Fisherfield 6, from Shenavall

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Summary

The Fisherfield Forest - also known as the Great Wilderness - contains the remotest Munros in all Scotland. The effort required is fully repaid, however, as this is a spectacular region of dramatic peaks and ridges - the views from the summits are often claimed to be the finest in Scotland. The route is an epic round of all five Munros and one Corbett, starting and finishing at Shenavall bothy or a nearby wild camp.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Steep heathery hillsides, scree, boulderfields, narrow ridges, broad grass slopes, some easy scrambling, serious river-crossings. And one of the worst sections of bog you can imagine!

Public Transport

None to start, start point accessible only on foot.

Start

Shenavall bothy or wildcamp. Open in Google Maps.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 29km / 18 miles
Time: 12 - 18 hours
Ascent: 2254m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NH065809

Summits Climbed

Munro: Sgùrr Ban
Munro: Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair
Munro: Beinn Tarsuinn
Munro: A' Mhaighdean
Munro: Ruadh Stac Mòr
Corbett: Beinn a' Chlaidheimh

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Walk Description

User reports (47)

Stage 1

The walk is described from Shenavall bothy; this can be reached via a walk-in from Corrie Hallie as described on the Shenavall route. The bothy is maintained by volunteers from the Mountain Bothy Association; please help by carrying out any rubbish you find here, and always follow the bothy code when visiting. An alternative is to wild-camp; there is a great spot in the alder woods at NH088788; this is best reached by following the track used as the way back on the Shenavall circuit.

Stage 2

From Shenavall Beinn a' Chlaidheimh rises extremely steeply across Strath na Sealga; although it is possible to make a direct assault many walkers will prefer to head up the strath and then approach it from the east, so start along the path which leads ESE. It becomes a track near the ruined house at Achneigie. Continue for another 1.5km - the alder woodland over to the right makes a great spot for a wild camp - until the track begins to climb to the left (bound for Corrie Hallie); instead follow a fainter, grassy track which heads west at this point and leads alongside the Abhainn Loch an Nid. This river must be waded - as with two river crossings at the end of the walk, this is not possible if the level is high.

Stage 3

On the far side, head directly up the slopes of Beinn Chlaidheimh. After wet but steep heather initially the slope eases to a more gradual grind until the much fiercer upper slopes are reached around 500m. Pass just left of the crags that guard the nose of the main ridge, making your way up steep heather as soon as practical to reach the ridge above at a flattish shoulder. There is then a brief climb up easy scree to gain the narrow summit ridge at point 900m. Follow this airy but grassy ridge across a slight dip to reach the summit cairn, with great views down the very steep west face into the strath, as well as back over the pinnacles of An Teallach. The descent begins almost immediately, with a path down the scree slope to a first bealach at 787m. Continue over a broad and bumpy section of ridge before a second descent leads down to a lower bealach at 650m, marked by a couple of lochans.

Stage 4

Continue south up rough quartzite boulders to gain the very broad NE ridge of Sgùrr Ban. The ridge is littered with rough boulders all the way up the long pull to the top; there is grassier ground further right but this leads onto steeper terrain higher up. The summit cairn is in the centre of a small plateau but the walk continues in the same direction, heading down fairly straightforward slopes to reach the bealach at Cab Coire nan Clach. The next Munro, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, rises in intimidatingly steep slopes. However, there is an eroded path which leads up scree for the steepest part of the climb, and in good weather it can easily be picked out on the descent from Sgùrr Ban. The slope then eases and continues - still over stones and boulders - to the summit, the highest of the Fisherfield 6.

Stage 5

The descent is less steep, leading SW and then S, but even more covered with quartzite boulders which make it more time consuming. From the bealach beyond, the steep 851m peak of Meall Garbh appears to be a formidable obstacle, but a bypass path avoids this by cutting across its very steep NW slope to reach a second, lower bealach. From here the slopes of Beinn Tarsuinn are broad and mostly grassy, hiding the drama of the other side of this mountain, which is revealed only as the summit cairn is reached. Follow the narrow ridge to the left to soon reach a square tilted platform which sits astride the mountain and has been likened to a tennis court. A path scrambles easily up onto the 'Tennis Court' to reach a cairn at the far end before descending once more. The next section of ridge is riven into a series of pinnacles, but the walk continues by taking a clear bypass path which runs around the left side.

Stage 6

Continue along the bypass path until a clear path forks off left very steeply down the loose slope. This leads to the extensive and very boggy bealach between Beinn Tarsuinn and A' Mhaighdean - the lowest point of the walk at 525m. The pull up to A' Mhaighdean from here is a very long grind up a broad, grassy slope - a real effort for tired legs. The lure is what is regarded as the remotest of all Munros - and perhaps the finest Munro summit view. The highest point is right on the edge of an abyss as the slopes to the west plunge for 800m down dramatic crags to the Dubh Loch, with Fionn Loch and the sea beyond and amazing rock architecture all around. The view south down to Gorm Loch Mòr and the crags of Beinn Lair is scarcely less impressive, and summiting A' Mhaighdean must be ranked amongst the highlights of a round by any Munroist.

Stage 7

Head towards the more dome-like northern top before descending steep but largely grassy slopes and then rocky ground to reach the Poll Eadar dha Stac, the pass at the foot of Ruadh Stac Mòr . There is a very rough stone bivouac shelter here, which may be of use in an emergency. The last Munro of the round, Ruadh Stac Mòr , rises directly above and the route to it appears to be barred by a band of crags, whilst a stalkers path cuts off to the left to descend past Fuar Loch Mòr . A small cairn, however, marks the point to strike up the well-worn scree slope to reach the foot of the cliffs. The route through the crags above can be picked out during the descent from A' Mhaighdean; it heads up an eroded gully above the scree slope. Getting into the gully requires a straightforward scramble, best started slightly along a ledge to the right from the top of the scree path. From here a big scrambling step up leads onto a wide, well-worn stony gangway that slopes to the left and then continues up the gully before emerging on the boulderfields of the upper slopes.

Stage 8

A faint path winds up the boulders and passes through a gap in the summit crags to reach the cairn. This is another superlative viewpoint in the very heart of the wilderness, surrounded by dramatic rock peaks and glistening lochans; to the north are the Lochan a'Bhragdad backed by the perfect cone of Beinn Dearg Bheag and the pinnacled ridges of Beinn Dearg Mòr beyond. Head along the NNW ridge - negotiating yet more boulderfields - for around 250m before aiming directly between the two lochans to the NE. The slope is terraced with several steeper sections unseen from above. Pass between the lochans and continue north, following a burn down into the hanging valley below. Cross the burn and aim diagonally up the slope opposite to pick up an excellent stalkers path above the Clach na Frithealaidh - a prominent rock.

Photo: Ted and Jen

Stage 9

Follow the path to the right. It angles down towards Loch Beinn Dearg before swinging back to lead easily down Gleann na Muice Beag, eventually leading down to a path running along the Abhainn Ghleann na Muice, a substantial river. Continue down this path to reach the chalet and cottage amidst the group of trees at Larachantivore. Wade the river near here - again, this is impossible in spate. The direct route back to Shenavall now crosses a severe bog, with great care needed to avoid stepping into one of many waist-deep, slime-filled pools, before reaching the second river, the Abhainn Strath na Sealga, just short of the bothy. Alternatively you could continue by the riverbank to the junction of the two rivers. Either way, the second river too needs to be waded before heading back to Shenavall.

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