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Sgurr Breac & A' Chailleach via head of Loch a' Bhraoin from A832, 4 miles SW of Braemore Junction

Sgurr Breac & A' Chailleach

via head of Loch a' Bhraoin from A832, 4 miles SW of Braemore Junction

Start/Finish

Rough gravel verge parking at NH 162 761, on the A832 road (to Gairloch) from Braemore Junction (leaves A 835 Ullapool to Inverness road about 12 miles south of Ullapool). This is about 4 miles from Braemore Junction. If staying at Dingwall, it is about 37 miles to the start of the walk.

Distance/Time

17 km.    About 7 – 8 hours.

Peaks

A'Chailleach, 997 m, NH 136 714.

Toman Coinich, 935 m, NH 148 713.

Sgurr Breac, 999 m, NH 158 711.   OS sheets 19: Gairloch & Ullapool; 20: Beinn Dearg

Introduction

This is the western end of the Fannaichs which borders Fisherfield so there are great views to Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgurr Ban and An Teallach as well as to the eastern Fannaichs.

Route

(1) Walk down the obvious track near to the parking places. Reach Loch a' Bhraoin where there is a detour through a wood to a bridge over the outflow of the loch. Cross over and follow the obvious path for about 200 m to reach a small cairn where a muddy path forks off right. Follow this. It is boggy and indistinct in places but leads, without difficulty, up the end of the Druim Reidh. There is a small cairn when the ridge is gained. Head S along the ridge, keeping to the right to miss most of the peat hags then keep right after that and follow a distinct path below the crest on the W side. This traverses the top of Toman Coinich (which is visited later on this walk). The path is harder to follow when it crosses a boulder field but can be picked up again afterwards. Reach the col between Toman Coinich and A' Chailleach. Turn right and ascend the E ridge on a good path to reach a medium cairn which is the summit of A'Chailleach, 997 m. It is worth going a little further for better views into Fisherfield.

(2) Retrace to the col and ascend Toman Coinich using either the main path on the right (which misses the summit) or following the edge path on the left. Reach a small cairn on a low outcrop which is the summit of Toman Coinich, 935 .

(3) Descend roughly E, picking up the path again, down to a col then up to a plateau where there are 3 cairns. The first, western, cairn is the lowest. The next two are close and about the same height. One of these is the summit of Sgurr Breac, 999 m.

(4) Go N to the edge and follow a path down to the E along the edge or take a direct line down grassy slopes to pick up this path lower down. Follow the path down easy slopes which becomes steeper and rockier lower down. In the col, join the distinctive path coming from the S and follow it down the Allt Breabaig. The path crosses the stream not far below the col then continues down. After about another 3 km, the path crosses the river. In a dry spell the crossing is straightforward but is awkward, if not impossible after rain. If this is the case, continue downstream to reach a bridge before the Allt Breabaig reaches the outflow from Loch a' Bhraoin. Once across the river, soon reach the bridge over the outflow from Loch a' Bhraoin and retrace the outward route back to the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 4th July, 2017, and about 10 and 25 years earlier. On both occasions, the path up the Allt Breabaig was followed then the E ridge of Sgurr Breac was climbed before continuing to Toman Coinich and A' Chailleach then descending N.

(b) If you don't mind the driving, Dingwall Camping and Caravanning Club site is well placed for access to Glen Arric, Loch Mullardoch, Glen Strathfarrar, Strathconon, Ben Wyvis, Achnasheen, Kinlochewe. Fannaichs, Loch Glascarnoch, Beinn Dearg range and lower hills on the coast. The site is virtually midge free. It pays to be a member otherwise there are surcharges. There is an over 50's discount outside of the High Season. Electrical hook ups are possible for campers. Dingwall has a 24 hour Tesco.

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