Sguman Coinnich is a shapely summit above the head of Loch Long and is a very fine viewpoint. Its combination with its more remote neighbour, Faochaig, makes a fairly long and rewarding hillwalk with a return down beautiful Glen Elchaig.
Summary
Rough hillwalking, pathless for much of the way though there are stalkers paths lower down. Return down Glen Elchaig has excellent track.
Terrain
NG940303
Grid ref
25km/15.5 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Start
Maps
Users'
rating
Public transport
1. There is parking on the left at the start of the private section of road to Killilan. Start the walk by contiuing along the tarmac road, reaching the hamlet of Killilan after around 500 metres. Just past the telephone box but before the bridge, turn left onto a track, immediately forking to the right to head between the old hall building and the stream. The path climbs through the bracken and then passes through a gate in a deer fence at the foot of a plantation, dog-legging left and right to pass through an iron gate.
2. Already there are good views back over the head of Loch Long. Follow the path which soon passes the pine plantation and continues up the more open glen. It then meets a new rough estate track at a fork; take the left fork that climbs across the slope, gaining height above the Allt a'Choire Mhor. Higher up the burn must be crossed; you can either do this just beyond some waterfalls at around 310m or higher up where the corrie begins to open out at around 450m. Assuming the earlier crossing, ascend the easy going of the Teanga Dubh (Black Tongue) - the strip of land between two streams.
3. As the stream to the right peters out bear southeast and head up rough ground, keeping just right of some initial steep rocky ground, to eventually gain the ridge. The rough ridge is a mix of rock and easy grass but the outcrops can all be avoided; the views back over Loch Long, Loch Shiel and the Isle of Skye are superb. Continue up the ridge to reach the summit, marked by a cairn and a cyclindrical trig point that is quite literally 'on its last legs'.
4. There are various possible returns from Sguman Coinntich is a shorter walk is sought; the finest is to continue to complete a horse-shoe walk by following the ridge around to descend via Ben Killilan, though this involves a rock scramble to descend to the Bealach Mhic Bheathain. To instead continue the traverse to Faochaig, follow the ridge ENE at first before turning ESE to keep above the rim of Coire Caol and Coire Shlat. The going is mostly grassy through there are some rocky knolls until a peaty bealach is reached at 638 metres. Here the route turns northeast to cross the intervening summits of Sron na Gaoith, though the highest point is easy avoided. Continue east to reach a second bealach at the foot of the open slopes of Faochaig. There are good views of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan which dominates the area, whilst looking back Sguman Coinntich looks very fine with the crags above the Bealach Mhic Bheathain prominent.
5. The uppermost slopes of Faochaig are not so shapely; head ENE up the open grass and rocks to find the summit cairn in an area of rock outcrops. The views, on the other hand, are excellent, especially over towards the mountains of Torridon; the very pointed peak to the north is Bidein a'Choire Sheasgaich. Head back down the southern slopes, keeping just left of a burn lower down. Once the flatter area at Slochd Mor is reached the stalkers path marked on the map can be picked up.
6. A long section of the old path has been destroyed by a rough and ugly new track. Follow this as it descends, keeping high above the Allt Domhainn, until NH023291 where thankfully the landrover track heads east across the hillside whilst the old stalkers path turns off to the right to descend in a series of zig-zags. This old path is delightful, running across the side of the beautifully wooded ravine of the Allt Domhainn; it is in excellent condition apart from at one point where care is needed as it has become eroded where it crosses a feeder stream. On the final section of descent to the lonely house at Carnach the path is rejoined by the new landrover track; continue down to reach the main Glen Elchaig track at Carnach.
7. Turn right along the track to begin the long walk back down Glen Elchaig. Despite its remoteness the glen has much fine native woodland as well as grand views of the surrounding mountainsides. The track passes by attractive Loch na Leitreach, through woodland and passes the foot of a path which climbs up to the Falls of Glomach. The distance is long; after another four kilometres the track becomes a tarmac road. It is still a further four kilometres back down the road to Killilan and the start of the walk.
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