Fisherfield Big 6

Destitution Road to Dundonnell

Around 12km south of Ullapool, the A832 branches off the main A835 at Braemore junction. This road climbs over moorland and drops to Dundonnell at the southern tip of Little Loch Broom. Corrie Hallie is situated around 3km south of Dundonnell.

By Corrie Hallie, close to a bright orange barrier, there is a long layby where there is room for around 10 vehicles. There is more parking in a few spots just to the south of the layby.

If contemplating adding in the Munro peaks on An Teallach, then I've typically done the route described on ths page in reverse, where the start would be by the Mountain Rescue building by Dundonnell, with the end of the hillwalking route by the layby at Corrie Hallie.

On the track into Fisherfield

Compared to walking, biking in will cut down the journey time considerably, allowing all of the peaks of the Fisherfield Big 6 to be bagged with a return to the roadside, all in daylight.

From the layby at Corrie Hallie, cross the road and start uphill on a decent track by an orange snow-gate. The track turns and meets a gate, beyond which is a field, most likely containing livestock (probably sheep, but I've also seen cows here).

Into the field, follow the track for 2km uphill and through woodland. The track comes to watercrossing , which should be easy to cross, but if in spate, there a wooden bridge slightly upstream. The track thereafter turns and climbs steeply for 1km to reach its highest point, marked by a cairn above Loch Coire Chaorachain.

Beyond the cairn, the track comes to a junction - the right hand fork is the footpath heading to Shenevall Bothy, which unfortunately isn't really cycleable. So, staying on main track, cross undulating ground for around 2km, with good views of An Teallach ridge on the right and views ahead to Fisherfield with Beinn a' Chlaidheimh gradually revealing more of its north facing aspects.

By the Abhainn Loch an Nid

By the Abhainn Loch an Nid

Climbing up Beinn a' Chlaidheimh

Leaving the woodland behind, it should be relatively easy to cross the Abhainn Srath na Sealga nearby (though will be challenging or even impossible if in spate).

Once on the west side of the river, head in a generally south-west direction over heather and moorland up a gentle incline. When the gradient eases, aim in a more westerly direction, crossing some interesting patches of bare rock.

At around 550m, the gradient steepens again, where keeping slightly more south-west avoids crags on the northern face of Beinn a' Chlaidheimh. Higher up the mountain's crest is gained at around 850m, and it's straight into boulderfield !

Beinn a' Chlaidheimh's summit from the north

Beinn a' Chlaidheimh's summit from the north

On the way to Sgurr Ban

Head south from Beinn a' Chlaidheimh's summit and descend on worn path zig-zagging through scree. Lower down, drop on a grass-covered hillside to a small lochan (not marked on OS Landranger).

A small rise ahead is crossed tracing a faint path, followed by a descent over boulders and grass to the bealach between Beinn a' Chlaidheimh and Sgurr Ban called Am Briseadh. Ahead the bouldery north-eastern shoulder of Sgurr Ban rises above grass-covered terraces.

There are a couple of small lochans and a small shelter on the crest, to the west of which trickles water - a fine place to top up bottles !

The boulderfield on the crest of the north-eastern shoulder of Sgurr Ban is tedious, so best avoided. To do this, from Am Briseadh, contour above Loch a' Bhrisidh for a bit, then on grassy ground climb south-west on ledges - there is no path to follow. While gaining height, gradually turn southwards, keeping to grass. The hillside steepens and Sgurr Ban's northern shoulder is reached.

On Sgurr Ban's grassy bank looking to Creag Rainich

On Sgurr Ban's grassy bank looking to Creag Rainich

Goats on Sgurr Ban's southern slopes

On Sgurr Ban's bouldery summit, turn south-west and follow the mountain's crest. Loosing a little height, gradually, and by keeping slightly to the west of the mountain's crest, easier grassy terrain is reached and path picked up.

On the path, drop to Cab Coire nan Clach , the grassy bealach between Sgurr Ban and Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, which has a small lochan and is littered with sandstone boulders.

On the southern side of the bealach, continue on the path and begin to climb up loose grass-covered terrain. The sandstone boulders are left behind as rock changes to quartzite, and the path becomes more obvious as it climbs steeply zig-zagging a route through rocks and scree.

Onto the northern shoulder of Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair and as approaching summit, significant drops form on the western face of the mountain. A cairn sits on Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair's top .

Path up Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair

Path up Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair

Beinn Tarsuinn from Sgurr Ban with Slioch beyond

On Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, follow the bouldery quartzite summit crest south-west and begin to lose height. Boulderfield ends abruptly, giving way to a pleasant grassy descent down to bealach at foot of Meall Garbh .

As Meall Garbh doesn't make the grade for Munro or Corbett, a well worn path bypasses it on its northern face to arrive at Bealach Odhar , below Beinn Tarsuinn.

Climbing up Beinn Tarsuinn is straightforward, even though traces of path are faint until higher up. Occasional little streams of water are met on the way, enabling water bottles to be refreshed.

On Beinn Tarsuinn's summit

On Beinn Tarsuinn's summit

Descending Beinn Tarsuinn

Having climbed up Beinn Tarsuinn's grassy eastern shoulder, what awaits on the western side of the mountain is a bit of a surprise !

From Beinn Tarsuinn's summit, follow the worn path along its crest travelling south-west. The crest narrows and occasional short sections of easy scrambling are descended to reach a flat grass-covered table .

After the table, more narrow ridge walking and some easy scrambling (with some bypass paths) gain the end of Beinn Tarsuinn's western ridge , just beyond a big intriguing sandstone rock formation.

There's an obvious split in path, with one route heading north and the other heading west. Take the path aiming west and follow it as it zig-zags downhill through boulders to grassy terrain below.

Heather, grass and occasional peat-hags are crossed to gain the wide bealach standing above Lochan Fada. Ahead some soggy ground is crossed on the initial rise up A' Mhaighdean.

On A' Mhaighdean

On A' Mhaighdean

On A' Mhaighdean heading to Ruadh Stac Mor

On A' Mhaighdean's summit, descend north-eastwards to a flat grass-covered plateau. At the northern reach of this plateau is a small cairn , close to the top of a path heading downhill.

Descend the path down a grassy hillside as it then twists through boulders and avoids little pools to end up at Poll Eadar dha Stac, the bealach between A' Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor. There's a small shelter to be found here, shortly before meeting a path crossing the col.

Summit of Ruadh Stac Mor

Summit of Ruadh Stac Mor

Descending Ruadh Stac Mor to Lochan a' Bhraghad

Following a faint path on Ruadh Stac Mor's summit crest, head northwards and begin to lose height while boulder-hopping. Easier grass-covered terrain is reached, where begin to turn north-eastwards on pathless slopes. A few sections of loose boulderfield are crossed on the way descending to the ground dividing Lochan a' Bhraghad .

Cross a burn, then aim northwards and bound on heather and grass around the minor summit of Ruadh Stac Beag to meet another burn . Cross the burn and hike through more heather to join a stalkers path .

Follow the stalkers path down and into Gleann na Muice Beag to where it enters Gleann na Muice, by Leitir a' Bhinnein - a fine place to camp.

The path now in Gleann na Muice turns northwards towards the buildings at Larachantivore . Just before reaching the buildings, cross the Abhainn Gleann na Muice where convienient.

Once on the east bank of the Abhainn Gleann na Muice, pick up a the faint traces of an ATV track heading eastwards over moorland.

If you've hiked in from Corrie Hallie, then leave this track at a convenient point and head direct for Shenavall bothy, crossing the Abhainn Srath na Sealga on the way (ideally try to keep east of much of the bog around where the river meets the Abhainn Gleann na Muice). From Shenavall bothy, a worn path aims direct for the cairn above Loch Coire Chaorachain.

Achnegie and Craig Rainich

Achnegie and Craig Rainich

Beinn Dearg Mor and Loch na Sleaga from above Coir' a' Ghamhna

A fine extension to this route can be made which adds in the two Munro summits of An Teallach, Sgurr Fiona and Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill. As this is continuous route which also returns to the roadside by Dundonnell which a fair distance from the start point at Corrie Hallie, this does mean it would be impractical to cycle in !

Once the buildings at Larachantivore are reached, a track of sorts continuing northwards is picked up. Follow this track to a point where it turns north-west and then leave it. Aiming north-east, cross the river just below where the Abhainn Srath na Sealga and Abhainn Gleann na Muice meet (crossing won't be possible in spate).

Head to the beach on the southern shore of Loch na Seala, then strike uphill aiming for a deer fence. Contained within the deer fence is some protected woodland and the Allt a' Ghamhna with its impressive waterfalls tumbling into a gorge. Ideally you'll need to cross the fence to view the waterfall and then cross it once more to start climbing uphill - alternatively you could detour around the fence. If trying for a view of the waterfall, beware how close you get to the edge as trees and heather overhang a dramatic drop !

Above the waterfall and deer fence, hike up grassy ground into a coire and up to a bealach between Sgurr Fiona and the nearby westerly summit of Sgurr Creag an Eich.

Waterfall below Coir' a' Ghamhna

Waterfall below Coir' a' Ghamhna