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| Rafe beside River Croe near the Morvich Countryside Centre |
After our excellent walk over
A'Ghlas-beinn a few weeks ago, with such great views of Beinn Fhada, we had prioritised the hill as one of our next objectives. The weather looked good - so we parked up at the Countryside Centre at Morvich and headed off up Strath Croe.
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| Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge from Inchnaco |
Initially the route was the same as our ascent of A'Ghlas-beinn, through Inchnacro and Strath Croe, along Gleann Choinneachain and almost to Bealach an Sgairne.
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| Rafe and Jim crossing the River Croe at Inchnacro |
The weather was a touch better today - definitely no snow showers!
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| A'Ghlas-beinn and Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh from near Inchnacro |
The views were just as good and the spring had moved on a few weeks...
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| Jim - A'Ghlas-beinn from Strath Croe |
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| Looking back along Strath Croe towards Morvich |
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| Rafe and Jim - Gleann Choinneachain with views to Bealach an Sgairne |
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| Bealach an Sgairne from Gleann Choinneachain |
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| Rafe and Jim - Waterfalls on Allt a'Choire Chaoil |
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| Waterfalls on Allt a'Choire Chaoil |
We stopped for a first lunch beside the very lovely Allt a'Choire Chaoil and its waterfalls near the top of Gleann Choinneachain. A cuppa and a sarnie are always welcome.
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| Bealach an Sgairne from by waterfalls on Allt a'Choire Chaoil |
We took the sharp right turn on the stalkers path at NH006213, away from Bealach an Sgairne and headed south into Coire an Sgairne.
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| Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge from ascent into Coire an Sgairne |
The views opened up again - new and exciting...
The coire was surrounded by crags and cliffs - the stalkers path winding up the eastern side and to the bealach between Meall a'Bhealach and Beinn Fhada - many photographs were taken again.
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| Ascent into Coire an Sgairne |
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| Creag Coire an Sgairne |
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| Gleann Choinneachain from ascent into Coire an Sgairne |
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| Coire an Sgairne and Creag Coire an Sgairne |
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| Coire an Sgairne |
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| Creag Coire an Sgairne and Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
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| Rafe above Coire an Sgairne |
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Rafe and Jim on bealach between Meall a'Bhealaich and Beinn Fhada (NH011202)
Views south east to Coire Thuill Sgailceich |
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Bealach between Meall a'Bhealaich and Beinn Fhada (NH011202)
Views north west over Creag Coire an Sgairne and Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
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| Meall a'Bhealaich, Gleann Gaorsaic and Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan from NH011202 |
Once on the bealach, our breath was taken away again by the views to the east - into Gleann Gaorsaic, Gleann Gniomhaidh and beyond into Glen Affric.
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| Gleann Gniomhaidh from ascent of Beinn Fhada |
We could pretty much see the whole route of
day three of "Sort of the Affric Kintail Way" from 2014.
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| Ascent of Beinn Fhada - views into Coire an Sgairne |
We pushed on, up wide slopes on an intermittent path - once above the crags above Coire Thuill Sgailceich, we stuck to the edge above the cliffs, winding our way through the rocks.
As our height increased we started to encounter the odd patch of snow, much to Rafie's delight.
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| Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh, Gleann Choinneachain and A'Ghlas-beinn from ascent of Beinn Fhada |
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| Jim - Ascent of Beinn Fhada - views south west to Coire Thuill Sgailceich |
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| Gleann Gaorsaic from ascent of Beinn Fhada |
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| Rafe and Jim - ascent of Beinn Fhada |
Nearing the summit plateau, a cornice was hanging from the northern cliffs - definitely no place for Rafe to play.
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| Jim - above Coire Thuill Sgailceich |
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| Views north west across the Plaide Mhor and Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge from ascent of Beinn Fhada |
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| Glen Affric from Beinn Fhada |
The ascent eased and the final pull to the summit was across a wild and open plateau - stunning views all around - The Five Sisters of Kintail and Brothers Ridge across the south and west, the other Cluanie Hills in the east, A'Ghlas-beinn and Sgurr nan Cearthramhnan to the north - the wonderful Scottish mountains serried in every direction.
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| Beinn Fhada summit (Munro 100, 1032m) - views south east to Sgurr a'Dubh Doire |
It wasn't long before we were at the summit - Beinn Fhada (Munro 100, 1032m) - a cylindrical trig point and a a shelter/windbreak - great place for a second lunch and to breathe in the mountains...
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| Views west over Plaide Mhor from Beinn Fhada |
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| Beinn Fhada summit - views to Five Sisters of Kintail |
Across the Plaide Mhor we had a great view of the Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge - our "descent route". It looked decidedly pointy!
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| Views north west over Plaide Mhor to Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
Having read up a bit on the ridge, we were a touch worried about the bad step - a scramble up to Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh itself, about half way along the ridge. Would Rafie make it? We would wait and see - if it turned out to be too much for him, we would retrace our steps...
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| Descent from Beinn Fhada across Plaide Mhor |
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| Views into Coire an Sgairne from Plaide Mhor |
After a bite to eat and a cuppa, we headed north west across the wide plateau of the Plaide Mhor, skirting above the cornice hanging over Coire an Sgairne...
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| Looking back to Beinn Fhada over Plaide Mhor |
The ridge looked good!
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Rafe - Meall an Fhuarain Mhoir (Munro Top 150, 954m)
Views north west along the Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
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| Jim and Rafe at the start of the Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
It was!
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| Jim and Rafe - Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
It was never very exposed or too narrow - and the scrambly bits were easy - even for an elderly collie!
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| Views to Gleann Lichd and Five Sisters of Kintail from Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
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| Rafe and Jim - Meall an Fhuarain West Top (918m) |
And the views...
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| Views over Gleann Lichd to Loch Duich from Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
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| Looking back to Beinn Fhada and along the Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge from Ceun na h-Aon-choise |
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| Rafe and Jim - Ceun na h-Aon-choise |
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| Rafe - Ceun na h-Aon-choise with views north west to Faradh Nighean Fhearchair and A'Ghlas-beinn |
From Bealach an t-Sealgaire, the scrambly bit up Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh looked fairly steep - Jim went first with Rafe - would he get up the "shute"?
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| Bealach an t-Sealgaire - views north east |
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| Ascent of Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh - the scrambly bit |
Rafe needed a couple of boosts up a short smooth bit, towards the top, but apart from that, it was a doddle. Nice to be hands on for a change.
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| Jim and Rafe ascent of Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh |
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| Looking back across Bealach an-t Sealgaire to Ceum na h-Aon-choise from Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh |
Once up the scramble, the rest of the ridge was a high level saunter - glorious...!
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| Looking back to Beinn Fhada and the ridge from Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh |
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| Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge - looking south east |
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| Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge with the Five Sisters of Kintail beyond |
We followed the ridge to it's natural conclusion on Faradh Nighean Fhearchair (870m), before doing a last 360 and heading north west, off the tops, towards Strath Croe.
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| A'Ghlas-beinn and Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan from Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh |
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| Jim and Rafe - Descent from Faradh Nighean Fhearchair |
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| Views west to Loch Duich from descent from Faradh Nighean Fhearchair |
We stopped for a third lunch where a couple of handy rocks amongst the tussocks gave us a great place to sit - taking in the views again.
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| Jim - Descent towards Beinn Bhuidhe |
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| Jim - Descent from Faradh Nighean Fhearchair to Beinn Bhuidhe |
There were a few peat hags to cross as we descended to Beinn Bhuidhe - the peat was dry and crumbly - certainly better than it could have been!
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| Peat hags on Beinn Bhuidhe |
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| Rafe - Beinn Bhuidhe - views into Strath Croe |
The descent from Beinn Bhuidhe wasn't too steep - pathless across grassy slopes - easygoing.
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Looking back to Beinn Bhuidhe and our descent route from
Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge |
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| Glen Licht and the Five Sisters of Kintail from descent into Strath Croe |
We spied a gate in the deer fence and headed towards this (NG977213) and followed a new fence west through some rather damp rough fields (there were sheep in the far distance!) back to the village of Inchnacro
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| Jim and Rafe - Descent towards Inchnacro |
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| Looking back towards Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge from our descent into Inchnacro |
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| Gleann Lichd from near Inchnacro |
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| Near Inchnacro - views west |
What a day!
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| Beinn Bhuidhe and Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge from near Inchnacro |
Rafe had to finish it off with a wetting!
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| Rafe has a dip in the River Cro |
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| The Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh ridge from Morvich Countryside Centre |
Route: Car parking area beside the Countryside Centre at Morvich (NG961211), W along road to Inchnacro, N over bridge over River Croe and through village (sp to Falls of Glomach) (NH018256), fp NE along Abhainn Chonaig then E into Gleann Choinneachain to NH006214, take stalkers path S (right) into Coire an Sgairne and continue to bealach at NH011203, SE along edge of summit plateau to Beinn Fhada (Munro 100, 1032m), W across Plaide Mhor to Meall an Fhuarain Mhoir (Munro Top 150, 954m) NW along Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh Ridge - Meall an Fhuarain Mhoir West Top (918m), Ceum na h-Aon-choise (917m), Bealach an t-Sealgaire, Sgurr a'Choire Ghairbh (864m), Faradh Nighean Fhearchair (879m), descend steeply NW on pathless hillside to Beinn Bhuidhe (502m), W to gate in deer fence (NG977213), W along new fence to Inchnacro and back to start.
Statistics: Distance: 17km Ascent: 1250m Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Map: OS Explorer 414 Glen Shiel & Kintail Forest / Harvey Superwalker Kintail
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