Home » Hills » Munros » Northern Highlands » Coulin
Coulin Munros and Corbetts
The mountainous area between Glen Carron and Glen Torridon is known as Coulin Forest and several Munro and Corbett peaks sit in it waiting to be explored.
Superb views are to be had from the summits and ridges over to Torridon, Applecross and Skye.
Main route summary
Maol Chean-dearg and Beinn Liath Mhor are vast bouldery summits, whereas Sgorr Ruadh has a narrow ridge leading to the grassy top pearched above a dark coire.
Although a considerable ascent and a fairly substantial distance are involved in this route, the majority is fairly easy going and on fine paths.
A bike or some other transport arrangement is required for the return from Coulags to Achnashellach along the narrow A890.
The two nearby Corbett peaks are also worth visiting - Fuar Tholl, a prominent landmark as seen from Loch Carron and An Ruadh-stac, a rough quartzite summit. These summits can be added to the 'Main route', can be bagged with one or two Munros in a smaller outing, or done just on their own.
Some short sections of easy rock-scrambling are required to attain these summits.
| Munros |
Beinn Liath Mhor (926m, Munro 258)
Sgor Ruadh (962m, Munro 195)
Maol Chean-dearg (933m, Munro 247)
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| Corbetts |
Fuar Tholl* (907m)
An Ruadh-stac* (892m)
*See 'Alternative Routes' below
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| Ascent |
2150m (7,050ft)
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| Distance |
21km (13m)
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| Time |
walk : 9hr*, bike/run : 5hr
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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| Start |
Achnashellach
(grid ref : NH005440)
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| Finish |
Coulags
(grid ref : NG958451)
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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 |
Maol Chean-dearg : 'bald red head'
Beinn Liath Mhor : 'big grey hill'
Sgorr Ruadh : 'red peak'
Fuar Tholl : 'cold hole'
An Ruadh-stac : 'the red conical hill'
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Route detail & map »
Getting there
- This route is one of the few that can be accessed directly from a train-halt - Achnashellach is on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line.
- If coming by car, there is a red phone-box on the A890, 14km north-east of Lochcarron.
Parking is available for several vehicles. Try and arrange transport to avoid a 7km walk back along the road from Coulags.
Beinn Liath Mhor
- Start from car-park by phonebox at Achnashellach and head up the track to Achnashellach halt.
Cross the railway line, go through a gate and continue 50m up a track.
- The track comes to a junction, turn left, don't aim towards the Coulin Pass.
Through gate in deer-fence, further on, look for a sign and stone marker, which point left onto path and through circular gate in the deer-fence.
Follow the path up.
- Out of forest there is a large sign (now torn), by which there is a waterfall - careful it's a bit wet underfoot to view it !
- 1 km on, the path comes to a junction - stay straight on.
A few metres further on, another junction is reached, marked by a cairn - again stay straight (turning right will take you up the south side of Beinn Liath Mhor which is through deep heather and requires more ascent along the undulating ridge).
Continue following path up for 3km, past Loch Coire-Lair the lochan at the bealach between Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgor Ruadh.
- On a faint path, turn north-north-east over grass and slabby ground, over a minor summit (marked 769 on the OS map) to drop to another lochan at c710m.
- Pick up path that heads up over boulders then steep ground, then turns north-east as the ascent flattens out.
Flat rock, then boulders lead to Beinn Liath Mhor's summit.
Sgorr Ruadh
- It is perfectly possible to head north-west from Sgorr Ruadh and pick up the right-of-way to Bealach na Lice, however this will take you to thick heather for the slog up Maol Chean-dearg.
Far batter is to aim directly for Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh.
- Return to lochan on the bealach between Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgor Ruadh.
- Cross the Coire Lair path, then, on a faint path, head west-south-west up grass then boulders to the north-west ridge of Sgorr Ruadh.
- Pick up an obvious path to follow for ½km to Sgorr Ruadh's summit - the drop into Coire Lair becomes a bit exposed near the summit, but the ridge flattens out onto grass when approaching the cairn.
Maol Chean-dearg
- Retrace steps back down 50m to grassy section, then aim south-west directly downhill steep scree and heather - tough going for just over 1km.
Reach Loch Coire Fionnaraich and cross the burn at the loch's outflow.
- Continue south-west uphill, over wet slippy grassy ground for 1km and pick up the path heading to Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh.
- Upon reaching the bealach, turn north and follow a rough path that twists and turns up steep ground through boulders and scree.
- Cross a rocky minor top, then some grass clad ground to reach the last climb up Maol Chean-dearg, which is very bouldery.
There is a large cairn on summit and stunning views onto Liathach.
Return
- Return to Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh and down the path into Coire Fhoinnaraich.
Follow a good path to Coulags, stopping at the bothy on the way.
- Cycle, drive or head back on foot along road to return to Achnashellach.
Photos of route »
Coulin Forest from above Craig
Beinn Liath Mhor and Liathach above Sgurr na Feartaig
Sgorr Ruadh from Liathach
Fual Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh from Coire Lair
On Beinn Liath Mhor looking to Liathach
Beinn Damh from Beinn Liath Mhor
On Sgorr Ruadh with Fuar Tholl behind
Descending Sgorr Ruadh down to Loch Coire Fionnlaraich
Heading up Maol Chean-dearg
Heading up the Bealach a'Choire Ghairbh path
On Maol Chean-dearg looking to Liathach
Ptarmigan hiding and protecting her nest on Maol Chean-dearg
An Ruadh-stac from Maol Chean-dearg
Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh from Maol Chean-dearg
'Fingal's Dog Stone' below Sgorr Ruadh
Coire Fhionnaraich bothy below Sgorr Ruadh
Maol Chean-dearg, Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh from Sgurr Choinnich
More photos are on Flickr !
Alternative routes »
Maol Chean-dearg with An Ruadh-stac
An Ruadh-stac is a rough hill, capped in glistening quartzite.
Taking a short de-tour from the path aiming up Maol Chean-dearg bags ths little hill and makes for a memorable day out.
Fuar Tholl with Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh
Fuar Tholl is a distinctive peak, particularly when seen from the village of Lochcarron.
Adding this peak onto a Beinn Liath Mhor and Sgorr Ruadh route make for a fine and varied outing.
Other hill routes nearby »
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Liathach
Situated in the heart of Torridon, Liathach has some fine scrambling and the hardest mainland Munro Top
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Beinn Eighe
Lots of varied route choices over rocky and bouldery summits. Coire Mhic Fhearchair is simply stunning
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Coulin Forest North
Often when the tops of the Torridon Giants are sulking in mist, the nearby Corbett peaks of Sgurr Dubh and Sgorr nan Lochan Uaine will be cloud free.
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Monar's mountains
Varied terrain and peaks with excellent views to Torridon and Skye. Accessed by good tracks.
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Applecross Corbetts
Dramatic cliffs and buttresses defend plateaux and summits. The views are stunning !
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Beinn Damh
A dramatic little peak. Ideal for a fairly relaxed afternoon's ascent, the main route up is pathed and easier than it looks.
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Accommodation & food »
Forecasts & other useful info »
Guided days on these mountains »
Our next guided event on the Coulin Munros is part of a weekend combined with Slioch and is on
25-27 August 2018.
More information on the event is
here.
If you would like a bespoke day or more 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.
Previous guided events on our blog :
