Get Lost Mountaineering

A' Chralaig & Mullach Fraoch-choire from near Cluanie

Start/Finish

The Cluanie Inn is a well known landmark at the western end of Loch Cluanie on the A87 from Invergarry to Kyle of Lochalsh. Park in the first car park/lay by to the east of the Cluanie Inn which is below the south ridge of Am Bathach.

Distance/Time

16 km.       About 8 hours.

Peaks

A' Chioch, 947 m, NH 108 152.

A' Chralaig, 1120 m, NH 094 148.

Stob Coire na Cralaig, 1008 m, NH 091 163.

Mullach Fraoch-choire, 1102 m, NH 095 171.    OS sheets 33 & 34.

Introduction

This is a tough walk with a very steep ascent and some exposed ridge walking but it gives superb views on a clear day. The views include the eastern end of the South Glen Shiel, Ciste Dubh, Am Bathach, Beinn Fhada, Sgurr nan Conbhairean and many more. The nearest place for accommodation, excluding the Cluanie Inn, is Shiel Bridge to the west. Many return from Mullach Fraoch-choire by dropping into an Caorann Mor, the glen to the west. This is most certainly not advised as it is very, very boggy and progress will be slow and unpleasant. Despite the obvious gains in height, it is far better to return over Stob Coire na Cralaig and A' Chralaig.

Route

(1) From the lay by, walk E along the A87. Cross the bridge then take the track, about 200 m further, on the left signed for Morvich and Glen Affric. Within 50 m, leave the track and take a gravel path on the right just after a short “lay by”. Follow this path up, steeply in places. It soon follows the side of a stream; there are a few boggy sections. After about 500 m of ascent, one emerges on the S ridge of A' Chralaig where there is a small cairn. Note this location well as it will be used on the return. Continue up the S ridge, with A' Chralaig summit in view much of the way, for about 2 km to reach a shoulder with a small cairn. On the next shoulder, not much higher, is another cairn. Leave the ridge at the slight dip between the two shoulders and pick up a faint traverse path heading roughly NE towards the A' Chioch ridge. Once on the ridge, head NE on the very pleasant crest for about 1 km to reach a very small cairn on a very slightly rocky top which is the summit of A' Chioch, 947 m. There is a slightly lower grassy top a few hundred metres further.

(2) Return along the crest but, instead of returning to the S ridge of A' Chralaig via the traverse path, go straight ahead, up the steep nose, to rejoin the S ridge on the second cairned shoulder. Turn right, N, and follow the path up to the very large cairn which is the summit of A' Chralaig, 1120 m.

(3) Continue N, descending the twisting ridge where there are a few rocky sections on the well defined crest. When the crest becomes more grassy, reach a bealach then ascend up to a flattish top where a small cairn marks the summit of Stob Coire na Cralaig, 1008 m.

(4) Continue, descending ENE on the obvious path to another bealach then start up the S ridge of Mullach Fraoch-choire. There are some pinnacles, of varying difficulty if taken directly, on this ridge but an avoiding path takes one around them. The section of path below the right side of the crest is loose and steep in places with some sections starting to fall away but it is still easily passable. Once past the pinnacles, the path goes up the crest to another very large cairn and shelter which is the summit of Mullach Fraoch-choire, 1102 m.

(5) Retrace the outward route but excluding A' Chioch. Take care when descending the Mullach Fraoch-choire ridge. The N ridge of A' Chralaig is a delight to ascend. Follow the S ridge down to the small cairn where the steep descent path goes down to the A87.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 16^th October, 2015 and twice previously.

(b) Accommodation is limited at Shiel Bridge but there are two camp sites. One behind the garage, the other at Morvich on the old road around Loch Duich. The latter is run by the Caravan Club and has very good facilities including Wi-Fi.

(c) Omitting A' Chioch saves just over an hour.