Beinn an Eoin and Baosbheinn

The start by Am Feur-loch

On the A832, 7km south-east of Gairloch, and a couple km west of Loch Maree is Loch Bad an Sgalaig. The road merges from single track to a recently upgraded and widened section, just by which is an old green hut by Am Feur-loch.

By the hut there is a parking area from where the route to Baosbheinn and Beinn an Eoin begins from.

On the track in, Flowerdale peaks in view

On the opposite side of the road from the green hut, a wooden shelter and notice board stand beside a bridge over the Uidh Phlubach. Cross the bridge and aim down the track. The OS Landranger and Explorer map conflict each other, with one suggesting a path, the other a track - it is in fact a rough track appropriate for mountain-bike use.

Continue down the track for around 3km and you'll come to a junction in the track - keep left (east). Just over 1km further on, through a gate, you'll pass a large erratic boulder used as shooting-parties grouse stone in years gone by.

Beinn an Eoin and the Grouse Stone

Beinn an Eoin and the Grouse Stone

Beinn an Eoin's summit from the north-west

Leave the track and aim south-east over grass and heather to a gap to the north of some cliffs ahead. Climb up this, it's fairly steep, but there are no difficulties clambering up the heather.

As the ascent gradually becomes more gentle, the heather gives way to grass with occasional boulders as Beinn an Eoin's long and wide crest is met and walked along.

On Beinn an Eoin's summit looking over Loch Maree to Beinn Airigh Charr

On Beinn an Eoin's summit looking over Loch Maree to Beinn Airigh Charr

Baosbheinn from Loch na h-Oidhche

Return along the ridge for around 200m, then turn south-west and drop directly following the fall-line on heather clad slopes. It's fairly rough going, pathless and quite steep, but before you know it, you'll have met with the track again, close to Poca Buidhe Bothy by the southern end of Loch na h-Oidhche . The bothy is for private use by the estate, but there are seats outside to relax and before the climb up Baosbheinn begins.

Cross the soggy ground around the southern shores of Loch na h-Oidhche, then start trudging uphill through more heather.

Higher up, faint paths can be traced when on the crest of Ceann Beag, the most easterly peak on Baosbheinn. This little summit at 705m can be bypassed on its southern aspect before dropping to a bealach.

Terrain is now a mixture of grass and sandstone boulders and stones. Ahead is another minor summit, unnamed and at 806m . Much of this will need ascending before perhaps bypassing its top and dropping around 100m to another col.

On Baosbheinn looking to Beinn an Eoin and Slioch

On Baosbheinn looking to Beinn an Eoin and Slioch

Descending Baosbheinn

From Baosbheinn's summit, initially head northwards. There's a bit of steep ground as as the route turns north-east and drops down onto delightfully grass covered slopes. You could head directly into An Reidh-choire, but I kept roughly north-north-east for around 1km, before turning north-west, then northwards to drop to the Allt an Reidh-choire .

Bounding north-east over fairly stunted heather and moss, the Abhainn Loch na h- Oidhche is met and crossed, to then reach the track close to where it was previously left for the ascent up Beinn an Eoin.

Once on the track, retrace the route your rouute in back to the roadside by Am Feur-loch.