Brothers of Kintail
Hillwalking route up the Munros above Cluanie Inn and the eastern end of Glen Shiel
Above the western end of Loch Cluanie, well defined paths travel along mountain crests to the top of four Munros, of which Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg is the highest. Some cracking views from the summits.
Route outline
Munros | ||||
Corbetts | ||||
Ascent | 1650m (5410ft) | |||
Distance | 16km (10m) | |||
Time | 6:45hr | |||
Start | Loch Cluanie Grid Ref : NH087121 | |||
Finish | Glen Shiel Grid Ref : NH009135 | |||
Terrain |
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Nav |
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Effort |
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Scenery |
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Not quite sure where the 'Brothers' name came from, but my first recollection was it being used by Janis Whyte in her 'Glen and Mountain Guides' calendar of events back in the mid-nineties. The name seems to have stuck and now seems to refer to the three Munros overlooking the eastern end of Glen Shiel, of which the centre peak, Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg is the highest.
These Munros are connected by ridges and cols, all of which are above 800m. Nearby, a wider and lower bealach separates Ciste Dhubh, another Munro and Am Bathach, a Corbett, from the main cluster. With well trodden paths aiming in from the western end of Loch Cluanie, these five peaks together form the basis of a rather fine hillwalking route.
For the most part, the route over these peaks follows wide crests along which well-defined paths travel. There is some steep ground on the route's final descent, which can be tricky to negotiate in wet conditions. The route start and end points are some 10km apart, so arranging some form of transport will avoid hiking back along a rather busy road at the end of the day.
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Route description
1. Getting to Cluanie
Lay-by east of Cluanie Inn
The A87 travels from the A82 at Invergarry in the Great Glen towards Kintail and eventually on to the Isle of Skye.
As the road climbs westwards from Invergarry then drops northwards through Glen Loyne down to Glen Moriston, it meets with the A887 approaching from Invermoriston on Loch Ness.
To the west of this junction is Loch Cluanie shored up by a dam at its eastern end. At the western end of the loch, the remains of an old road form a long lay-by for parking in and which is close to the start of the route.
Another 1km west of the lay-by is Cluanie Inn, a fine place to eat or stay. Around 8km further west of the inn is a large parking area where the hillwalking route ends. Arranging some form of transport between the two points will avoid a rather tedious walk back along what can be a rather busy road.
2. Am Bathach
Path up Am Bathach
From the lay-by, head east along the roadside for around 100m and you'll come to a rather dilapidated gate in an old deer-fence. Through the gate, a path can be seen heading up the southern arm of Am Bathach.
Follow this path uphill as it closes in on the edge of recently felled forestry then reaches its upper boundary .
The path becomes slightly fainter as it then climbs up a grass-covered slope continuously for around 300m. Keep turning around as you climb to see the superb view over Loch Cluanie develop ! The slope levels and a couple of bumps are crossed to set foot on a minor top . Am Bathach's summit crest is revealed ahead.
Follow the crest of Am Bathach as it drops a little while heading north-west. A final climb of just under 100m reaches Am Bathach's summit , where a a few stones shape a cairn, from where rather fine views are given of the route ahead.
On Am Bathach's southern shoulder
On Am Bathach's southern shoulder
3. Ciste Dhubh
By-passing An Cnapach on way to Ciste Dhubh
From Am Bathach's summit, follow the path as it continues north-west, dropping gently on the crest of the hill's shoulder. The gradient easies and Bealach a' Choinich, along with its shallow lochan (or perhaps more likely just a big patch of peat in dry conditions), is met.
The path disappears into grass, but simply aim directly up the hillside ahead. The path reforms and climbs onto the southern shoulder of Ciste Dhubh. Higher up, the path travels around the minor summit of An Cnapach then climbs up another (un-named, spot height of 929m) with a fine view of Ciste Dhubh's summit crags ahead.
The final pull up to Ciste Dhubh's summit
The final pull up to Ciste Dhubh's summit
4. Aonach Meadhoin
Hiking up slopes of Sgurr an Fhuarail, looking back to Ciste Dhubh
Head back south from Ciste Dhubh's small cairn on the very obvious path downhill and bypass the minor summit of An Cnapach . A little further on, instead of returning down to Bealach a' Choinich the way you came up, keep to a faint path that descends down the south-west shoulder of the hill. The path disappears into grass and reaches the col some 500m west of the lochan, with a little step over a burn that flows from this - ideal spot to fill waterbottles, as there are no other burns on the remaining route.
Aim up wet grass-covered ground with path gradually forming and heading for Sgurr an Fhuarail's northern arm. The going underfoot becomes drier further up as the wide hillside narrows into a ridge of sorts, becoming increasingly bouldery.
A cairn sits on the Sgurr an Fhuarail's boulder covered top and it's only once up here that Aonach Meadhoin appears slightly higher, therefore justifying its Munro status.
On way from Sgurr an Fhuarail to Aonach Meadhoin
On way from Sgurr an Fhuarail to Aonach Meadhoin
5. Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg
Approaching col between Aonach Meadhoin and Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg
With Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg in full view ahead, leave Aonach Meadhoin's summit heading west-south-west and cross its broad crest. As height is lost, the crest narrows to form a grassy ridge with a path tracing along its spine above Coire nan Eun. There are a couple of little rocky sections encountered on route which aren't difficult to cross or by-pass.
The ridge widens and the path travels down to the bealach below Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg. A wide grass-covered and gently rising slope leads from this col up onto the crest running along the top of Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg .
On Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg's large cairn
On Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg's large cairn
6. Saileag
Saileag from west of Sgurr a' Bhealaich Dheirg
Retrace your steps back along the ridge to the dyke, then heading westwards cross a wide grass-covered expanse to turn north-west to trace a path along a narrower grassy crest. A slight rise leads to a minor summit before turning west to lose height on bouldery ground.
Follow the grass-covered crests, a little rocky lump is met and appears to block progress - it is easily scrambled up to reach to top of a minor top just above the 900m contour. Thereafter, the path is followed above Am Fraoch-choire over an undulating crest to reach the bealach below Saileag.
Path crossing col on way to Saileag
Path crossing col on way to Saileag
7. Descend to Glen Shiel
Descending the western crest of Saileag
Beyond Saileag, the path continues down over grass covered ground, south-west for around 1km to drop to Bealach an Lapain .
At the bealach, the path splits by a small cairn with one branch continuing onwards over the crests towards Sgurr nan Spainteach. The other route heads downhill towards Glen Shiel tracing the line of an old stalker's path.
Following a path, the downhill route begins easily enough, then starts to drop down on ever-steepening ground. The path, badly eroded and loose, twists and turns as it eventually drops to the edge of forestry .
Keeping to the forestry boundary, the path has to cross a couple of burns - these could well prove slippy and challenging, with one having a significant drop a short distance below.
The burns successfully crossed, the path then drops through bracken to the roadside in Glen Shiel, where hopefully transport has been aranged for the 8km return to Cluanie.
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