Billed as Britains only waymarked mountain walk, this route passes through a wide range of habitats from magnificent ancient pinewoods up onto a bare, ice-scraped plateau of quartzite rocks. The views are fantastic.
Summary
Although the route is waymarked with special cairns, it is very steep and rocky, and exposed to the elements in its upper sections. Hillwalking boots, wind- and waterproof clothing are essential.
Terrain
NH002650
Grid ref
6.5km/4 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
and meaning
1. Park at the Coille na Glas Leitre Trails car park, which is well signposted on the Loch Maree side of the A832. There is a beautifully situated picnic site here, as well as interpretation boards and machines which sell booklets giving details of the walks. The trail 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. Preservation of the forest was the main reason for this site being chosen as Britain's first National Nature Reserve in the 1950s. 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. At length a bridge is reached over the Alltan Mhic Eoheim burn, and the path becomes steeper still as it ascends close to the far bank.
3. Continue on the waymarked route as it begins to emerge from above the pines. The landscape is precipitous, with many gleaming white quartzite crags, and the path has been engineered to ease the passage. There are large waymarker cairns, some of which indicate the altitude you have reached so far. Watch out for the sharp left turn on the trail by 'Trumpet rock', and a second sharp left higher up where the path ascends a quartz crag; some people have missed the trail and continued straight on. 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.
4. The slope finally begins to ease onto an extensive, undulating plateau of quartz scraped bare by glaciers. The highest point of the trail is reached at the large 'Conservation Cairn' 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 Meall a'Ghiubhais. Behind, back across Loch Maree and ever-present in the view is Slioch.
5. From the cairn, the path descends to the right, passing a series of small lochs. The last of these has been well-named the 'Lunar Loch' (name marked on a cairn). Beyond this, the path begins to descend once more, using a glen to descend past the steep section more easily than the route of ascent. You can see the path further below clinging to the edge of a gorge, and this section is soon reached after the first great lone pine. Do not cross the fence – it is there for your own safety and the drop is not so obvious from above.
6. The path 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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