Gairich gives a fairly easy day out for Munro baggers; this isolated summit is a superb viewpoint.
Fairly straightforward mountain walk with a path throughout; very boggy in parts. There is a short and very easy section of scrambling shortly before the summit.
No public transport to walk start.
Loch Cuaich dam.
The walk begins from a parking area just west of the Loch Cuaich dam, on the south side of the road. There is a good view of the day's objective, Gairich, across the waters of the loch, its craggy northeast face looking impressive.
The dam was completed in 1962 as part of one of the largest of the hydro-electric schemes which brought electricity to the Highlands for the first time; the dam is almost 320 metres long and 38 metres high, and feeds the Quoich power station further down the glen. Begin the walk by crossing the top of the dam.
Once across the dam, bear right to follow the rough and very boggy path which keeps close to the shore of the reservoir at first. After about a kilometre the path aims left (south) to climb away from the water, and passes the southern end of Lochan an-Fhigheadair and crosses the stream filling it.
The going improves as the path crosses a low bealach on the moor before descending towards the forestry below the Bealach na Faire, where it joins another old path at a gateway. Don't go through the gateway into the trees, but follow the rough path straight ahead uphill which climbs beside the forestry fence. At a stile and gate bear right to join the stalkers path up from Glen Kingie. The path, now drier and easy to walk, ascends Druim na Gaid Salaich in a series of zigzags, with good views back down Glen Kingie.
The path crosses some boggy areas and becomes just a faint peaty trail once the ridge flattens out into an extensive plateau of Bac nam Foid. Continue towards Gairich to the west; the path becomes clearer once more at the foot of the steeper slopes.
The stalkers path keeps well to the left of the ridge at first before zig-zagging sharply to the right to ascend to the foot of the steep nose. The original stalkers path shown on OS maps as heading left here cannot be seen on the ground anymore. Follow the main path worn by Munro-baggers to continue up the ridge.
The east ridge of Gairich is very steep higher up and there is one section of very simple scrambling up knobbly rock; a false summit is passed before the true summit comes into view. The large cairn is at 919 metres on a small plateau, making Gairich one of the smallest of the Munros. The isolated position makes it a superb viewpoint however, particularly for the vast waters of Loch Cuaich and into Knoydart and the Glendessary mountains to the west.
The easiest return is to retrace your steps all the way back by the same route.
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