Strathfarrar from South and North

[Mart987]

South - 25 April 2024
North - 7 May 2024

Distance - South - 14 kms
Distance - North - 26 kms

Ascent - South 1,175 mtrs
Ascent - North 1,532 mtrs

Time - South - 6 hours
Time - North - 11 hours


Towards the end of April I was staying near Glen Strathfarrar, so naturally I wanted to do the four Munro circuit in that Glen. I didn’t have a bike so I was constrained by the gate opening times (9am to 6pm in April). I decided that my ageing legs weren’t up to doing all four within the gate opening times, so I needed an alternative plan.

I had read of people coming in from the north, but you are two valleys away from the hills, so its a very long day. My plan was to do the first two Munros from the south, so subject to the gate opening times, and then on a separate day do the other two from the north parking at Inverchoran. One thing I liked about this plan is that I would get to see the beautiful Glen Orrin.

On the first day I got through the gate dead on 9am, thanks to the friendly lady gate-keeper and headed up to the parking area, which is a fair drive (15 to 20 mins). No-one else around, so I set off straight away up past the little dam. The path up the slope of Sgurr na Ruaidhe is a continuous slog and I found myself reaching the summit without any incident, stopping at the cairn for a bite to eat. There was a very good view across to the next summit Carn nan Gobhar, but unfortunately you have to drop down quite a way before the final ascent.

Carn nan Gobhar from summit of Sgurr na Ruaidhe

The grass on the slope down to the Bealach nam Botaichean was lovely and spongey, so you could bound down the slope for a while. On the final ascent to Carn nan Gobhar you have to cross a boulder field that covers the whole summit area, but thankfully it is is not too long to cross. The view from the summit of the third Munro Sgurr a Choire Ghlais is stunning, as it is such an impressive looking peak.

Sgurr a Choire Ghlais from the summit of Carn nan Gobhar

I now turned round and retraced my steps back to the car and made it through the gate with a couple of hours to spare before the 6pm closure.

On the second day I got up early as it was going to be a long day. I found that the drive up the minor road through Strathconon to Inverchoran took a long time. On arrival I parked just off the road on a grassy bank at the point where the road split. I had copied the route description from Steve Fallon’s website, which was very useful especially at the start, so as to avoid bothering the houses at Inverchoran.

I now had to climb up and over the first hill and then down to Glen Orrin, but there is a vehicle width track all the way, so it is easy. There are great views of the meandering river running through Glen Orrin and when you reach the valley floor you see the way across is a choice between a river wade or a wire bridge. There are wide gaps between the slats on the bridge, so its your choice. I guess it depends on the height of the water in the river.

Glen Orrin

Wire bridge over River Orrin

Wire bridge

Having crossed the River Orrin you pass alongside a plantation and then cross the Allt a Bhealaich Bhig on a narrow log bridge to join a decent path running uphill on the right hand side of the stream. I had decided to tackle Sgurr Fhuar-Thuill first followed by Sgurr a Choire Ghlais, so that meant I had to reach the ridge between the two Munros at a top called Cream Ghorm a Bhealaich. Then it was a case of climb the two Munros, head back to the top and down the same route as on the approach.

Little waterfall in the Allt a Bhealaich Bhig

After following the right hand bank of the Allt a Bhealaich Bhig for half an hour or so, a tributary stream Allt Coire na Sguile joins from the right. This is where you have to branch off right following the tributary on its right hand side, heading for a prominent shoulder in from of you. You must get up onto the shoulder to gain access to the way up to the top Cream Ghorm a Bhealaich. This whole section is rough ground, slightly boggy and there are peat hags lower down and definitely no path. I normally find this kind of ground tricky, but I enjoyed it both up and down for some reason. I like having to route-find and seeking the best line avoiding the hazards. It is rewarding when you make good decisions and you make good progress up rough ground.

When I reached the shoulder I heard and then saw some ptarmigan and they seemed quite unafraid as long as I didnt get too close, so I zoomed in with my camera.

Pair of Ptarmigan

From the top of the shoulder I did pick up a vague path up to the top of Cream Ghorm a Bhealaich, where you join the well worn main path used by the Four Munro Circuit people. It was like leaving a B road and joining a Motorway. I was expecting to see people up here, but all day I saw no-one.

The ascent up the first Munro Sgurr Fhuar-Thuill was straightforward, then it was back down to the top and up again to the second Munro Sgurr a Choire Ghlais. The way up here became quite steep at the end climbing up rocky blocks at a steep angle, but it quickly gets you on to the summit plateau, which has three cairns. I went to all of them, just in case I missed the true summit.

Now I returned by the same route as on the ascent. Looking towards your destination you realise that its a long way and when you have reached the valley floor of Glen Orrin you still have to climb another hill before then dropping back to the start. I had good visibility all day, so there was no problem seeing the direction to take in the pathless section down to the Allt a Bhealaich Bhig. Once you reach that stream you are on paths all the way back to the car.

Back over River Orrin, with some nice light

I am really glad I did these four Munros in two stages as the wildness of Glen Orrin was wonderful to see. I would probably never go there if I just did the Four Munro ascent from the Strathfarrar side.

[HalfManHalfTitanium]

great report, beautiful photos!

very useful for me. I am not up to Munros at the moment, but I might be staying in that area later this year - if so I hope to try the first part of the walk, to see Glen Orrin.

thanks for posting
tim