbh. Peaks : 2 Corbetts
Ascent : 1125m (3690ft) Distance : 23km (14m) Time : 7:40hr |