Rough Bounds of Knoydart from Loch Quoich

Glen Dessarry Munros

Bike and hike route in the Rough Bounds of Knoydart

A cycle along Glen Dessarry leads to a gully scramble and a traverse following old walls on the fine ridge from Sgurr na Ciche over Garbh Chioch Mor to Sgurr nan Coireachan.



Route outline


Munros

Sgurr na Ciche, 

Garbh Chioch Mor, 

Sgurr nan Coireachan

Walk ascent 1350m (4420ft)
         distance 13km (8m)
         time 5:30hr
Bike ascent 160m (520ft)
         distance 16km (10m)
         time 1:30hr
Start/finish Western end of Loch Arkaig
Grid Ref : NM988916
Terrain
easy hard
Nav
easy hard
Effort
easy hard
Scenery
ok fab


Sgurr na Ciche, Garbh Chioch Mor and Sgurr nan Coireachan are the three Munros that overlook the upper reaches of Glen Dessarry in the Rough Bounds of Knoydart. Sgurr na Ciche is the highest and most charismatic peak in the range presenting superb views from its summit including fantastic seaward panoramas over the islands of Eigg, Rum, Skye and beyond.

The setting of this route is remote, but is tamed not only by forestry tracks along the length of Glen Dessarry but also by a long parish wall and line of fence-posts flowing along the crests between the peaks.



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Route description


1. Getting to Loch Arkaig

Car-park by end of Loch Arkaig

Car-park by end of Loch Arkaig

In the Great Glen, Gairlochy and its locks on the Caledonian Canal sit a couple of miles west of the Commando Memorial above Spean Bridge.

From Gairlochy the narrow B8005 heads up to Loch Lochy's southern tip then turns westwards. From here on a very narrow and unclassified road a 12 mile drive travels through the mossy Mile Dorcha then hugs the northern shores of Loch Arkaig to its western end.

The road ends by a gate across the access to an estate track, just before which is a large parking area with designated bays for around 15 vehicles. If the car-park is full, there are various verge side parking areas before reaching the car-park, but care should be taken not to block passing places.


2. Cycle through Glen Dessarry

River Dessarry

River Dessarry

Leave the car-park, head around the gate at the end of the road and begin cycling westwards along the estate track. After just under 1km of cycling, the track comes to a junction by a few right-of-way signs, turn left, downhill towards the buildings at Strathan.

Before coming to Strathan, take a branch in the track to cross a bridge over the River Dessarry then head into forestry. A short distance into the forest, another junction is met, turn right and cycle uphill on a track towards Glen Dessarry.

Cycle along the fine track for around 4km to the end of the forestry above lonely A' Chuil Bothy. The track turns northwards, looses a little height and heads back into more forestry.

Bridge at end of track

Bridge at end of track

Just over 1km into this forest, the track ends by a rickety old bridge in a clearing and over a little gorge which can be quite impressive if river is in spate and fast flowing ! Leave your bike here.

Bridge at end of track

Bridge at end of track


3. Sgurr na Ciche

Approaching the gully below Sgurr na Ciche

Approaching the gully below Sgurr na Ciche

Over the bridge, and the track immediately becomes a damp path which splits upon re-entering the forest. Take left fork (the right fork is used upon the return) and follow the path aside the Allt a' Ghiubhais on its northern bank through forestry. The path is wet and soggy for much of its length in forest much of which is overgrown requiring some ducking and bending under low-hanging branches .

The end of forestry is reached, and the path, now a mucky set of ATV tracks, meets with a path coming from northern side of Glen Dessarry. The tracks follow the Allt a' Ghiubhais upstream for just over 1km and splits - take the right fork heading uphill.

The track follows a burn upstream and becomes more defined as it climbs around 200m to then turn west - leave the track at this point and keep climbing directly uphill following the burn. As the gradient levels, the burn source disappears into soggy ground.

Head in a northerly direction to meet with the Allt Coire na Ciche, the burn flowing down from Sgurr na Ciche . Turn north-east and begin to follow this burn upstream. A little gorge is entered in which a path can be found climbing aside the burn. Some of the ground is steep, bouldery and loose, but progress is fairly straightforward tracing the path as is twists and turns crossing the burn a few times.

Having climbed around 100m in the gorge, gradient easies and grassy terrain is met on the approach to the col of Feadan na Ciche (meaning the 'whistle of the breast'), across which a wall crosses then travels around the north-eastern face of Sgurr na Ciche.

Above the col, turn west and trace an obvious path uphill on a grassy bank following a small watercourse. The path disappears into boulders and particularly if in mist, the way ahead may not be obvious - look right (north) and upwards and you should be able to pick out a route heading uphill over the boulders. As the boulders are left behind, the path becomes obvious again and is followed zig-zagging up steep loose ground to reach a small cairn on the crest of Sgurr na Ciche's eastern arm.

By the cairn, turn left (west) and follow a path for around 200m to reach Sgurr na Ciche's summit where a small cairn stands offering little shelter out of any winds.

On Sgurr na Ciche, looking over Loch Nevis

On Sgurr na Ciche, looking over Loch Nevis

Sgurr na Ciche's summit is a fantastic vantage point ! In particular, the views looking down Loch Nevis and out to the isles of Eigg, Rum and Skye are quite awesome.

On Sgurr na Ciche, looking over Loch Nevis

On Sgurr na Ciche, looking over Loch Nevis


4. Garbh Chioch Mor

Garbh Chioch Mor above Bealach na h-Eangair

Garbh Chioch Mor above Bealach na h-Eangair

Return along Sgurr na Ciche's crest to the small cairn and re-trace your steps downhill back to the wall crossing Feadan na Ciche .

Ahead and uphill, the wall can be seen travelling southwards up the crest of Garbh Chioch Mhor's north-western shoulder. Just to the right of this wall, a path can be made out coming and going. Follow this path as it climbs gently at first, passing a couple of small lochans. Terrain underfoot becomes rougher and higher up there are some short sections of easy scrambling on grippy rock. Some impressive cliff and crag formations are viewed dropping northwards into the coire below.

On Garbh Chioch Mor, looking back to Sgurr na Ciche

On Garbh Chioch Mor, looking back to Sgurr na Ciche

As ground begins to level, a cairn on a summit is reached - alas this isn't Garbh Chioch Mor's summit ! Garbh Chioch Mor has two summits around 200m apart with the higher of the two being the more easterly one - the one marked by the smaller cairn !

On Garbh Chioch Mor, looking back to Sgurr na Ciche

On Garbh Chioch Mor, looking back to Sgurr na Ciche


5. Sgurr nan Coireachan

Descending Garbh Chioch Beag, Sgurr nan Coireachan ahead

Descending Garbh Chioch Beag, Sgurr nan Coireachan ahead

From Garbh Chioch Mor's summit, continue on the path following the wall eastwards and begin to lose some height. A slight rise on bouldery ground can easily be by-passed on the south side of Garbh Chioch Mor's crest, rejoining the wall further on.

Follow the wall up and over Garbh Chioch Bheag to drop down to Bealach Coire nan Gall . The wall ends abruptly and the path takes a slightly soggy route just below rock of the higher ground of the bealach.

Heading up Sgurr nan Coireachan

Heading up Sgurr nan Coireachan

Picking up a line of old iron fence-posts, the path begins to climb up Sgurr nan Coireachan's western shoulder. The ascent is fairly steep but without any difficulties. A patch of boulderfield is crossed just before topping out on Sgurr nan Coireachan's summit .

Heading up Sgurr nan Coireachan

Heading up Sgurr nan Coireachan


6. Return

On Garbh Chioch Mor's summit, looking back to Sgurr na Ciche

On Garbh Chioch Mor's summit, looking back to Sgurr na Ciche

There are two options for the return to Glen Dessarry, the less steep of which is to return to Bealach Coire nan Gall and trace the Allt a' Bhealaich to drop down into bracken and to a rough path by the forests of Glen Dessarry. This path is then followed to the Allt Coire nan Uth.

A finer route begins by following a path along Sgurr nan Coireachan's summit and along its southern shoulder. The path is vague as it descends ever steeper ground directly to the Allt Coire nan Uth.

Both these routes merge and keeping to the west bank of the Allt Coire nan Uth, follow a rough path downhill to the edge of forestry. Ignoring the very shoggly bridge (unsafe to cross on my last visit), head directly into the forest on a very mucky path to meet with the rickety old bridge over the Allt a' Ghiubhais and return by bike back along Glen Dessarry.

On Sgurr nan Coireachan's southern shoulder, Gulvain in view

On Sgurr nan Coireachan's southern shoulder, Gulvain in view

By following the fence-posts onwards from Sgurr nan Coireachan's summit it is also possible to extend the route further to the nearby Corbett Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoigh. Bagging this peak would add around 1km of distance and 250m of ascent to the route.

On Sgurr nan Coireachan's southern shoulder, Gulvain in view

On Sgurr nan Coireachan's southern shoulder, Gulvain in view





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Rough Bounds from Loch Cuaich

From Loch Cuaich Dam, a hike up Gairich is followed by a challenging route following well defined paths and stalkers tracks along crests to Sgurr na Ciche, the highest peak in the Rough Bounds of Knoydart.

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Ascent : 3240m (10630ft)
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Time : 15:5hr

Loch Arkaig Corbetts

From the western end of Loch Arkaig, a route following grass-covered crests, old walls and fence-lines, takes in 3 Corbett peaks of Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoidh, Fraoch Bheinn and Sgurr Mhurlagain on the edge of the Rough Bounds of Knoydart.

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Ascent : 1900m (6230ft)
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Time : 8:10hr

Carn Mor from Glen Dessarry

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Sgurr Mor and Sgurr an Fhuarain from Loch Arkaig

From the western end of Loch Arkaig, stalker's tracks and paths lead to the base of steep grassy slopes above which stand Sgurr Mor and Sgurr an Fhuarain on the edge of the Rough Bounds of Knoydart.

Peaks : 2 Munros

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Bidein a' Chabair from Glen Dessarry

A cycle on estate tracks through the forests of Glen Dessarry leads to an ascent on rugged terrain in a remote area and along an undulating ridge to reach its highest point, the rocky lump of Bidein a' Chabair.

Peaks : 1 Corbett

Ascent : 1085m (3560ft)
Distance : 28km (17m)
Time : 4:45hr









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