A true West Highland classic, this round of three great Corbetts offers some of the most outstanding views along the western seaboard. A rugged and challenging day that will live long in the memory.
Bog Factor
Boggy start, largely pathless going on the hills. Steep and rugged at times but no scrambling necessary.
Inverailort.
Train or bus to Lochailort.
NM765817
Turn off the A861 onto the minor road signed for Glen Shian. Traditionally the parking was by the info board on the right, but the local farmer objects to parking here or the larger parking near the cottages. Instead go left and park on the right hand verge of the track leading to the salmon hatchery entrance. Begin the walk by heading back along the minor road then keeping left to the cottages, then turn left onto a grassy track, signed for Druim Fiaclach; it leads through two gates. On the left the industrial-looking building is a salmon hatchery. The track becomes somewhat waterlogged before another gate. At the abandoned brick buildings beyond you have the choice of either taking the very wet path which climbs through the woods over the bealach south of Tom Odhar, or of taking the longer, drier route by turning left along an old track until a new hard hydro track is reached, and then turning right along this to pass round the north and east sides of Tom Odhar.
The two routes rejoin where the boggy direct path reaches the hydro track at NM775816. Follow the hydro track uphill for around 350m until it is crossed by a fainter ATV track. Turn left along this; it soon leads down to a bridge over the Allt a' Bhuiridh. On the far side follow the ATV track for some distance southeast until it bends to the left; leave it and continue more directly up the steep slopes of Meall Damh. This is a long and punishing ascent, but superb views open up behind over the head of Lochailort and beyond.
When the gradient eases it is possible to bypass the top of Beinn Coire nan Gall across a flatter shoulder to reach the ridge by a lochan. From here, head south up the very rocky ridge to reach the summit of Druim Fiaclach, marked by a vegetated cairn. The views - as will be the case throughout the day - are superb; although not a Corbett the ridges of Druim Fiaclach make it perhaps the finest peak on the round. Follow the very rocky ridge that leads southwest, with steep drops off on either flank. The ridge then turns south for a steep descent to the Bealach an Fhaslaigh Dhuibh.
The climb up from the bealach onto the An t-Slat-bheinn ridge is more gradual; once gained the ridge is broad and dotted with attractive small lochans. The route now turns WSW over the summit of An t-Slat-bheinn. There are great views ahead to Sgùrr na Ba Glaise, as well as back along the ridge to Druim Fiaclach (pictured) and south into the wilds of Moidart.
Continue to the summit of Sgùrr na Ba Glaise, the first of the round's three Corbett summits. Continue down to the Bealach an Fhiona. Soon after this a drystone dyke (wall) is reached; this leads on for the steep ascent up the slopes of Rois-bheinn - the wall can be crossed at a couple of points to give the easiest going.
The highest point of Rois-bheinn is the east summit, marked by a small cairn beside the wall. However, the west summit offers the best uninterrupted views up and down the coastline and out to the Small Isles of Eigg and Rum, as well as a much more impressive and fitting summit cairn. Reaching is well worthwhile, and involves a detour, losing 50m of height down to a bealach and the same for the return.
Retrace your steps back over the east summit and down beside the wall towards the Bealach an Fhiona. When the wall turns left off the ridge, descend the very steep slopes on its right hand side towards the lower bealach to the north at the foot of An Stac; the wall eventually descends NW into Coire na Cnamha so leave it and continue down to the bealach.
The slopes of the great pyramid of An Stac look very rocky from here, with over 250m of fairly steep ascent. It is, however, possible to make a pretty direct ascent mostly on grass, avoiding the rocky outcrops along the way. Although the lowest of the major summits on this route, the tiny cairn of An Stuc benefits from the steep slopes and has views that more than match those from the rest of the circuit.
The north ridge is even steeper, but there are some traces of a path in places and again, with care, it is possible to avoid any rock-scrambling and find a way through the crags down to the bealach. From here rough, grassier slopes lead down to a the ATV track near the Allt a' Bhuridh. Follow this downhill to regain the hydro track used in the ascent. From here you can retrace your steps either over the boggy path through the Tom Odhar bealach, or on the hydro track round by the Roti Burn, to eventually return to the start.
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