This fine circuit visits the edge of the Fisherfield Forest, an area known to keen hillwalkers as the 'Great Wilderness'. It passes through scenery including attractive woodland, a fine river and bleak, boggy moorland, has fine views of the surrounding mountains and visits a well-known bothy.
Summary
The path leading to Shenavall is badly eroded and very boggy but there are better tracks or paths for most of the rest of the route.
Terrain
NH114850
Grid ref
18.5km/11.5 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Users'
rating
1. Park in the long layby at Corrie Hallie on the A838. The walk begins up the track which is signed for some epic wilderness walks to Gruinard, Poolewe and Kinlochewe. After a short distance it bends to the right and passes through a gate. lt now begins a long climb up Gleann Chaorachainn, passing through some beautiful birchwoods. There are good views back to the wonderfully sheltered little corner of the Highlands around Corrie Hallie. After a little over two and half kilometres the track fords the stream; there is a footbridge as an alternative in the bog just to the left.
2. Continue the climb out of the barer upper section of the glen; as height is gained, Loch Choire Chaorachain comes into view down the left. Soon a prominent cairn is reached; the marks the start of a path branching off to the right, heading directly for Shenavall. Turn onto this path, with views of parts of An Teallach dominating to the right.
3. The path gives good, dry going at first but once it crests a low rise and begins to descend it becomes increasingly eroded and boggy - tiringly so in places. The last part of the descent goes down the grassy little glen of the Allt a Chlaiginn, with grand views of the mountains ahead. Right at the foot of this path is an isolated building. This is Shenavall, an open bothy maintained by volunteers from the Mountain Bothy Association - please help to keep the place tidy by carrying out any litter you find here as well as not leaving any of your own; when you get home it is appreciated if you could add a report on the bothy's condition at its webpage on the MBA website. Shenavall occupies a wonderful location and is often used as a base for walkers tackling the remote Munros of the Fisherfield Forest; An Teallach rises immediately to the north and Beinn a'Chlaidheimh is across the river, but it is the magnificent sight of the Corbett Beinn Dearg Mor rising to the west that attracts all the attention.
Photo © Low Cloud
4. The return walk is longer but gives better going than the boggy Shenavall path. Head southwest for a short distance until a clear path heading southeast up Strath na Sealga is reached. Turn up this path, which gives mostly dry going. After a couple of kilometres it crosses a small stream with a waterfall on the left to reach the isolated building of Achneigie; half of this old pair of cottages is falling into disrepair whilst the other half is firmly locked. Beyond Achneigie the path becomes a track and the Strath has some fine old woodland remnants and these, combined with the mountains all around and the feeling of isolation, make this a magical place.
5. After just over another kilometre the track swings left and begins to climb up the northern slopes of the Strath. There are grand views, both back down Strath na Sealga to Beinn Dearg Mor and Loch na Sealga, and up the glen of the Abhainn Loch an Nid to the south. Soon the steeper slopes are behind and the track continues its climb across bleak moorland.
6. After cresting the top of the moor, the cairn at the start of the Shenavall path is reached once more; continue ahead on the track back down into the glen to reach the bridge and ford, the birchwoods and eventually the start of the walk at Corrie Hallie.
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Route profile
