Coulin Munros and Corbetts

Getting to the start by Achnashellach

• 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 to Achnaschellach

• 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.

• Coulin and Slioch, 10-12 March 2018
• Coulin Munros, Apr'17
• Coulin & Slioch, May'16
• Coulin Munros, Apr'14
• Torridon & Coulin, Sep'12

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