Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh and Aonach Shasuinn, Affric

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The round of these two Corbetts makes for a demanding day from beautiful Glen Affric. They offer some splendid views of the higher mountains around them, as well as down the glen.

Terrain

Short extremely boggy section by Allt Garbh. Mostly pathless hillwalking, rough in places.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

River Affric car park. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Deer Stalking information

Land west and north of Tigh Mor na Seilge, Carn a'Choire Ghairbh-Carn Glas Iochdarach ridge managed by Forestry and Land Scotland. No stalking issues.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at the River Affric car park (charge) at the end of the public road up Glen Affric. Take the track that slopes down to cross the bridge over the river. At the junction keep right, following the track up the south side of the loch. Eventually a white cottage is passed, and then a signed footpath to Cougie goes off left. There is a choice of routes from here; that shown on our map continues on the track, over the bridge, then cuts left on very faint trods through an old quarry. It continues up the west side of the Allt Garbh through very boggy and overgrown ground - there are only traces of an old path with wooden boards in places.

Stage 2

Eventually a gate and then a stile is reached. After crossing this, bear right alongside the fence to leave the worst of the bogs behind. The route passes through an old iron gate and continues by the fence towards Na Cnapain, crossing a high stile at one point (gate to the left if needed). Continue up the rough ridge towards Càrn Glas Iochdarach, with stunning views over Affric. The alternative route to this point - avoiding the bogs but including a rough, pathless ascent - is to take the Cougie path which keeps east of the Allt Garbh before reaching a landrover track from Cougie. Turn right along this, crossing a bridge at NH181201 - and continuing to a locked hut. From here a pathless ascent of Càrn Glas Iochdarach can be made.

Stage 3

Càrn Eige and Mam Sodhail look particularly fine from here, as does the view back down the glen. Continue slightly downhill to a boggy bealach before beginning the steady ascent up Càrn a' Choire Ghairbh, accompanied by a line of old fenceposts.

Stage 4

From the small summit cairn, Mullach Fraoch-choire looks magnificent, with its pinnacles prominent. The ridge now curves SSW, passing a larger cairn on the descent to the Cadha Riabhach at around 665m.

Stage 5

From the bealach the route climbs up over Càrn a' Choire Ghuirm. It then cuts across the flat northern flank of Tigh Mòr na Seilge - a top of the nearby Munro Sail Chaorainn.

Stage 6

Aim for the An Eilric ridge, which offers a pleasant grassy promenade before the descent to the Bealach Amais, the lowest point on the ridge walk at 651m. Cross the peaty ground to begin a fairly steep pull up towards Aonach Shasuinn.

Stage 7

You can bypass the west top en route to the higher east top - the Corbett summit. There is a fine cairn here, with a slightly smaller (possibly higher) cairn and wind shelter nearby. The views are superb - especially down to Glen Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin. For the descent, return to the west top and then head north and then northeast down the steep Ceann Aonach Shasuinn ridge.

Stage 8

The floor of the glen is rough; keep above Loch an Sguid and aim for where the landrover track crosses the river at a bridge at NH181201. From here follow the track as it climbs very slightly. Near the high point look out for a path goes off left, at NH188212. This descends fairly steeply WNW before heading north through beautiful pinewoods by the Allt Garbh - always staying on the east side - to reach the main track in Glen Affric. Turn right here to rejoin the outward route back to the start.

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