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Loch Mullardoch
The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland Northern Highlands

 

Sgurr na Lapaich and Loch Mullardoch on ascent of Beinn Fhionnlaidh

Sgurr na Lapaich and Loch Mullardoch

on ascent of

Beinn Fhionnnlaidh




Loch Mullardoch on ascent of Beinn Fhionnlaidh

Loch Mullardoch

 on ascent of Beinn Fhionnlaidh





Loch Mullardoch on ascent of Beinn Fhionnlaidh

Sgurr na Lapaich and Loch Mullardoch

 on ascent of Beinn Fhionnlaidh






Sgurr na Lapaich above Loch Mullardoch

Sgurr na Lapaich

above Loch Mullardoch




Sgurr na Lapaich above Loch Mullardoch

Sgurr na Lapaich

 above Loch Mullardoch





Loch Mullardoch

An Socath, An Riabhachan and Sgurr na Laipaich

 above Loch Mullardoch




An Socath, An Riabhachan and Sgurr na Laipaich from Beinn Fhionnnlaidh above Loch Mullardoch

An Socath, An Riabhachan and Sgurr na Laipaich

from Beinn Fhionnnlaidh

above Loch Mullardoch





An Socath, An Riabhachan and Sgurr na Laipaich from Toll Creagach above Loch Mullardoch

An Socath, An Riabhachan and Sgurr na Laipaich

from Toll Creagach

above Loch Mullardoch




Beinn Fhionnnlaidh, An Socath and An Riabhachan from Toll Creagach above Loch Mullardoch

Beinn Fhionnnlaidh, An Socath and An Riabhachan

from Toll Creagach

above Loch Mullardoch





An Socath and An Riabhachan from Toll Creagach above Loch Mullardoch

An Socath and An Riabhachan

from Toll Creagach

above Loch Mullardoch






An Socath and An Riabhachan from Toll Creagach above Loch Mullardoch

An Socath and An Riabhachan

 from Toll Creagach

 above Loch Mullardoch




An Socath and An Riabhachan from Toll Creagach above Loch Mullardoch

An Socath and An Riabhachan

 from Toll Creagach

 above Loch Mullardoch






Loch Mullardoch

Loch Mullardoch






Loch Mullardoch

Loch Mullardoch





Loch Mullardoch

Loch Mullardoch





Loch Mullardoch

Loch Mullardoch





Loch Mullardoch

Loch Mullardoch






View from Carn Eighe

View from Carn Eighe





Sgurr na Laipaich from Carn nan Gobhar

Sgurr na Laipaich from Carn nan Gobhar





Beinn Fhionnlaidh above Loch Mullardoch

Beinn Fhionnlaidh





Beinn Fhionnlaidh above Loch Mullardoch

Beinn Fhionnlaidh






Beinn Fhionnlaidh above Loch Mullardoch

Beinn Fhionnlaidh





Beinn Fhionnlaidh above Loch Mullardoch

Beinn Fhionnlaidh





Beinn Fhionnlaidh above Loch Mullardoch

Beinn Fhionnlaidh






Carn Eige from Beinn Fhionnlaidh

Carn Eige from Beinn Fhionnlaidh






Ascent from Beinn Fhionnlaidh to Carn Eige

Ascent from Beinn Fhionnlaidh to Carn Eige






Carn Eige

Carn Eige




View from Carn Eighe

View from Carn Eighe to Beinn Fhionnlaidh


and the Munros above Loch Mullardoch





Mam Sodhail from Carn Eige

Mam Sodhail from Carn Eige




View from  Beinn Fhionnlaidh

View from Beinn Fhionnlaidh






View from Carn Eighe

View from Carn Eighe





Loch Mullardoch

Loch Mullardoch



Loch Mullardoch

Loch Mullardoch





Map of Munros around Loch Mullardoch

Map of An Socath, An Riabhachan and Sgurr na Laipaich


around Loch Mullardoch



Map of Carn Eighe

Map of Carn Eighe


Map of Creag Dubh

Map of Creag Dubh - a Munro Top



Location: Creag Dubh, Mullardoch, lnverness-shire

Grade: Moderate mountain walk

Distance: 8 miles/13km

Time: 6-7 hours

At the head of Glen Cannich, Loch Mullardoch stretches out west with some fine Munros rising from its north shore.

Carn nan Gobhar, Sgurr na Lapaich, An Riabhachan and An Socach form a l5km corrie-bitten and wind-scoured ridge that requires a long walk-in along the northern shore of the loch.

The ascent of Carn nan Gobhar, high above the source of the Allt Mullardoch, makes a fine circular route of about 14-15km from the Mullardoch dam.

I walked this route in spring, when the sun shone on the lower slopes and snow still lay on the tops, and I recalled views of Glen Strathfarrar in the north and beyond to the big hills of the Monar Forest I also remembered the close-up views of Sgurr na Lapaich, the most majestic of all the Mullardoch Munros. 

Having been robbed of our desired destination for t.he day we set off for a repeat ascent of Cam nan Gobhar instead.

As we set off it became apparent we might not get things our own way. It was blowing a gale and the waters of Loch Mullardoch were being whipped up into fiendish squalls.

As we left the lochside and followed the oourse of the Allt Mullardoch we were mercifully sheltered from the wind but I knew that once we reached the ridge that runs west to Cam nan Gobhar that wind would hit us head-on.

A boggy footpath runs up the Allt Mullardoch into Coire an t-Sith, the fairy corrie, so we made the rnost of it, enjoying the swirl of the peat-brown waters of the burn before climbing the steeper slopes of Cam nan Gobhar’s eastern top, Creag  Dubh (946m/3105ft ).

It had been a pleasant enough climb, despite the boggy underfoot conditions and the showers of monsoon-type rain.

Clad from head to foot in GoreTex we were well protected from most  of the elements, but even the best of waterproofs wouldn't stop us being battered and rocked by the wind. On the high ridge the wind was so ferocious it forced us into another unplanned route change.

Instead of fighting into the gales we'd go in the opposite direction and allow the wind to blow us along to the stony summit of Creag Dubh, down easy slopes to a high bealach, then over a couple of unnamed subsidiary tops before descending Coire Eoghainn back to the Mullardoch dam. It was a good plan. The wind didn't bother us too much now that it was blowing at our backs and we wandered over some unnamed tops that are visited rarely, if at all, by the baggers.

Once we left the main Carn nan Gobhar ridge there was no sign of  man-made paths or tracks, only us and the wind and the occasional roaring of red deer stags. Below Creag Dubh we took shelter behind a rather curious 60m-long  dry stone wall and tried to figure out what its purpose was. 

Could it be the remnant of some older dividing wall, separating parishes or communities, or could it have been created by trainee drystanedykers on a high-level training course?  We had no idea, but were grateful for the shelter it gave us to enjoy our coffee and piece.

Two more caimed summits took us east towards our earlier destination, Sgorr na Diollaid.

Easy slopes took us down Cuire Eoghainn then, just as I thought we were almost there, steep slopes of old  heather and invisible streams gave a purgatorial final half-hour. It was a bedraggled pair who reached the road but by this time, with the exercise-induced endorphins flowing, we declared it a memorable walk, if only for the uncertainty of it all.


Route Description for Creag Dubh


ROUTE PLANNER

Map: OS 1:50,000 Landranger 25 ( Glen Carron and Glen Attric )

Distance: About 6 miles/13km

Time: 6-7 hours

Start: Mullardoch Dam ( GR: NH223310 )

Route: From the dam at the end of Loch Mullardoch follow the road on the

N side for a short distance to a boat hut. Just beyond the hut the road ends

and a rough footpath continues along the N shore of the loch. Follow this path

for 1.5km to the bridge over the Allt Mullardoch (NN206318). Follow the E

bank of the stream up into Coire an t-Sith At the end of the path continue N up

steeper slopes to the summit of Creag  Dubh. Descend SE to a high bealach

with a curious wall then continue ESE to a large cairn at spot helght 861. Follow

the broad ridge E for a short distance before descending the slopes of Coire

Eoghainn back to the start.

Route Description for Creag Dubh


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Books & Maps - Scotland:-


Aviemore, Granton & Cairngorm Mountains OS Landranger Map

Lochnagar & Glenshee - Map Cairngorm - Map The Munros Map Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road Map Southern Scotland OS Road Map

Cairn Gorm & Ben Macdhui - OS Explorer Map Aviemore, Granton & Cairngorm Mountains OS Map Inverness, Loch Ness a Strathglass - OS Landranger Map Braemar, Tomintoul & Glen Avon - OS Explorer Map Kingussie & Monadhliath Mountains Landranger OS Map: Fort Augustus, Glen Albyn, Glen Roy



The Cairngorms - Cicerone Guide Short Walks in the Cairngorms - Luath The Cairngorms NE Outcrops - SMC Highland Outcrops Cairngorms - Mountain Bike Guide

The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland  Munros Tables SMC  The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains  Scotland - Lonely Planet  NW Highlands - SMC Guide  Exploring the Far NW of Scotland  Guide to Walks in NW Highlands

Walking in Scotland - Lonely Planet Mountain: Exploring Britain's High Places  National 3 Peaks Walk Scottish Highlands Hillwalking Guide The Scottish Islands Bouldering in Scotland

Cairngorms, Lochnagar, Mounth - SMC Walks in the Cairngorms The Cairngorms of Scotland Cairngorms Walks Winter Climbs in the CaingormsScottish Winter ClimbsThe Cairngorms Vol. 1 - SMC The Cairngorms Vol. 2 - SMC

Central Highlands: Six Long Distance Walks West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map 100 Hillwalks around Glasgow

Pathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen CoeGlencoe Rock & Ice Climbing The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Munros and Tops The Corbetts - SMC Munros & Corbetts Chart The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Munro Almanac

The Munros - Scotland's highest mountains Call of the Corbetts Magic of the Munros Hamish's Mountain WalkThe Munros in WinterMy Scotland by Hamish MacInnes

Scottish Mountains - 50 Classic Routes50 More Routes on Scottish Mountains The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Scotlands 100 Best Walks Scottish Mountains - 100 Best RoutesBig Walks of Great Britain Classic Walks in Britain & Ireland

Scottish Hill & Mountain Names Classic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayMore Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks Wilderness Walks 2 - Video Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

Ski Touring in ScotlandScrambles in Lochaber Rock Climbing in Scotland Rock Climbing SkillsThe FACE: Six Great Climbing Adventures Ben Nevis: Rock & Ice ClimbsGreat Snow & Ice Climbs of the British Isles100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains One Man's Mountains - Tom Patey

A Mountaineer's Tale - W.H.MurrayDougal Haston: Philosophy of RiskThe Glens of Rannoch Southern Highlands - MapNorthern Highlands Central Highlands West Highlands Central Highlands SMCNW Highlands SMC

Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Highlands & Islands of Scotland - Hidden Places Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Rough Guide: Scotland Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandLonely Planet - Walking in Britain

50 Walks in the Scottish Highlands & Islands 100 Walks in ScotlandVisit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Hillwalker: The MunrosHillwalker: The Corbetts

Weather for Hillwakers & Climbers Mountain Weather Guide to the Weather Weather: Collins Gem Hillwalking Handbook for Mountain Leaders Hillwalkers Manual Hillwalkers Guide to Mountaineering First Aid on Mountains








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