Beinn Airigh Charr, from Poolewe

Summary

The fairly long approach to Beinn Airigh Charr is well rewarded by some of Scotland's most magnificent views, whetting your appetite for longer expeditions into the Letterewe and Fisherfield Forest wilderness areas to the north or the Torridon mountains seen across Loch Maree. The route is described as an out-and-back walk, but the return can be varied by heading round the north side of Loch Kernsary.

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Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Minor road, track, rough path, indistinct and boggy in places. Short steep and loose section before summit.

Deer Stalking information

Letterewe Estate. Stalking from last week in Aug to 20 Oct. No stalking on Saturdays or Sundays. If further information is needed, please phone 01445 760207 or e-mail [email protected]

Getting there

Start

Poolewe - riverside car park.

Public Transport

Bus to Poolewe.

Start Grid Ref

NG858808

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 22.25km / 13.75 miles
Time: 7 - 8 hours
Ascent: 984m (Profile)

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Beinn Airigh Charr

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Walk Description

User reports (9)

Stage 1

It is possible to bike the first section of this walk by following the tarmac road and then rougher track (mountain bike needed) to the point beyond Kernsary where the path up the mountain begins - however this is longer and involves an uphill climb from Kernsary which is avoided on the walking route. Start from the riverside car park in Poolewe and follow the road upstream, passing the school. Keep on the private road as it follows the River Ewe, passing a couple of houses and beginning a beauriful stretch above the river through enchanting birch woodland. Pass though a gate and continue along the private road, taking the left hand fork where the entrance to Inveran Lodge branches to the right.

Stage 2

The track passes behind the lodge and then past some fields and into open ground. Pass through another gate and across the bridge over the Inveran River. The track now curves around above Loch an Doire Ghairbh to the right; there are views to Beinn Airigh Charr. Once past the Loch and as the track starts to bend back left and climb uphill look out for a small path straight ahead marked with a tiny cairn. Take this path - faint and boggy - to head over moorland; it comes alongside a fence and follows it briefly before passing through a gate. The latter part of this path becomes very boggy and faint; once there is another track in sight once more just keep heading straight for it.

Stage 3

Turn right to follow the track with Loch Maree to the right and great views towards the Torridon mountains. Before the track starts to head downhill into woods, look out for a sheepfold on the left and a small path (marked with a small cairn) heading up to it. The path soon becomes clearer and from the sheepfold is a clear stalkers' path. From the sheepfold the path keeps to the edge of the flat ground before following the right hand side of the Allt Aconair upstream, crossing another stream on easy steeping stones in opening to a pretty gorge.

Stage 4

The path now climbs steadily into Coire nan Dearcag. Before reaching the final steep section the path fades - cross burn and then pick up a clearer section of path that climbs up the left side of the steep headwall. From here keep on the path on the left side of the Allt Aconair and then contour round gentle slopes, heading east and slightly uphill, on a faint path just before the ground starts to descend. Soon the steep slopes on the left relent; head up pathless but easy grass and heather slopes towards the col between Spidean nan Clach and Beinn Airigh Charr. There are amazing views looking back across the islands in Loch Maree to the Torridon and Flowerdale mountains.

Stage 5

The main summit of Beinn Airigh Charr is to the right - break off before the col to tackle the very steep slopes - best done to the left of the steep screes and the right of the cliffs. Above this steep section the gradient relents only slightly on the final climb up towards the summit cairn at 792m. F

Stage 6

rom here there are fabulous views in all directions, but most especially looking into the Great Wilderness, the mountains of the Letterewe and Fisherfield Forests; this view is perhaps seen to even better advantage by continuing across a grassy col to another slightly smaller peak beyond.

Stage 7

From the summit retrace your steps to the col. It is worthwhile making the short climb straight ahead to visit the summit of Spidean nan Clach (705m); along the way there are sensational views to the right down the craggy slopes around Coire nan Laogh, with the great rock peak of Spidein Moirich (sometime's known as Martha's Peak) enclosing the view to the right.

Stage 8

From Spidean nan Clach there are great views out over Poolewe to the sea. From here it is possible to shortcut back to halfway up the grass and heather slope to southeast to rejoin the outward route, continuing back by the Allt Aconair.

Stage 9

The easiest and shortest return is to keep retracing your steps - a long march all the way back to Poolewe. It is possible to vary the route back once you reach the track above Loch Maree by following it to Kernsary and then joining the path around the north shores of Loch Kernsary to reach the coastline just north of Poolewe - adding a few more kilometres to the day.

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