A long and fairly strenuous horseshoe taking in the summit of Beinn Bha'ach Ard (862m) a Corbett with good views over the Beauly and Moray Firths and into the Affric, Strathfarrar and Strathconon glens and their surrounding mountains. The walk can be shortened by returning from the summit the same way. NOTE: There are often stags in the field crossed on the return route - take care in Autumn or return by outward route.
Summary
Fairly boggy approach with no clear path in places until the ridge is reached.
Terrain
NH394405
Grid ref
16km/10 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.
Car park at Inchmore just before the Glen Strathfarrar gate at Milton Cottage near Struy.
[Map
of start point, satnav coords and directions]
Start
Maps
Users'
rating
No public transport to the start of the walk.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Park at the car park in Inchmore just over a mile from the junction with the A831 at Struy Bridge. From the car park turn left and walk through the Glen Strathfarrar access gate next to Milton Cottage and continue along the road. One advantage of the access restrictions for Strathfarrar is that the road is usually quiet making it pleasant for walkers or cyclists. The road passes close to the wide River Farrar. After passing the holiday chalets at Culligran Cottage turn right towards Culligran Power Station. The whole of Strathfarrar has a network of hydro-electric stations established when Loch Monar was controversially dammed in the 1950's. Do not descend towards the tunnel entrance, but follow the road to the right and then uphill passing an adit (tunnel). Keep following the main track as it heads uphill and through pretty birchwoods.
2. The track reaches a small dam and the track narrows and heads uphill. Keep following this route which keeps some way to the right of the Neaty Burn and is boggy in places. The trees are left behind and the path becomes fainter on the open moorland. The summit of Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard can be seen as a small bump to the right side of the hill ahead. Continue until the col, at the lowest point in the ridge on the right, to the east, can clearly be seen and head up the grassy and heathery slope towards it.
3. From the col head north west up an easy slope to the summit of Beinn a' Bha'ach Ard. The trig point (862m) has been surrounded by a stone wall and makes an excellent vantage point. On a clear day the sea firths north of Inverness can be seen as well as the surrounding Affric Munros and to the north, the peaks of the Fannichs.
4. From the summit head north for a short distance to a col with peat hags and then continue over a stony slope before a smaller col and then the summit of Sgurr a' Phollain at 855m. This is also a good viewpoint and the route ahead can also be made out following the broad ridge. The path was once a popular stalker's route but is not well used this days and can be hard to follow in places and therefore it is worth taking the time to search out the route from this vantage point.
5. Descend east over rough moorland, the path is indistinct in places, keep to the top of the broad ridge. From the col head gently uphill to Carn na Gabhalach at 713m. From here the route heads south east over increasingly boggy ground as it leaves the ridge and heads towards Loch na Beiste, keeping the ridge on the left.
6. The path skirts around the outflow of Loch na Beiste where there is a good view back of the route. From here follow the narrow path through the heather as it keeps to the left of a small knoll and passes through a gate in a deer fence where there are birch trees. After this point the path becomes a track and crosses an open area to another gate and then heads downhill towards Inchmore. There are often deer including stags in this area, take care during the rutting season in Autumn or return by the outward route from the summit. Follow the track as it passes to the right of a white bungalow and then emerges at the road near a barn and directly opposite the car park and the start of the walk.
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