Hillways: The Fisherfield Five

Looking West From A' Mhaighdean

There is no easy way to climb these 5 very remote Munros tucked away in the vast road-less tract of mountain, moorland and glen between Dundonnell, Poolewe and Kinlochewe in the NW Highlands. The fairly recent demotion of a 6^th Munro (Beinn a’ Chlaidheimh) following a re-survey has done little to reduce the considerable number of footsteps required to stand on their summits.

Approaching the First 2 Munros: Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair & Sgurr Ban

Moreover, the geography of the group is such that splitting them into 2 days has little material effect on the distance covered. For this reason, it is perhaps best to swallow the pill and take them all on in one go. Providing you are hill-fit, choose the right day/time of the year, give some thought to the logistics and don’t plan anything for the day after, you have a good chance of success!

Looking North to Loch an Nid & An Teallach

So, after much deliberation, one previous attempt and with a mindset that oozed flexibility, Matt & Jenn went for it. As if to illustrate the above points, we chose the week before the summer solstice to give us maximum daylight, put cars at 2 access points and took advantage of a prolonged dry spell so the river crossings would not be a problem.

Beinn Tarsuinn

Leaving a car at Corrie Hallie with the intention of walking out that way and reducing the overall distance by a modest, but precious 2 Km, we drove back along the Destitution Road and parked near Loch a’ Bhraoin (280m) at 08.15. Five minutes later, the sight of an osprey taking flight immediately before us seemed like a promising omen!

Climbing the Quartzite Slabs on Sgurr Ban

It was a welcome surprise to find a vehicle track leading all the way along the loch and a short way beyond Lochivraon cottage. In 2hrs, we were taking our first big break immediately S of Loch an Nid with our first 2 Munros towering above us. Sunny skies had seen us on our way, but as we toiled up the quartzite boulder field above Coire nan Clach, a cool breeze and cloud aplenty heralded a change. As if to illustrate the distances involved in climbing these mountains, it was 4hrs 10mins before we stood on our first summit: Sgurr Ban (989m; white peak).

Sgurr Ban

From here we could see all of the day’s 5 Munros which form a horseshoe around Gleann na Muice. It is probably at this point (and not before) that you can make a judgement call on whether you want to go for all 5 in one day. The 2^nd hill, however, is very close and following a short, if steep, drop and re-ascent, we were standing on top of Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair (1019m; peak of the corrie of Farquhar’s son). We had now been walking for 5hrs.

Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair

Hill No 3 is not far away either and after another short, steep descent and welcome traverse around the intervening lump of Meall Garbh, we paused again, at Bealach Odhar, before climbing the easy grass slopes of Beinn Tarsuinn (937m; transverse hill) which we summited after 6hrs 15mins.

Beinn Tarsuinn

The traverse of this mountain ridge is very Torridonian in feel (same rock and mountain architecture), but is short-lived before a steep, messy descent and short traverse ends on the wide saddle of Pollan na Muice (525m). This was just short of half-way on our particular route so we took another long break before the long steady climb up easy grassy slopes to the stunning summit of Munro No 4: A’ Mhaighdean (967m; the maiden) which we attained after 8hrs 35mins.

Three Down; 2 to Go! Approaching A' Mhaighdean

This is one of the finest (and remotest) of Munro summits and gives a fantastic view west as the mountain plummets almost vertically to the Dubh and Fionn Lochs and beyond towards Poolewe and the distant sea.

Sugar Ban & Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair

Moving on, reluctantly, it doesn’t take long to descend to the intervening bealach and climb the steep sandstone bluff that leads to the flat summit of Munro No 5: Ruadh Stac Mor (918m; big red stack). We achieved this at 9hrs 35mins from the car and although tired and pretty foot-sore, the elation at this point will be more than enough to get you home!

A' Mhaighdean & Ruadh Stac Mor

So it was that at 18.00 we started our 5hr walk-out - a sobering thought that once again underlines the uniqueness of the Fisherfield circuit. As we descended past Fuar Loch Mor, we passed the most remote spot on the UK mainland (as calculated by an OS cartographer and based upon the distance to the nearest road (NH0202077000).

South From A'Mhaighdean

The key to the first part of the walk-out is the excellent stalkers’ path that leads down into Gleann na Muice Beag to its junction with Gleann na Muice where the latter’s eponymous river provides the 2^nd of 3 potentially problematical river crossing on the route. Fortunately, we encountered no such difficulty today and, after a 3^rd major break (another key to success), were soon across and traversing the largely flat heathery ground into Strath na Sealga.

North From Ruadh Stac Mor: The Long Walk-Out Started Here!

In failing light, we crossed our last river obstacle (again, trouble-free), passing the rather forlorn decaying house of Achneigie before summoning one last bout of energy to climb out of Strath na Sealga on the vehicle track that leads (eventually) down into Gleann Chaorachain and ultimately to Corrie Hallie where we arrived at 22.55!