Sgurr Ghiubhsachan is a fine craggy mountain, certainly the most impressive peak in Ardgour and Moidart, especially when seen from the Glenfinnan monument at the head of Loch Shiel. Nearby Sgorr Craobh a' Chaorainn is less conspicuous, being hidden by the rocky heights overlooking the loch. The round of these tops from Callop is a grand and quite testing hill walk, which includes tremendous views from the lochside on the way in.
Summary
Good track for the approach, but the mountains themselves are rocky, rugged and pathless. The return walk is on a boggy path.
Terrain
NM924792
Grid ref
17.5km/10.75 miles
Distance
Grade
Safety warning: Hillwalking when there is snow or ice lying requires ice-axe, crampons and the ability to use them. Some featured routes can become technical ice climbs. Check out our Winter Skills information provided by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
Users'
rating
Public transport
1. If travelling west on the A830, about 4 km beyond the head of Loch Eil the road bends left under a railway bridge. Just beyond the bridge turn left to the Forestry Commission site at Callop. Cross a bridge to a car park on the right. Leaving the car park turn right onto the private road to Polloch. For about 1.5 km the road runs northwest following the Callop river until emerging above the flats at the head of Loch Shiel, with magnificent views over Glenfinnan.
2. The road turns southwest along the loch shore to be followed for a further 3.5 km, below looming crags to your left and views over the loch to Beinn Odhar Mhor and Beinn Odhar Bheag (of which Bheag is the higher, and a Corbett). Eventually the cottage of Guesachan appears in the distance. Leave the road shortly before reaching the cottage, cross the burn and head southeast beside it for a little way in order to avoid the steep craggy end of the ridge, then head up southwest to gain the ridge. Pick your way over and around seemingly numberless crags and knolls until you reach Meall a'Choire Chruinn. You will want to pause here for a while to admire the panorama of hills and loch from north to west. To the southeast the lumpy grassy slopes of Sgorr Craobh a'Chaorainn are revealed.
3. There is some respite here as the descent is made to a col before the steepening ascent to the north top of Sgurr Ghiubhsachan. A short distance to the south along a little ridge lies the summit. Views open up across the upper Cona Glen to the hills of Ardgour, with the peak of Sgurr Dhomhnuill prominent, and to the long vista of Cona Glen itself to the east with Ben Nevis and the Mamores beyond if in clear weather.
4. A very steep descent must now be made to the southeast around many rock slabs. This can be made easier, but not much, by descending the ridge to the SW of the summit for a short distance until it begins to level out, then angling ESE across the slope. This section could be particularly tricky under winter conditions.
5. Soon a broad shallow grassy slope is reached, and once a boggy col with many peaty pools is crossed there is an easy climb to the rounded southwest top of Sgorr Craobh a'Chaorainn. Cross a curious little defile, going down a little to the west to avoid the steep south face, then climb to the rocky dome of the summit. This is the second Corbett of the day.
6. Now go down the northeast ridge to the col with Meall na Cuartaige. You can either drop down an easy grassy slope to the path in the glen below or go on over this top and carry on down the ridge to meet the path where it crosses the base. In any case follow this boggy and eroded path down to Callop and continue along the road to return to the car park.
This walk was written by Doug Tulloch
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