Hills: Aonach Shasuinn and Carn a’Choire Ghairbh
Date: Saturday 7th August 2010
Company: Myself and Jim
Time: 9Hrs 10Mins

The MWIS weather forecast for yesterday was for rain, followed by showers with low cloud. The actual weather was dry all day (not one drop of rain) with cloud above 900m all day. Definitely a pessimistic forecast! I didn’t pay much attention to the SMC guidebook before setting off. The following route is therefore a bit different in places.

Click here for a map of the route undertaken
 
We parked at the car park at the end of the public road. Within a few minutes of setting off, we crossed the bridge leading to the South-side of Loch Affric.

View from bridge near car park:


We followed the rough un-surfaced road alongside Loch Affric towards White Cottage. The walk alongside the loch is quite stunning, especially the Scots pine.

Looking across to Affric Lodge and Sgurr na Lapaich:


Approximately one-hundred metres after passing the White Cottage, we left the un-surfaced road and took the public footpath towards Cougie.

Public Footpath to Cougie:


We then followed this path, alongside the Allt Garbh, but stuck to the East-side of the burn the whole way. The map and SMC route suggest crossing over to the West-side. For info, there is also a path on the East-side.

Allt Garbh:
 

Looking towards Cnap na Stri:


Looking back towards An Tudair and Sgurr na Lapaich:


Carn Glas Lochdarach:


Looking back towards Loch Salach a Ghiubhais:


After a kilometre or so we joined the land-rover track leading towards Cougie. We stuck to this track as far as the small bothy near Loch an Sguid. The SMC book suggests leaving the track before the bothy. We thought it better to make use of the track as far as possible.

Track leading towards bothy and Aonach Shasuinn:


On reaching the small bothy, we crossed the Allt Garbh near the outflow from Loch an Sguid. The crossing here is straight-forward - only a few inches deep.

Bothy at Loch an Sguid:


Jim crossing the Allt Garbh near Loch an Sguid:


We then began our ascent of Aonach Shasuinn. We followed a small ridge with a faint path until reaching peat hags. I then opted to head directly for the summit of Aonach Shasuinn instead of ascending via the 873m top.

Ascent of Aonach Shasuinn:


Looking back to Allt Garbh and Glen Affric:


The final couple of hundred metres ascent was quite steep.

Steep direct ascent to summit:


At the summit area there is a large cairn, a small cairn and a stone shelter. I visited all three. I think the small cairn is the actual summit.

Large cairn at summit area:


Shelter at summit area:


Jim approaching summit (873m top in background):


After a 30-minute stop at the summit, we headed for the 873m top.

Looking towards Sgurr nan Conbhairean:


From the 873m top we descended to Bealach an Amais.

Looking across to An Elric and down to Bealach an Amais:


From Bealach an Amais we discussed whether to skirt round An Elric or ascend it. We agreed to ascend An Elric.

An Elric from Bealach an Amais:


We didn’t stop at the top of An Elric but continued on towards the Carn a Choire Ghuirm ridge. An Elric is very close to the Munro Sail Chaorainn.

Allt Garbh and Loch an Sguid:


Carn a Choire Ghuirm ridge:


Looking back to Jim at top of An Elric:


Looking across to Carn a’Choire Ghairbh:


On descending Carn a’Choire Ghairbh ridge, I didn’t recognise one of the neighbouring hills. The hill was just off the end of the map, so I didn’t know what it was until I got back to the hostel. The unknown hill was A’Chioch (a top of A’Chralaig).

A’Chioch:


Allt na Ciche:


At the col between An Elric and Carn a’Choire Ghairbh, Aonach Shasuinn looks a long way off. There is a lot of distance to cover between these Corbetts!

Looking back to a now distant Aonach Shasuinn:


To ascend Carn a’Choire Ghairbh, I followed the line of rusty fence-posts as far as a very large cairn.

Following the fenceposts up Carn a’Choire Ghairbh:


Large cairn en-route to summit of Carn a’Choire Ghairbh:


I then continued on a few hundred metres to the actual summit of Carn a’Choire Ghairbh.

Looking across to Aonach Shasuinn from summit cairn of Carn a’Choire Ghairbh:


Loch Affric and Carn Glas Lochdarach from Carn a’Choire Ghairbh:


We opted to descend from Carn a’Choire Ghairbh towards the West-end of Loch Affric. There are a couple of cairns at the start of the steep zig-zagging path leading down towards Loch Affric. This path is a bit indistinct in places. The descent is steep so it is worthwhile making sure you do not lose the path.

Loch Affric:


West-end of Loch Affric and Loch na Camaig:


River Affric:


River Affric (Alltbeithe Youth Hostel top-left):


Looking down to Strawberry Cottage:


Was nice to reach the un-surfaced road at the West-end of Loch Affric. We followed this track along the length of Loch Affric back to the car.

Loch Salach a Ghiubhais:


This was a really enjoyable walk, with great scenery. Quite a long walk though!