Meall a Ghiubhais is a steep, rugged Corbett situated just north of Beinn Eighe. It gives excellent views over Beinn Eighe and its eastern summit is one of the best viewpoints for Loch Maree. The 'Mountain Trail' is used for half of the ascent.
Summary
The Mountain Trail is steep and rocky but well waymarked. The ascent of the mountain beyond is rough and steep, with some scree; there is no path.
Terrain
NH002650
Grid ref
9km/5.5 miles
Distance
Grade
Coille na Glas Letire Trails car park, off the A832.
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The Inverness – Gairloch bus passes along the A832
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Pronunciation
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1. Park at the Coille na Glas Leitre Trails car park, which is well signposted on the Loch Maree side of the A832. Start the walk by following the 'Mountain Trail' which begins at the far end of the car park and passes through the underpass beneath the main road. Once through, there is a bridge – do not cross it, instead keeping to the trail on the left.
2. The route climbs fairly gently through the birch and pinewoods at first. This magnificent forest, Coille na Glas Letire (wood of the grey slope) has been here for at least 8000 years, making it one of Britain's very few truly natural landscapes. The trail steepens as height is gained, and the views back through the trees to Loch Maree and the forbidding peak of Slioch beyond improve with every step. A bridge is soon reached over the Alltan Mhic Eoheim burn, and the path becomes steeper still as it ascends close to the far bank. The ground is very rocky and the path has been engineered to ease the passage.
3. There are large waymarker cairns; watch out for the sharp left turns on the trail by two of them. There are steps up the rocks in places, and where the way crosses smooth rock slabs the surface has been broken to help you get a grip, but by any standards this is a steep, rough ascent. The slope finally begins to ease onto an extensive, undulating plateau of quartz scraped bare by glaciers. The large 'Conservation Cairn' is reached at about 450 metres. From here, there is a tremendous view of the ridges of Beinn Eighe, whilst the nearer peak, further to the right, is our objective, Meall a'Ghiubhais.
4. Continue on the cairned path which descends and passes some lonely lochs. The last of these has a cairn naming it the 'Lunar Loch'. Leave the trail just passed this loch, heading up the very rough and ill-defined quartzite ridge to soon reach a large stone wind shelter. From the shelter the still-rough and rocky ridge slowly becomes easier as it merges into the lower slopes of Meall a'Ghiubhais. Follow a small stream at first before making a direct climb up the steep slopes to the east summit. From a distance this slope looks to be mostly scree, but closer inspection reveals there are grassy tongues and the ascent isn't quite as tough as might have been expected.
5. The climb eases before the northeastern summit is reached (and the main summit with a large cairn becomes visible over to the left). It is worth continuing to the lower east summit for its spectacular view of Loch Maree; it is even better from the top of the slope a hundred metres to the east, where almost the whole Loch and all its islands can be seen.
6. Continue along the easy ridge to the large cairn on the south-western summit; the ground falls away precipitously just beyond the cairn making this a great vantage point for Beinn Eighe, Beinn Alligin, Beinn Dearg and Baosbheinn. Liathach is surprisingly absent view the view, hidden behind Beinn Eighe. Meall a'Ghiubhais is 887 metres high and its isolation from its neighbours makes it a Corbett. Return back to the Lunar Loch the same way you came.
7. Turn left back onto the Mountain Trail. It descends past the gorge and reaches the Woodland Trail at a marker post. Take the left branch. After a short distance you can detour to the right where a plinth gives a view over Loch Maree – but it can't really compare with the views you had higher up. The wonderful pines are a compensation however, and together with the birch trees accompany the descent, first beside a burn and then crossing it to return to the bridge. Pass back through the underpass to return to the car park.
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