Glas Bheinn from the Lairig Unapool
Hillwalking route up Glas Bheinn from the Lairig Unapool
Starting from a height of 250m, this short walk up rough terrain leads to Glas Bheinn's summit from where views are quite stunning.
Route outline
| Corbetts | ||||
| Ascent | 530m (1730ft) | |||
| Distance | 6km (4m) | |||
| Time | 2:25hr | |||
| Start/finish | Lairig Unapool Grid Ref : NC283285 | |||
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| Nav |
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| Effort |
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Glas Bheinn, a Corbett, is the most north-westerly peak in a long and wide line of bouldery quartzite ground that is dominated by Conival and Ben More Assynt and ends further south on Breabag.
To the north-west of Glas Bheinn is Quinag in between which the ground drops to a bealach, Lairig Unapool, at around 250m. Being able to drive up to here, leaves an ascent of just 530m to Glas Bheinn's summit !
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Route description
1. Getting to the Lairig Unapool
Glas Bheinn from Lairig Unapool
The easiest approach begins from the highest point on the road between Inchnadamph and Kylesku.
On the A894 between Inchnadamph and Kylesku and 1km north of the Quinag car-park and just beyond the road's highest point, there is a small road-side lay-by beside a Right-of-Way sign pointing a hiking route to Glen Oykel via the Eas a'Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in the UK.
2. Glas Bheinn
Approaching Glas Bheinn summit
From the roadside, follow a soggy path eastwards across moorland as indicated by the Right-of-Way sign.
After around 200m the path comes to a junction 
- turn right(south) and follow a more obvious path for 500m as it climbs up a gentle incline.
You should come across a small cairn 
at the side of the path. This indicates the point to leave the path and head up a faint trod through grass and heather directly uphill. This trod becomes a little more distinct as it aims for a steep grassy bank between Glas Bheinn's northern screes ahead.
The ascent steepens with the faint path twisting and turning, eventually topping out by a small cairn at around 520m on Glas Bheinn's north-west shoulder 
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By this cairn, turn south, cross a short section of boulderfield and you should then be able to pick up a fairly obvious path. Ahead and above, the rim of Coire Dearg curves and a small cairn can be seen high up - this isn't the summit, but it's not far from it.
Follow the path over more patches of boulderfield interspersed with grass as it gradually climbs up a few inclines onto Glas Bheinn's wide and flat summit plateau. The little cairn seen earliier sits at the northern edge of the summit plateau from where there are some amazing views to be had.
Glas Bheinn's summit 
is around 350m south-east of the little pile of stones, where there is a large stone cairn to shelter behind and out of winds. Stunning views in all directions from here !
3. Return
Returning to cairn above Coire Dearg
Return by same route..
One of these days I'd like to aim from Glas Bheinn over to Conival and Ben More Assynt and head back to the road via Breabag and the 'bone caves'. Looks a lot of boulderfield to contend with and transport to be arranged to avoid a long walk back along tarmac.
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Weather forecasts »
| Regional | MWIS - Northwest Highlands |
| Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
| Seasonal | Midge forecast |
Alternative and nearby routes »
Quinag from above Loch Assynt | |
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Quinag is a stunning mountain with many crags and rocky terraces. This route bags all 3 Corbett peaks on Quinag - Spidean Coinich, Sail Gharbh and Sail Ghorm. Peaks : 3 Corbetts
Ascent : 1150m (3770ft) Distance : 13km (8m) Time : 5:10hr |
Assynt Munros from Inchnadamph | |
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Ben More Assynt and Conival are the highest mountains in rugged Assynt in the north-west of Scotland. This route heads in from Inchnadamph to the west with the option to extend over the nearby Corbett of Breabag. Peaks : 2 Munros and option of 1 Corbett
Ascent : 1190m (3900ft) Distance : 16km (10m) Time : 6hr |
Breabag and the Bone Caves | |
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A hike of two halfs - fine paths on lower ground to the 'bone caves', followed by pathless grass and heather covered terrain to Breabag's summit crest. Peaks : 1 Corbett
Ascent : 700m (2300ft) Distance : 10km (6m) Time : 3:40hr |
Canisp from Loch Awe | |
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Of the two main approaches to Canisp, this is the shorter, but has little in the way of decent paths to follow. Some interesting rock formations are passed on route. Peaks : 1 Corbett
Ascent : 740m (2430ft) Distance : 13km (8m) Time : 4:30hr |
