Maoile Lunndaidh

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Maoile Lunndaidh is sometimes referred to as Creag Toll a' Choin - more properly the name of a creag below what recent surveys have shown to be its highest point. It's a shy Munro hidden away from most viewpoints. Its initially lumpen appearance is livened up by some fine corries, and the ascent gives a long and tiring day.

Terrain

The approach is on an excellent track, where a mountain bike could be used. When this is left there is a very rough section of bog to cross, before the steep and trackless ascent of the mountain itself.

Public Transport

Inverness - Lochcarron bus passes along the A890.

Start

Achnashellach Forest car park, Craig. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Park at Achnashellach Forest car park, which is signed on the north side of the road at Craig. Walk back down cross the road, following the track opposite across the railway level crossing. The track bends left and heads up the glen. There are great views ahead of Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean. After about a kilometre the track bends right and crosses a bridge over the River Carron. Once across the river the track soon forks; take the left fork, which begins a long climb above the (unseen) Sloc Mòr gorge.

Stage 2

As height is gained, a terrific view opens up behind of the Coulin peaks. First to appear is Fuar Tholl on the left, later joined by Sgùrr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor. After just over a kilometre another forestry track goes off to the right - ignore this and keep to the main track, with views ahead of the Allt a Chonais gorge. Further on another track goes off right, this time signed for the 'Allt a'Chonais pinewood'; again continue ahead.

Stage 3

The track passes through a gate in a deer fence before reaching the top of a pass just to the left of a knoll. Sgùrr Chòinnich and Sgùrr a'Chaorachain can now be seen ahead at the far end of the flat, treeless valley, but Maoille Lunndaidh still remains out of sight round a corner. Continue on the track, now slightly downhill, ignore a track leading to a small hydro dam. The track soon runs close to the river passing a wire bridge. Ignore a faint path on the right destined for Sgùrr na Feartaig, instead continuing until the track bends left and climbs.

Stage 4

A cairn marks where a stalkers path turns off here on the right; ignore this and continue on the track which now swings left. Continue on the track for almost another three kilometres to where it runs along the right hand side of a plantation. Just beyond the far side of the plantation abandon the track and head east across the bogs. There is a deep, slow-moving stream but there are a couple of easy places where it can be crossed. There are views to Glenuig Lodge at the end of the track you've left.

Stage 5

Climb slightly over the very rough, swampy and awkward terrain to reach the Am Crom-allt at the confluence with the Allt an Fhuar-thuill Bhig where there is a waterfall. Cross the Am Crom-allt and head southeast over the lumpy ground crossing a stalkers path to start a direct ascent of the slope. This is a hard climb up steep heather but begins to ease at around 800 metres. Continue uphill to reach the rim of the Fuar Tholl Mòr corrie with its lower lochan visible far below.

Stage 6

Follow the plateau edge with great views down the cliffs all the way. A short detour to the right reaches the cairn at the summit of Càrn nam Fiaclan but return to the plateau edge to continue for half kilometre to the small cairn on Creag Toll a'Choin, now regarded as the true Munro summit. From a few paces away there's a great view down to Loch Monar.

Stage 7

The former high point is reached ruther 700m further on, in a northeasterly direction across easy terrain; it is marked by another, much larger cairn. To descend head northwest down the ridge which is littered with areas of stone, bearing slightly more west to bypass the actual bealach and pick up a path running down the south side of the burn from the bealach.

Stage 8

This stream soon meets another coming down from Lochan an Fhuar-thuill. Although the path continues ahead on high ground to the right of the waterfalls it soon reaches much more difficult ground and descending this way leaves you with more glen walking to get back to Glenuaig Lodge. Therefore bear left before the waterfall to cross the stream and climb up the far bank and head west across the boggy ground to reach the same crossing point on the Am Crom-allt. Cross here and retrace the outward route across the bogs to the track and back down the glen.

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