Fisherfield Munros

North of beautiful Loch Maree there is an area unsurpassed in remoteness and solitude – well over 100 square miles of high mountains, peat bog, and water. Devoid of any roads, the five wild Munros of the Fisherfield Forest provide a wonderful location for a high mountain wilderness journey.

Highlights:

Sgurr Ban

Mullach Choire Mhic Fhearchair

Beinn Tarsuinn

A’ Mhaighdean

Ruadh Stac Mor

Included:

2 nights at Fraoch Lodge

3 nights accommodation in tents during the expedition

full board throughout the trip

pick up/drop off from Aviemore station

transport to the hikes

guiding on the hikes

tentage and camp cooking equipment

Itinerary:

North of beautiful Loch Maree there is an area unsurpassed in its remoteness and solitude. It forms one of the largest areas of wilderness in Britain, well over 100 square miles of high mountains, peat bog, and water. Devoid of any roads, the five wild Munros (Mountains over 3000ft) of the Fisherfield Forest provide a wonderful location for a high mountain wilderness journey.

We head into this huge area of wild land in April, a time that can give some of theyears’ finest weather. Pre-midge season and with the high corries and lee flanks stillholding the winter snows, the mountains have an alpine air to them.

Day 1: Arrive at Fraoch Lodge

We start this walking holiday by rendezvousing at our easy to reach base of FraochLodge in the Cairngorm National Park. Please try to aim to arrive between 5 and 7pmso that you have time to settle in and meet the other guests on the trip before dinnerat 7:30pm. It’s no problem if you can’t, we’ll save you some dinner! Over teas andcoffees Andy will go over the planned itinerary and let you know what to expectduring your stay.If your point of arrival is Inverness Airport (40mins away – we’ll advise you of theallotted pick up time) or Aviemore Rail Station (10mins away) we can pick you up.

Day 2: Walk-in

After a good breakfast we make the 1hr :45 min drive across to Dundonnell for thestart of the 4 hour walk in. Independent and self reliant for the next 4 days we carry inall our camping gear to set up for a 3 night wild camp. Situated at the head of theGleann, our campsite sits cradled beneath all 5 Munros! It’s a spectacular situation.

13km and 460m of ascent on tracks and upland paths. Approximately 4:15 of walking (excluding breaks, photo stops, etc) plus river crossing.

Day 3: Mountain hike

After breakfast we head off with day sacks on a steep climb out of the Gleann to gain the main ridge. Our aim is to climb 3 of the 5 munros. Shortly before the broad shoulder of our first Munro of the day (Sgurr Ban, 989m), the gradient eases as we gain a high glacial hollow with its accompanying loch. With increasing elevation and steepness, the ridge merges into the summit giving a elegant peak and stunning views.Our next munro is only just over a km away so the south ridge drops away abruptly before re-ascending even more steeply to the dominant twin peaked Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, 1018m. The route now drops and skirts around a high coire beforereascending the broard SE flank of Beinn Tarsuinn, 937m.

The close proximity of these 3 munros to each other provides complex terrain withever changing vistas. It’s a thoroughly entertaining route. For our descent back to our campsite we drop down Beinn Tarsuinn’s NW ridge before dropping into the adjacent coire and back down to the gleann floor and our camp.

12km with 1280m of ascent over rough mountain terrain and on mountainpaths. Approximately 5 hrs 30mins of walking excluding breaks and photo stops, etc.

Day 3: Mountain hike

The route starts by heading back up the gleann to its headwall to gain a lovely hanging coire and then arriving at the saddle. To the north west lies the broad SW flank of our first Munro, A’Mhaighdean 967m, the remotest mountain in Britain! From the saddle the 400m slope rises in three giant steps for us to eventually peer over the mountain’s precipitous west face.Skirting down and round beneath the summit we drop to the high saddle before a very abrupt re-ascent to the final Munro of Ruadh Stac Mor, 918m. Again, this pair give unending interest before wind our way back to the gleann floor and our campsite to finish another dramatic day.

13km with 990m of ascent over rough mountain terrain and on mountain paths. Approximately 5 hrs 15mins of walking excluding breaks, photo stops, etc.

Day 4: Walk-out

With lighter sacks and less uphill we retrace our steps back along the route wewalked in but this time with a view dominated by the mighty An Teallach. We cross the river, pop our heads into Shenaval Bothy before climbing up an over and backdown to the road. We then transfer back to Fraoch Lodge for welcome showers, a comfy bed and one of Rebecca’s lovely evening meals.

13km with 355m of ascent on upland paths and tracks. Approximately 4hrs 30mins of walking excluding breaks, photo stops, etc.

Day 5: Departure from Fraoch Lodge

After breakfast we say good by and guests depart for their onward journeys. If you plan to depart from Inverness Airport or Aviemore Rail station, we’ll get you there in good time.