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Beinn Tharsuinn, Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich, Lurg Mhor & Meall Mor from Craig on A890 between Achnasheen and Lochcarron

Beinn Tharsuinn, Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich, Lurg Mhor & Meall Mor

from Craig on A890 between Achnasheen and Lochcarron

Start/Finish

Car park (holds about 10 cars) up a track almost opposite the level crossing at Craig.

Distance/Time

21 km walk + 12 km bike.     About 11 – 13 hours.

Peaks

Beinn Tharsuinn, 863 m, NH 055 433.

Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich, 945 m, NH 049 412.

Lurg Mhor, 986 m, NH 065 404.

Meall Mor, 974 m, NH 072 405.    OS sheet 25.

Introduction

This is a tough walk which is only for the fit and experienced who have the ability to scramble. There are big drops between the mountains. There are paths much of the way but they have their boggy sections. The ascent of Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich ascends a corner groove in a cliff which is about a grade 1 scramble with some exposure. Later on, there is a steep path up the side of a gully. The crest between Lurg Mhor and Meall Mor is rocky and awkward with some exposed situations; it has to be reversed. The ascent to Bealach Bhearnais from the Loch Monar direction is a long slog towards the end of the day. Lurg Mhor is one of the most remote Munros in Scotland and, certainly, in the top three for remoteness. Meall Mor is clearly the most remote Munro top. Having said all that, the views are superb in all directions. The main river in the Pollan Buidhe has to be crossed twice and this may be a problem after rain. There is a wire bridge here but the wires lack tension making their use much more difficult.

Route

(1) Cross the railway and follow the track E until it swings away from the road and crosses the River Carron by a bridge. Almost immediately, the track splits. Take the left fork which starts climbing straight away. Go up the track, ignoring the right fork after a bout 1 km. Many cyclists will end up pushing rather than cycling owing to the sustained gradient! Higher up, go through a gate. This is almost the top of the climb! Continue on the track as it goes S towards the Pollan Buidhe. After the gate, some sections of path are very rough and stony. When the track swings E, look for a path, marked by a small cairn. Leave bikes here. Follow the path to the river and cross over. In a wet spell, it may be necessary to detour upstream. Once across, follow the path, boggy in places, for about 3 km, up to the Bealach Bhearnais. The bealach would be confusing in mist. Follow the path to below the NE ridge of Beinn Tharsuinn then ascend SW up the moderate slopes. The path is faint and difficult to follow but become more distinct higher up. Go over a succession of tops before heading almost due S to ascend the rocky top where a small cairn marks the summit of Beinn Tharsuinn, 863 m.

(2) Descend roughly S then SW heading for the wide grassy ridge between Beinn Tharsuinn and its W top (795 m). There is a rocky nose to descend which is more awkward than difficult. An easier way might be the rocky groove to its left. Once past here, follow the path to the shallow bealach then make a descending traverse SW to meet a wall in the bealach between Beinn Tharsuinn and Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich. Follow the wall up; the path is on its right, W. After a while, the path leaves the wall, going right and starts picking its way up the fierce N side of Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich which is well defended by tiers of cliffs. The path leads to a corner groove in a cliff which is the usual way to continue. The groove leans back slightly and is almost stepped with plenty of hand and foot holds although a few have become loose so be careful. There is some exposure lower down. The “scramble” is soon over and the path continues easily to reach the next obstacle – an even higher cliff. Go left here, along a rough but easy, grassy terrace. On 15/6/2015, there was a useful line of small cairns which led to the bottom of a gully which cuts back slightly. A steep path winds its way up the right hand side of this gully. Once above here, the path becomes much easier and leads to a lochan before ascending the well defined N ridge which leads to the small cairn marking the summit of Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich, 945 m.

(3) A path descends SE from the summit down easy, mainly grassy, slopes, to a broad bealach. Continue up the other side before turning E and following the path to a small stony plateau where a very large cairn marks the summit of Lurg Mhor, 986 m.

(4) The continuation to Meall Mor is very obvious, a narrow ridge going roughly E. It starts as easy walking on grass but soon becomes rocky and exposed. Non-climbers are best advised to follow the path which avoids most of the difficulties. A rocky tower, just after the low point, is awkward and some may wish to drop down about 20 m on the N side to reach steep grass below the rocks. This grass will be very slippery in the wet. Eventually, the rocks give way to grass again and the very small cairn which marks the summit of Meall Mor, 974 m.

(5) Return to Lurg Mhor, hopefully remembering the route! Descend to the bealach below Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich. From here, the choice is either retrace the outward route with all its descent and re-ascent or to descend towards Loch Monar then ascend to the Bealach Bhearnais. From the bealach, descend, initially steeply, NE. The ground is not too bad. Lower down, cross the main stream coming from Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich. Once across, follow the ridge down its far bank which leads safely to lower ground. Continue and cross the SE ridge of Beinn Tharsuinn. Once on this ridge, contour N, above the stream leading up to the Bealach Bhearnais. Numerous deep cut streams will be crossed but, otherwise, the ground is not too bad, The going steepens below the bealach. Remember that the path in the bealach is on the Beinn Tharsuinn (left) side. Allow 2 – 3 hours from the W bealach of Lurg Mhor to the Bealach Bhearnais which is much shorter than going back over the tops. From the Bealach Bhearnais, retrace the outward route to the Pollan Buidhe and Craig.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 15th June, 2015, and twice previously.

(b) Omitting Meall Mor saves about an hour.

(c) An alternative route might start from Attadale, near Lochcarron. A track goes to Bendronaig Lodge and bothy. This can be cycled but it is very strenuous. From here, one could put together a horseshoe walk for Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich, Lurg Mhor and Meall Mor which would avoid the “difficulties” on Bidean a' Coire Sheasgaich.

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