Bidean a'Choire Sheasgaich

One of the biggest joys of climbing the Munros is visiting the wild and remote areas of Scotland that are now deserted, a legacy of the troubled past. Amongst the remotest of Munros, one comes up with names like A'Mhaighdean, Carn Ealar, Ben Alder, and Seanna Bhraigh, all of which require a long day out to reach them. More often than not an over night stay at a bothy or wild camping ensures a more relaxed time when visiting these hills.

Two of these remotest hills I have not mentioned are Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich and its even remoter companion Lurg Mhor. These hills sit above the western end of Loch Monar in a now desolate and wild tract of uninhabited land. This was not always the case, and up till Loch Morar was enlarged by the creation of a Hydro Electric Dam, folk lived below the slopes of these hills. Tom Weir describes in his book 'Highland Days' many of his adventures in the area before the dam was built, and of the hospitality of the people who lived there. The former homes and a lodge now lie submerged in the waters of the loch, a whole piece of history lost.

Bidean a'Choire Sheasgaich from Beinn Tharsuinn

The building of the dam also means few people access these hills from the east. Most ascents are now made from the north with a variety of routes coming over hills and up glens from Glen Carron. The remoteness does create a good atmosphere in the area and you can walk all day without seeing a soul, unlike some of the poor over trodden hills nearer Scotland's Central Belt.

Bidean a'Choire Sheasgaich - Facts and Figures

Distance : 21 miles

Total Ascent : 6000ft

Time : 12 hours +

Route Grading : A wild and remote expedition to one of Scotland's least accessible mountain areas. Careful planning is required and a good level of fitness will add to the enjoyment of these hills. In winter these hills will require a very high level of fitness due to the shortage of daylight and adverse conditions.

Accommodation : Hotels at Achnasheen, Kinlochewe and Torridon. Private hostels at Craig, Achnashellach. Bothies in area too and of course the overnight bivvy will allow the area to be explored to the full.

Summits Visited In Our Route

	Gaelic Name	Translation	Height (ft)	Height (m)	Status
	Beinn Tharsuinn	Transverse Mountain	2830ft	863m	Corbett
	Bidean a'Choire Sheasgaich	Peak of the Corrie of the Milkless Cattle	3100ft	945m	Munro
	Lurg Mhor	Big Shank	3234ft	986m	Munro
	Meall Mor	Meall Mor	3195ft	974m	Top

Maps

	Publisher	Scale	Title / No
	Ordnance Survey	1:50000	Sheet 25
	Bartholomews	1:100000	Sheet 54 & 55

Sketch Diagram showing Wilds of Monar route © Cameron Johnston 1997

The best approach to these mountains is from the A890 road in Glen Carron where parking can be found at Craig. An estate road leaves the main road and climbs up through the forest which is now unfortunately being cut down for timber, thus leaving scarred hillsides. Once past all the trees however the track comes out into Glen Uig, at the flats by the river known as Pollan Bhiudhe, we can cross the river. The bridge marked on some Ordnance Survey Maps is in fact two strands of wire, which ensure a rather shaky crossing. A stalkers path now strikes up to the Bealach Bheanais and from here we climb a Corbett called Beinn Tharsiunn. From the summit we gain an excellent view across the south ridge of Sgurr Choinnich and down to Loch Monar.

Bidean a Choire Sheasgaich is our next target, but first we follow the ridge of Beinn Tharsuinn westwards past a lochan, before steeply descending to the Bealach an Sgoltaidh. The ascent of the north ridge of Bidean is fairly interesting, and we must pick a line up the cliffs carefully. The best line seems to be found by following the stone dyke before scrambling up the first tier of the crag. The next tier can be breached via a gully that in turn leads to the ridge. A steady walk finds us at the summit of our first Munro of the day. The views are excellent, with all the glory of Torridon to the north, The Cuillin of Skye shows up well on the best of days too.

Lurg Mhor from Bidean a'Choire Sheasgaich.

Our remotest hill Lurg Mhor is our next target, and a fairly simple descent and reascent should lead to the summit without incident. The following part of ridge leading to Meall Mor is bit more exciting, with some fairly exposed moves required to negotiate a couple of rock steps. The fun ends all too quickly and we soon reach the our final summit of the day. Take time out to enjoy some lunch as we now have a long way back to the road in Glen Carron. The quickest and possibly shortest way is to descend eastwards from Meall Mor for about a mile, from where we drop steeply down to the head of Loch Monar. This is followed in turn by ascent up to the Bealach Bhearnais, from where we can retrace our steps back down to Glen Carron by the estate road