Get Lost Mountaineering

Sgurr Mhurlagain & Fraoch Bheinn from far end of Loch Arkaig

Start/Finish

The end of the public road at the far end of Loch Arkaig. This is a long drive (40+ minutes) from Spean Bridge via Gairlochy. The road by the loch is single tracked and narrow with many blind bends and summits. Be prepared to reverse some distance if another vehicle is encountered. If pulling a trailer or caravan, make sure you can reverse with that as well. The parking space used to be quite limited but there is now a car park for 17 cars. You may still need to arrive early to be sure of a place though as the previous parking options on the verges have been blocked off. On 6/5/14, substantial timber clearing was taking place in Glen Pean which meant that long and very heavy timber wagons were driving the full length of this road and wrecking it. In places, half the road is missing. At the current rate of destruction, parts of the road may soon become impassable to cars. The Loch Arkaig road is bad enough when in good repair but is now awful. Taking one's car down Loch Arkaig is now probably the driving equivalent of self-flagellation!!!

Distance/Time

12 km.      About 6 - 7 hours.

Peaks

Sgurr Mhurlagain, 880 m, NN 012 944.

Fraoch Bheinn, 858 m, NM 986 940.     OS sheet 33.

Introduction

These adjacent Corbetts are quite different mountains. Sgurr Mhurlagain is grassy and boggy in places whereas Fraoch Bheinn is more rocky. They are easily climbed together. Views are excellent especially to Gulvain, Streap, Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan Coireachan (Corryhully) to the south. Sgurr Mor, Sgurr an Fhuarain and Gairich are very obvious to the north whilst Sgurr Cos na Breachd-laoigh, Carn Mor and Bidean a' Chabhair are well seen to the west.

Route

(1) From the end of Loch Arkaig, walk along the track, for about 1 km, to cross the bridge over the Dearg Allt. Just beyond here is a right of way sign which signals the start of a track up to the bealach between the two Corbetts. Walk up the track which soon becomes a boggy ATV track. There is no need to go to the bealach so, as soon as the angle eases, ascend on to the SW ridge of Sgurr Mhurlagain and follow this up the easy grassy slopes, crossing a few flat spots, to reach the medium cairn which marks the summit of Sgurr Mhurlagain, 880 m. You may be lucky enough to find a faint path on the left, W, of the ridge. The summit is on the edge of a corrie whose rims go N and NE. A top further along a narrow ridge may look higher but it is not.

(2) Retrace down the SW ridge. In mist, take care not to follow the corrie rim which will take you N towards Glen Kingie. Leave the ridge and cross the bealach as high as possible. It can be boggy. The direct ascent of Fraoch Bheinn looks steep and rocky but, in non-winter conditions, is actaully quite straight forward. Just carefully pick a way up, easily avoiding any rocky sections. As height is gained, notice a large rock slip and crack well to the right. When the angle eases, walk across a short flat section to reach the medium cairn which marks the summit of Fraoch Bheinn, 858 m.

(3) Descend, almost due S, down the well defined S ridge which is a pleasure to walk down with more than a hint of a path. Lower down, the ridge becomes less well defined but aim for the start of the outward track by the Dearg Allt to avoid the worst of the boggy ATV sections. Once back in Glen Dessary, walk E back to the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 6^th May, 2014.

(b) Sgurr Mhurlagain was previously ascended, on its own, by a similar route on 6^th June, 2002.

(c) Fraoch Bheinn was previously ascended, up and down its S ridge, on 29^th July, 2002.

(d) A bicycle hardly saves any time on this route as only 2 km of the route can be cycled.