W Merkland circuit-Carn an Tionail, Beinn Direach,Ben Hee

[m3doc]

A circuit of 2 Grahams and 1 Corbett from West Merkland on A838. The forestry track entrance just west of the house has a large No Parking sign though there is a space to park a car 1/4 mile west and a much larger area to park 1/2 mile west.( I managed to sqeeze the car onto the left verge just below the track barrier keeping the track clear. The track has been upgraded with run of the river hydro works.
After 1.5km a small cairn on right marks the stalker's "path" going up by the stream into Coir' a' Chruiteir used on descent from Ben Hee. At 2km, where the track reaches the 220m contour a track descends left down to a metal bridge crossing Allt na Glaise. An ATV track goes up to an unlocked deer fence gate and continues, fairly wet in places, up Sail na Glaise with easy grassy going past A' Ghlaise 750+m to Carn an Tional's cairn 759m after 5.5km and 657m ascent. ENE 0.5km then SE down grassy slopes to Bealach nan Rath 538m on OS map but more accurately 536.9m. Continuing SE up 152m to Beinn Direach variously 688m or 689m on OS maps but more accurately 688.9m after 8.7km and 864m ascent. Descent S over Cean Garbh na Beinne Dirich to the broad col 520m where an ATV track descends W then contours about 430m around flank of Meall a' Chleirich and left after a while to descend to the track at the watershed. From the track heading up S initially for less steep grass slopes then SE up Sail Gharbh 677m, S along it's flat top then E up to the N ridge of Ben Hee and a short distance SE to the summit trig 873m in wind shelter cairn after 15.3km 1511m ascent (639m from track). Descent SW 0.5km and down 180m to the Springs in Coir' a' Chleitir below which a path can be found leading to the stalker's "path". It is an apology of a path - boggy bits, rough bits, bits washed away by the stream - dreadful. It is good to get back on the track with 1.5km to car.

[gaffr]

To get to the some of the Grahams you have to dedicated into tracking them down.
When we went to Ben Hee...a fine place to look at the more distant further North hills...I felt that I could get in another hill prior to reaching the camping at Scourie. The grey hill of MacDougal's corrie was the choice. A very fine place to view more distant tops.