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After my fabulous scrambling experience on An Ruadh-Stac a couple of days ago I felt encouraged to put into action my plan to climb Sgurr a' Chaorachain from the Kishorn side. I had no idea if it was within my capablilities but I remembered that Stravaiger had said it was a good route of ascent and the SMC Corbett book describes the route in reverse saying there is some 'easy scrambling'. I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with the language used to grade scrambling but the word 'easy' appealed to me and now looked like the perfect day for it as there was little wind and clear, sunny conditions.
I parked just above Cnoc nan Uan and set off straight up the hill (started off at 190m). The instructions in The Corbetts book say to keep to the crest but when you are up close there doesn't appear to be an obvious crest so I just tried to keep a fairly straight line. This was not always possible as I came to a few dead-ends on narrow terraces and had to back-track to try for an easier line. (See the zig-zaggy track!) Again, the deer came to the rescue and I just tried to keep to their tracks. I have to say it was great fun even though there were a few scary bits. I just kept to the mantra, "Don't look down". It was great when I came out to the 660m lower edge of the summit plateau. After taking a break here it was a stroll up to the top - even over some boulders!
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-1.jpg]()
- Looking down to Loch Kishorn from 350m
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-2.jpg]()
- Sgurr a' Chaorachain's SE face. You can't really see the top from here.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-3.jpg]()
- Maol Chean-dearg, An Ruadh-stac and Sgurr a' Gharaidh across the lower slope of Beinn Bhan.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-4.jpg]()
- Loch Coire nan Arr makes an appearance.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-5.jpg]()
- At the 660m mark you can look down a gully (which may be another option for ascent/descent) towards Creag a' Chumhaing with Plockton and Skye beyond.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-6.jpg]()
- In the other direction (N) lies the summit of Beinn Bhan.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-7.jpg]()
- Loch Kishorn again.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-8.jpg]()
- Towards Creag a' Chumhaing. This hill along with the connecting Meall Gorm make for a fantastic walk - they just don't register on any lists as the drop at Bealach na Ba isn't sufficient.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-9.jpg]()
- Coire a' Chaorachain
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-10.jpg]()
- Na Ciochan from across the coire.
The views from the summit are magnificent.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-11.jpg]()
- The Cuillin from the summit. Meall Gorm summit in the mid-distance.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-12.jpg]()
- Looking down on to the top of Creag a' Chumhaing. The corrie in between carries the Bealach na Ba road to Applecross.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-13.jpg]()
- The main summit with the minor summit with the communication mast round the horse-shoe.
After lunch I set off for the descent down to Coire a' Chaorachain. I had noticed some people on the ridge and they didn't seem to be moving very much but I just assumed they were enjoying the sunshine and views. Just as I was about to ascent the 'tower', I met the four young men who were not dressed or equipped for hill-walking (I think they only had one plastic bottle of water between them) but they seemed to be enjoying themselves and I had a wee chat with them before proceeding. I did tell them I was going to drop down into the coire and they asked me if I saw the snow bank they could see from the road. I did, and gave them directions to it from the summit. I guessed they were planning on building a snowman or having a snow-ball fight.
Anyway I went down the steep grassy slope into the coire and replenished my water supplies in the lovely spring which I had found when up (in very different weather conditions) last weekend.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-14.jpg]()
- One week ago (in very different weather conditions) I ascended to the mast via the deer track just left of centre. It's pretty steep!
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-15.jpg]()
- Descending down to the coire - the Beinn Bhan ridge is straight ahead.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-18.jpg]()
- Entrance to the coire from underneath Na Ciochan
I continued down to the lochan and when I looked up I could just see the guys as little specs on the horizon near the summit. I crossed over to the other side of the coire and went up the opposite side to just below An Ciochan when I heard an almighty rumble. At first I couldn't figure out what it was but soon realized the guys were pushing rocks over the lip of the coire. Of course the rocks were tumbling down at least 200m and accelerating all the way. I'm hoping a) they weren't trying to kill me, b) they weren't old enough or mature enough to think of any implications and c) they had no malicious intent. I have to say I was wearing very bright clothes and I'm sure they must have spotted me before starting but of course there could have been other walkers in the coire directly below them - it doesn't bear thinking about.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-19.jpg]()
- Patterns on the hillside
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-20.jpg]()
- Looking back up Coire nan Arr to its bealach. The tops of Na Ciochan on the left.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-21.jpg]()
- Down at Loch Coire nan Arr the rays are lengthening.
![Sgurr a' Chaorachain-22.jpg]()
- Last look at the trio of Maol Chean-dearg, An Ruadh-stac and Sgurr a' Gharaidh in the evening sun.
Other than the above, I had a fantastic adventure and, although I don't get a blue balloon, it was worth all the adrenaline and I'm now a much more confident scrambler (I think!).
