Five Fannichs

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Five (not six or nine) Fannichs

Five Fannichs route

Given the weather forecast for Sunday/Monday/Tuesday we decided to abandon the Fisherfields for shorter walks without problematic river crossings, so opted for the Western Fannichs for Monday, the day with the best weather, albeit with a probable storm in the evening. This walk combines two WH favourites ‘Sgurr nan Clach Geala ridge’ and ‘Sgurr Breac and a’ Chailleach : Western Fannichs’.

The Western end of the Fannichs viewed from the Destitution road, Meall a Chrasgaidh on left A Chailleach on right.

Sron na Leitir Fearna in sunlight, the steep ascent.

View back down to the end of Loch a Bhraoin and the car park on the Destitution road,

Ben strikes a pose viewing Abhainn Cuileig and the Beinn Dearg 4 in the distance.

Deterred by reports of boggy ground on the way to A’ Chailleach we opted for the Toman Coinnich ridge approach which gives a steep early ascent and a good ridge walk. Along Druim Reidh we spotted a bypass path above Toll an Lochan; this was mainly grass but had a couple of small boulderfield and which brought us out at the bealach at 815m. Leaving my bag we headed West up a curving path to the summit of a’ Chailleach at 997m with views of The Fisherfields, Slioch and Torridon. Retracing our steps we headed to the Munro Top of Toman Coinnich. Skirting the Northern cories, another gentle ascent led us to Sgurr Breac, which had two summits, the Eastern one being 999m.

Druim Reidh approach to Toman Coinnich

The contour path along the West flank of Toman Coinnich

Approaching the bealach, A Chailleach on right.

The summit of A Chailleach, apologies for the loud jacket!

Looking East from A Chailleach, Loch Fannich on right.

Heading East, the peaks in a row are Toman Coinnich, Sgurr Breac, Sgurr na Clach Geala and Sgurr Mor.

Sgurr Breac from Toman Coinnich

Having read plenty of reports I could not find much detail of the descent from SB but with a bealach some 450m below the summit I expected it to be a challenge (this being the main reason we visited the Western summits first). The ground wasn’t too difficult but the main problem was the wind which was steadily pricking up during the day and made walking on rough ground awkward. Once over the initial crest of the hill the bealach didn’t look too far but the descent seemed to go on and on. We discussed whether we should leave out the remaining three Munros and exit via Allt Breabaig path but, having regretted opting out in a similar situation last year in Glen Affric, we decided to push on up the slope of the SnCG ridge to the bealach, a mere 250m ascent (you could be mistaken for thinking we were in Corbett country!) .

The start of the descent down the East spur of Sgurr Breac

Sgurr nan Clach Geala ridge from Sgurr Breac

looking down to the bealach at 550m and Sgurr nan Each

The West flank of the SnCG ridge at the bealach, there is an occasional path running diagonally left to right

Collecting fresh water above the bealach at NH182706

Sgurr Breac and the descent route to the bealach at 550m

Once on the ridgeline I dropped my bag and headed South to the summit of Sgurr nan Each. Given the lack of height (Munro 267) it’s a surprisingly beautiful hill with a steep Eastern face and long snaking spur out towards Loch Fannich. On the way up we met the only three people we were to meet on the hills that day; we stopped and had a chat with a Lancastrian from Garstang whom we walked with on the track in and who had walked the three Munros on the ridge, he was heading down to the Allt Breabaig. The two Scots we met further on up the hill didn’t want to hang around citing the bad weather which was expected to arrive at 6 o’clock. From the summit of Sgurr nan Each (923) we headed North and up the long slog up Sgurr na Clach Geala (1093m). We decided that we needed to be on our last peak by 6;00 and that we should omit Sgurr Mor despite it’s proximity.

Sgurr nan Clach Geala from the South, the tiny dot on the bealach is the man from Garstang met earlier.

Meeting two walkers on way up to Sgurr nan Each, the red jacket is not me!

Descending to the bealach at 800m

Sgurr nan Each and the Allt a Choire Mhor

Am Biachadaich, the North spur of Sgurr nan Clach Geala viewed from South

SnCG - Summit pose 1

It is rare that a report omits to mention what a beautiful hill SnCG is, the spectacular East facing cories precipitous bluffs and steep slabs. The South slope is a long but straightforward ascent, the North much more interesting with fine views down into the coire and across to Sgurr Mor. At the very wide belach we skirted the lochan and headed for the Munro Top of Carn na Criche, at 961m higher than five of the nine Munros.

Summit pose 2

The three western summits with Slioch in the background

The descent along the North spur of SnCG. Beinn Dearg in the distance.

Ben with Sgurr Mor in background

Sgurr nan Clach Geala summit, on left

Am Biachadaich, the North spur of Sgurr nan Clach Geala

Meall a Chrasgaidh

Carn na Criche

From the flat summit, Sgurr Mor looked temptingly close but we considered it too great a risk with bad weather looming. Leaving it out would also make a better round of the Eastern Fannichs. We returned down to the wide belach and up the gentle slopes of Meall Chrasgaidh, 934m, the fifth Munro and seventh peak – a day record for us.

The cairn at Carn na Criche, Sgurr Mor in background; within easy reach but alas not today!

Sgurr nan Clach Geala from Carn na Criche

Loch a Mhadaidh and Beinn Liath Mhor Fannich from the Bealach

The route off Meall Chrasgaidh has no clear path so we just took a line towards the Destitution road in the distance and then the end of the Loch. The steeper descent was just heather bashing until we reached the rough, boggy ATV track. Ben veered off the path over the Allt Breabaig and paddled across, I went to look for the decrepit wooden bridge on the ATV track at NH163748. The access track seemed much harder and longer on the way out but we made it back to the car before the downpour.

The long walk down the Western slope of Meall a Chrasgaidh

An Teallach and the Destitution Road from Meall a Chrasgaidh

Ben paddling across the Allt Breabaig at NH162741

The just passable bridge over the Allt Breabaig at NH 163748

The deluge arrived around 9 o’clock and carried on overnight, next day was a wash out but the rain eased off, the wind did not. I’m convinced that had we tried the Fisherfields we would have got caught in it (being slow walkers) and Tuesdays exit from Shenavall would have been atrocious. This walk wasn’t what we originally wanted but was very enjoyable and well worth doing. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys good ridge walking amongst special scenery.