Glamaig and the northern Red Hills

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Glamaig and the northern Red Hills give a fine circuit with punishing scree but unparalleled views.

Terrain

Very steep slopes of scree and stones have to be negotiated, particularly on Glamaig (which can be omitted). The lower ground is very boggy in places. There is a path for most of the route.

Public Transport

Buses from Portree, Broadford and Kyleakin - get off at Sligachan Hotel.

Start

Sligachan. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Start at Sligachan on the opposite side of the river from the hotel where there is a small car park and layby parking (or park in the public car park near the hotel and bus stop). From the car park (turfed roof info board) walk down towards the old bridge and turn right through the gate footpath sign for Loch Coruisk and Elgol) and up to the statue of early mountaineers Norman Collie and John MacKenzie. If coming from the hotel or bus stop go over the old bridge and turn right up to the statue. Beyond the statue take the path on the left (the one nearer the river just goes to a viewpoint). After 300m the path forks, go left through a metal gate and follow the path alongside the picturesque Allt Daraich gorge. The area - including the Red Hills - is owned by the John Muir Trust, a charity that protects wild places. You can find out more and support their work by joining at http://www.johnmuirtrust.org/.

Stage 2

Keep near the gorge, ignore a path on the right to keep to the left of a heathery lump. On the far side of this the path forks again, turn sharp left to head for a gate rather than straight on which leads to a stile. Go through the gate in the fence and continue ahead on an increasingly boggy path. The path follows a line of metal fence posts before bearing SE (right) across the boggy flat ground heading directly for the ridge of Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach. A path can be seen ahead climbing the steep ground, aim for this and drier ground is reached as the Druim na Ruaige is ascended. After a steep section, a flatter shoulder is reached at about 430m.

Stage 3

A path ascends the final stony slopes to a cairn on Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach (Middle Red Mountain). The summit of the mountain is three hundred metres along the ridge to the southeast - a worthwhile detour for the superb views. Return to the first cairn and descend the easy slopes of the north ridge, down to the Bealach Mosgaraidh.

Stage 4

Beyond the bealach the path climbs steeply once again to reach the 731m summit of Beinn Dearg Mhòr (Big Red Mountain). This has an even finer view, particularly northeast over the Inner Sound. Sgùrr nan Gillean is prominent in the nearby Cuillin but looks less pyramidal from this angle than usual, whilst Isle of Eigg to its right - looks simply magnificent.

Stage 5

The north ridge descends easily for about half a kilometre, before an extremely steep slope of scree and larger stones plunges down to the Bealach na Sgairde. There is a scree path on the left side of the ridge which makes the descent slightly easier - to find it turn sharp left at the cairn and go back on yourself for a few steps before descending. From the Bealach na Sgairde it is possible to shorten the walk by omitting Glamaig. If the great, steep dome of Glamaig directly above the bealach isn't too daunting though, it can be included in the round.

Stage 6

There is a path on the left hand side of slope climbing a mix of scree and and very steep grass slope. It zig zags and isn't as difficult as it looks, but that's not saying a lot! Thankfully the slope eventually eases and the summit of Glamaig, a Corbett at 775m, is just to the left. Glamaig is easily identified in views from miles around, and it's location right on the edge of the sea makes it a matchless viewpoint - with a panorama split evenly between dramatic landscapes and blue seas.

Stage 7

Instead retrace your steps to the Bealach na Sgairde and descend west - there is a vague path down the steep heather slope and cross the stream aiming to pick up the lower of the paths seen ahead traversing the slope opposite onto the Teanga Mhor ridge. Follow this ridge downhill on a small path and cross the Allt Daraich at the point just before the Allt Bealach na Sgairde joins it (you can continue on the east bank of the Allt Daraich but it soon becomes pathless and is a harder route). Instead follow the far side of the water for a short while before bearing directly west across very boggy ground to pick up the outward route. This is mainly pathless and very wet. At the outward path turn right to descend to the gate and then turn right at the path junctions to follow the path back to Sligachan.

Stage 8

Instead retrace your steps to the Bealach na Sgairde and descend west - there is a vague path down the steep heather slope and cross the stream aiming to pick up the lower of the paths seen ahead traversing the slope opposite onto the Teanga Mhor ridge. Follow this ridge downhill on a small path and cross the the Allt Daraich at the point just before the Allt Bealach na Sgairde joins it (you can continue on the east bank of the Allt Daraich but it soon becomes pathless and is a harder route). Instead follow the far side of the water for a short while before bearing directly west across very boggy ground to pick up the outward route. This is mainly pathless and very wet. At the outward path turn right to descend to the gate and then turn right at the path junctions to follow the path back to Sligachan.

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