An Riabhachan and An Socach from Glen Strathfarrar

[gld73]

Having done the 2 eastern Mullardoch munros a few weeks ago from the Mullardoch dam (https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=115034), I went for a different start point for the 2 westerly ones, doing An Riabhachan and An Socach from Glen Strathfarrar (...so avoiding the Mullardoch loch-side path which tends not to get good reviews...!). I didn't really plan a route, deciding I'd see what looked the best way on to the ridge and back down once I was there. As it turned out, I could have taken a couple of ways up and more than a couple of ways back down, so I might do these again in future and do the other variations. The way I went was fine though, roughly:

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A daunting amount of water coming through the Misgeach hydro power station, the start point for the walk

Impressive water coming through the power station at the start point - I hoped that didn't bode badly for the river crossing! Parking for several cars here, though just 1 Landrover the only other vehicle there today. It's the same parking I'd used for the 2 nearby grahams earlier this year.

The wooden bridge is no longer, just its remains show that my old map was right, there was meant to be a bridge at this point. The channel here was a bit deep to paddle across, but easy enough to find other routes with a small detour, in order to continue heading up the glen ahead

Continued along the track and very shortly had a slight problem when I found a bridge no longer in situ. I crossed the good bridge off to the left, walked upstream a bit to get to nicer looking, shallower water, then paddled across to get back on the track (on the way back I varied it slightly and managed to keep dry feet). Back on the track then and followed it to where it branched, and took the left branch. The path got a bit sketchy (probably depended on where I crossed the burn), but I aimed for the good stalkers path I could see heading diagonally up and came across the path as I made way towards it and joined it to head up towards the corrie.

Branch left to aim for the path zig zagging diagonally up the slope

I could have carried on up the path further than I did and gone between the 2 lochans to head up the back wall of the corrie to gain the main ridge (as, looking back towards it later, the back wall of the corrie didn't look as bad as it had on the map), but I left the path to head diagonally across rougher ground to get on the northern 'shoulder' and then had a steep but straightforward walk up to a cairn on the ridge, where I turned right and enjoyed the nice ridge walk to An Riabhachan's summit. The t-shirt and shorts I'd been in for my ascent weren't so suitable now, the wind having a chill factor that had me in a jacket and trousers for the rest of the route though thankfully it stayed dry.

Looking east over the lochans (Loch Beag and Loch Mor) to Sgurr na Lapaich, which I'd done with Carn nan Gobhar from the Mullardoch side a few weeks earlier

...and looking more NE, the direction I'd come from today

Reached the main ridge near a cairn and turned right to head towards An Riabhachan, the summit cairn visible ahead

An Riabhachan summit, looking back east

An Riabhachan, looking ahead west

I hadn't been entirely sure whether I'd do both munros on this walk, but I'd made good time so even though I had an hour less for the route in September than I'd have had in August (given the Strathfarrar gate times), I was pretty sure I'd be okay to get both done. It was a well trodden route to get to An Socach with a fair bit of up and down on the way, and a choice of routes down to the north to get back down to the glen. All would have required me to re-tread some of my route back along the ridge though, so once I reached An Socach's summit, I decided just to head directly down from there to make more of a circular route, north initially then north west down the obvious shoulder.

An Riabhachan to An Socach

Continuing along the ridge to An Socach

N view, Loch Monar

An Socach summit (looking east)

...and down to Loch Mullardoch

Once down, I vaguely contoured around on wet grassy ground aiming for the end of the initial track/path I'd taken, which would take me back to my car. It was pretty easy going, just a couple of burns to get across and then a short stretch of peat hags at the watershed before I spotted the beginning of the path there and followed it all the way back down, rejoining my outwards route.

Looking back at my descent route down the north side of An Socach

Nice to reach the start of the path which heads down the glen, all the way back to the car

I'd happily do these 2 again from Strathfarrar, maybe heading up the back wall of the corrie and down one of the other northern ridges next time for variety.

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

Thanks for posting! - very useful.

Given the toughness of the usual Mullardoch route, and the fine scenery on the north side of the ridge, this would be my preferred approach if I ever visit these hills. Nice to use the stalkers' paths which help make this into a good circuit.

I see there is still no winter vehicle access to Strathfarrar, let's hope it gets sorted one of these days.

tim

[gld73]

Thanks for posting! - very useful.

Given the toughness of the usual Mullardoch route, and the fine scenery on the north side of the ridge, this would be my preferred approach if I ever visit these hills. Nice to use the stalkers' paths which help make this into a good circuit.

I see there is still no winter vehicle access to Strathfarrar, let's hope it gets sorted one of these days.

tim

I found splitting the 4 Mullardoch munros into 2 completely separate walks with different start points worked well, saving having to make a choice between the expense of the boat trip (when it's running) and the long slog along the Mullardoch lochside path.

But you're right, not an option for winter it seems, unless you want to do a long cycle from the gate!

[dogplodder]

I often wondered about trying to access the two westerly Mullardochs from the north but was put off by the time pressure of the gate. In the end I did it using the services of the boatman. Now reading your report shows how viable it is from the north.... but there is still the time issue and I know you're a faster walker than I am, so still not fully convinced. Wouldn't want to find myself locked on wrong side of that gate!