Our first visit to this stunning area and the walk up Sgurr a’ Mhaoraich, going up the south ridge and coming down to the east via Sgurr Coire nan Eirichealliach seemed to pack everything you might hope to find in an autumn hillwalk into just a few short miles.

We woke up in the car park by at the western end of Loch Quoich to a beautiful autumn morning

and by 08:45 we were on our way along the track. The copse of forestry shown on the map no longer exists and from the appearance of the ground was felled may years ago.
Peeping above the ridge ahead was the top of Sgurr a' Mhaoraich, topped with a dusting of snow .

After about three quarters of km we left the track, to make our up towards Leac nan Gaidhseich, roughly following the stream. The ground was soft and boggy but never impossibly so, wet feet and embarrassing sinking incidents were avoided. The roar of the rutting stags echoed around the coire adding to autumn atmosphere.

The ridge initially was very broad but higher up it became better defined with outcrops of rock to clamber over or weave between.




The weather was variable, very warm in the sunshine, interspersed with gusts of a cold wind blowing mist and drizzle around.


The ridge then broadened out again and we were walking up towards the rim of Coire Chaorainn which we followed around to the summit. Just in time for Lunch and an impressive ariel display by a pair of ravens.




From the summit the path down looked unpleasantly steep but despite being muddy it was less treacherous than it looked.

And then it started to snow! A chilly but shortlived surprise!

Following the path we realised we were dropping further and further below the crest. We have been caught out that way before! Never ones to take the easy way we made our back up onto the crest. Easiest enough at first, but the rock was very greasy and slippery! Not to my taste at all! In fact a full blooded squeek was building up.

Then we reached what from above looked like a steep scramble on greasy rock above a vertical drop. Time to admit defeat, and make our way back down to the path and live to squeek another day.

It was not long before the path made its way back up the coire rim and on safe ground we could enjoy the views.


From Sgurr Coire nan Eirichealliach there seemed to be a number of paths leading down in different directions so we followed the edge of the ridge which eventually met up with a well trodden route.


Lower down a shortcut around the copse trees shortened our trek along the road.

And we arrived back at starting point at 16:00.