Beinn na Lap to Chno Dearg route from Laggan

By Luiblea

The route starts by Luiblea, from a long lay-by on the A86, 22km east of Spean Bridge. Although there is plenty parking available, this is a popular area for hillwalking and the lay-by can be full early morning at weekends.

More parking is available 300m west of the track access in another long lay-by.

Second junction in the track, turn left

From the lay-by, cycle down the track, over the River Spean and when you come to the first junction , turn right and head around the the farm and estate buildings of Torgulbin .

The track begins to climb quite steeply, but eases off and heads south-west. After around 2km beyond Torgulbin, the track comes to another junction - either route will do, although keeping straight-on is shorter and on a slightly better surface.

If keeping straight-on, after just over another 1km, you'll come to another junction , this time signposted, turn left.

Around a further 2km, including a bit of uphill, the tracks that split at meet again , keep right.

Through the forest for just over a further 1km, you'll come to a large barrier across the path , beyond which the edge of the forest is not far.

Out of the forest and away from felled woodland, the views open up with Beinn na Lap ahead. The track is now fairly flat and leads to a bridge over the Allt Feith Thuill. Leave bikes here.

On Beinn na Lap looking over Loch Ossian

Over the bridge, leave the track and start walking on an ATV track heading west. Unfortunately you'll need to leave this and strike uphill on pathless heathery-clad ground and cross a burn to get onto Sron na Clioche Sgoilte, the north-east shoulder of Beinn na Lap.

Once on Sron na Clioche Sgoilte, the route is pretty obvious aiming south-west and climbing fairly gently. Higher up a faint path can be traced to Beinn na Lap's summit . If windy, there is a constructed shelter just south of the small summit lochan.

Stob Coire Sgriodain's cairn looking to Chno Dearg

Return along Beinn na Lap's crest for around 200m, then on a bearing of roughly 335^o, start descending down the Allt Feith Thuill. For the most part it's an easy grassy descent, though pathless and a bit wet in bits with some rocks to go around.

Cross the Allt Feith Thuill , you might have to get wet feet ! It's a steep climb next ! It's a climb of 300m or so and higher up some crags can be seen. Aim for the gap between the crags .

It's a slog up, but soon you'll be on the crest between Garbh-bheinn and Meall Garbh . You could aim for the summit of Meall Garbh , though I avoided the extra ascent on this by taking a contouring route around Meall Garbh using the occasional deer-trod.

One of the paths that travel between Chno Dearg and Stob Coire Sgriodain is picked up to follow around Stob Coire Sgriodain's rocky south-east top .

Continue along to the middle top (958m on OS map), beyond which and still on the path, drop to the grassy dip below the last haul up Stob Coire Sgriodain's main summit.

A short pleasant hike up a gentle grassy slope leads to Stob Coire Sgriodain's summit . This is quite an interesting craggy top with significant drops down to Loch Treig and views over to the Easains.

Chno Dearg from the west

Return to Stob Coire Sgriodain's rocky south-east top , then drop to a delightful grass-covered plateau. A very obvious path can be seen ahead climbing the vast dome of Chno Dearg.

The path disappears higher up into bouldery terrain, a sign that Chno Dearg's summit is but a short distance away. A large cairn rests on the top.

By the bridge over the Allt Feith Thuill, looking up Chno Dearg

Below Chno Dearg's summit, there are some crags to the south and east and these will need avoiding, therefore leaving the summit behind, head north-east over bouldery terrain for 500m. It's quite bouldery and there's no path to follow. Turn east for another 500m or so to reach the top of the descent to the bridge over the Allt Feith Thuill. It's a fairly soggy drop on heather and grass, but it's quite direct and quick.

Back at the bridge, bike back to Luiblea the way you came in.