Seana Bhraigh is a remote Munro with dramatic northern cliffs and great wilderness views. A long walk, with sections which could be difficult to navigate in poor visibility. The forestry track can be cycled to save 5km of walking.
Summary
Forestry track and good stalkers path for approach, then rough and pathless section with difficult navigation
Terrain
NH181852
Grid ref
28.5km/17.75 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Car park south of Inver Lael bridge on A835 just north of telephone
box on east side of road.
[Map of start point, satnav coords and directions]
Start
Maps
Users'
rating
Regular bus service between Ullapool and Inverness.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. There is a new car park just north of the telephone box and house on the east side of the A835 just south of Inverlael Bridge. Start by going back out the car park entrance and then doubling back to the right to go through a pedestrian gate and then turning right onto the private road into Inverlael Forest, passing an information board on the left. Soon you reach the plantation, sections of which have been recently felled, and past a water works. Ignore a track to the left (which leads to a bridge) and then one to the right, keeping on the main route, which dips to cross a bridge over the river after about 2km. Continue straight ahead on the far side, ignoring a track to the right and a footbridge to the left. Just beyond here is the ruined stone walled enclosure and building at Glensguaib. Here any bikes should be left behind.
2. Take the track to the left which soon swings right; fork off it here onto another track which heads steeply uphill. The main track along the glen floor is the route to the Beinn Dearg group. Soon a gate in the deer fence is reached and afterwards the path becomes a good stalker's path that continues to climb, with great views back towards An Teallach. As flatter ground is reached the path passes through an area of peat hags before reaching dry ground. The path eventually slopes down to and crosses the Allt Gleann a' Mhadaidh, which could be difficult in spate.
3. Keep following the clear path on the far side. In poor weather this section can be very bleak but with good conditions the views can include the Fannichs and even distant Liathach and Beinn Eighe in Torridon. Once the burn has petered out the route continues ahead, climbing low over the northern slopes of Eididh nan Clach Geala before eventually crossing another burn just below a beautiful lochan - a tiny cairn on the far side marks the easiest spot where there are stepping stones.
4. The route now continues east up a high glen, passing above a series of pretty lochans, some with good spots for a wild camp, before climbing gently to peter out near small cairn on the flat and featureless watershed beyond. From here navigation becomes very difficult in bad conditions. Head NNE to reach the top of a wide, boggy gully just south of point 806m (OS 1:50 map) or 804m (OS 1:25 map - labelled as Meall a' Choire Ghlais). Descend the gully by the stream until the ground levels off left and then traverse left to reach the headwall above the impressive cliffs of Cadha Dearg. If you leave the gully too early you may end up above an overhanging cliff; if this happens you can descend past the cliff by bearing right. Continue around the rim until a path is picked up at the Gate of Ca'-derg, with great views back across the Cadha Dearg.
5. This heads uphill to the north, boggy in places, for the climb up onto the Seana Bhraigh plateau. It is worth crossing the 905m (OS 1:25k) / 906m (OS 1:50k) top in good conditions as the are superb views down into the dramatic Luchd Choire, the mountain's finest feature. Continue back from the cliff edge for the final climb to the summit, watching out for the wild goats that can sometimes be seen grazing on the higher ground. The top is marked by a windshelter cairn providing a good spot to take in the far reaching views, including the isolated peaks of Assynt to the north.
6. The impressive ridge seen enclosing the opposite side of the Luchd Choire leading up to Creag an Duine makes a fine and challenging scramble, approached from the walkers car park (outside stalking season only) at Corriemulzie Lodge in Strath Mulzie. There is also an easier approach to the hill from the same start point which reaches the summit from the north and can be used as a descent by scramblers. For those returning to Inverlael, however, the way back is by the same outward route. The very fit may opt to include Eididh nan Clach Geala or even Meall nan Ceapraichean on the long walk back.
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