Beinn Liath Mhor, Achnashellach

GLEN CARRON: LOCHCARRON TO ACHNAHSHEEN


Summary :	Beinn Liath Mhor takes the form of a long ridge sprinkled with white quartzite screes. It gives a fine, steep hillwalk of much character.
Terrain :	Excellent stalkers' paths on the approach walk; higher up the mountain has steep boulders and heather, whilst the ridge is on quartzite scree. There is much rough ground and crags to avoid on the descent.
Grade :		Distance :	14km/8.75 miles
Bog Factor :		Time :	5 - 7 hours
Start :	Achnashellach Station	Grid ref :	NH004483
Map :	View an OS map of the route Buy Explorer 429 – Glen Carron online	Ascent :	1070m
GPS Route/ Waypoints :	Open this walk in QUO 2 Tell me more Open this walk in GPX format (compatible with Memory map etc)	Open in Virtual Highlands Tell me more Open this walk in Google Earth Tell me more
Munros climbed :	Beinn Liath Mhor
Pronunciation and meaning :	Press play button to listen Tell me more
Public Transport :	Train or bus to Achnashellach[Click for timetables - choose Area 5]

1. Strong walkers can combine Beinn Liath Mhor with Sgorr Ruadh to give a grand circuit; the route for this is described at the end. If arriving by car, park at the layby on the A890 opposite the telephone box and the private road to Achnashellach station. From here walk up the road to the station, turning right after the outbuildings. Cross the railway line with care and proceed up the track a short way until you reach a crossroads. Here turn left slightly back on yourself and continue on a forestry track, passing through a gate and into thinning trees. Ahead there is a good view of the prow of Fuar Tholl, a fine Corbett, just missing out on Munro status.

2. After a short distance take a path to the left marked with a cairn and signed for Torridon. The path heads towards the River Lair, passing through a gate with an ingenious dog stile, and through a mixture of gorse, broom, birch and single pine trees. The path begins to climb revealing fine views and passing the Achnashellach Estate deer stalking information sign. The stalking season here is 15 September to 20 October during which walkers should keep to the paths or phone the estate for further information.

3. Follow the stony path as it winds uphill, ignoring a smaller path to the left. The ground becomes much barer as the path climbs above the last of the pines. After the gradient eases off, a path junction marked with a cairn is reached. There is a good view Sgorr Ruadh and its majestic sandstone cliffs on the left side of the valley ahead, and further left the even mightier cliffs of Fuar Tholl are seen in full stature, whilst the long scree-flanked ridge of Beinn Liath Mhor guards the right side of the valley. Take the right fork. Further on a second, larger, cairn is reached on the right - keep right again. The path on the left leads into Coire Lair and can be used on the descent. Continue the climb almost to the head of the pass, the Drochaid Coire Lair. Just before the top the path forks once again. Take the left fork this time, which crosses rough rising ground before heading up the steep and long slope of heather and scree to reach the easternmost summit of the ridge, marked by a large cairn at 876 metres.

4. From here, the going becomes easier although the ground is universally stony - the quartz can be a little slippery after rain. The long, well-defined ridge runs downhill for a distance about four hundred metres to a col before climbing again to reach the 887 metre summit at the centre of the ridge. Continue west again to a second col before the final pull up to the third and highest peak. There are a couple of rocky sections on the ridge which can be bypassed to the right. The true Munro summit of Beinn Liath Mhor, at 924 metres, is soon reached with a great view across Coire Lair, and of Liathach and Beinn Eighe to the north..

Photo ©David Maclennan, reproduced under this Creative Commons license.

5. From the summit, continue down the ridge to reach a flattish shoulder. From here the route turns southwest, dropping steeply again down some rocky slopes to reach a lochan at a narrow bealach. Beyond here cross the knoll and then descend once more. This descent can be quite tricky as there are a couple of tiers of steep sandstone crags to pass. There is a faint path which finds a route down these with only very slight scrambling - but it could be hard to find in mist. Beyond there is another lochan at the second, lower bealach. .

Photo ©David Maclennan, reproduced under this Creative Commons license.

6. This bealach is crossed by the stalkers path up from Coire Lair. The next paragraph describes the route from here onto Sgorr Ruadh if you wish to extend the outing. Otherwise, to return to the start, turn left down this path which keeps on the northern side of the valley, descending until it rejoins the outward route at a cairn. From the cairn, turn right and then left at a second cairn to return to the path down to the woods above Achnashellach. .

Photo ©David Maclennan, reproduced under this Creative Commons license.

7. To reach Sgorr Ruadh from the lochan on the bealach, climb up the slope opposite to reach a very small lochan on the ridge of Sgorr Ruadh. Turn left here, climbing the scree-covered ridge up to reach the summit. From there, follow the route described on our Sgorr Ruadh walk to return to Achnashellach.

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Route profile

Accommodation links for this area:
Hotels in Glen Carron: Loch Carron to Achnasheen
Glen Carron: Loch Carron to Achnasheen Bed and Breakfasts
Self catering cottages in Glen Carron: Loch Carron to Achnasheen
Torridon & Gairloch hostels
Campsites in Torridon and Gairloch region