An Teallach

An Teallach is another contender for the title of Scotland's finest mountain. As with Liathach the mountain is composed of weathered Torridonian sandstone, combined with a capping of Quartzite boulders, and different weathering rates produces a ridge of pinnacles that mountaineers love. An Teallach has two Munros and eight tops on, and to visit them all in a day require a fair bit of effort, as many of the tops sit out on outlying ridges. Deep corries with sheer drops add to the excitement of crossing The Corrag Bhuidhe Pinnacles. An Teallach is also situated near the coast which enhances the views on the best days, this however also means that the mountain takes the brunt of the Atlantic storms. Despite the coastal location the mountain sits at nearly 3500ft and at this latitude snow can fall at any time of the year. It is not unusual for snow to fall on its tops in June. The traverse of the mountain can be done in either direction, but the Corrag Bhuidhe section should be left alone by the inexperienced as there have been fatalities, particularly in descents from this part of An Teallach. Many Munrobaggers just visit Sgurr Fiona and Bidean a Ghlas Thuill and thus miss the harder parts, this in itself still entails a sizeable day out.

Down Climbing on the Corrag Bhuidhe Pinnacles - Pictures Courtesy of Gary Robertson

An Teallach - Facts and Figures

Distance : 13 miles

Total Ascent : 5400ft

Time : 8 - 9 hrs

Route Grading : Another classic - with lots of airy scrambling - to traverse all the pinnacles directly involves rock climbing up to Difficult in standard. Various paths avoid the pinnacles on the south side. In winter the mountain can be considered out of bounds to the inexperienced.

Accommodation : Hotels at Dundonnell and Poolewe. Hostels and Bunkhouses in Dundonnell, Smiddy Hut is owned by Edinburgh JMCS and is also situated in Dundonnell.

Summits Visited In Our Route

	Gaelic Name	Translation	Height (ft)	Height (m)	Status
	Sail Liath	The Grey Heel	3129ft	954m	Top
	Stob Cadha Gobhlach	point of the Forked Pass	3145ft	959m	Top
	Corrag Bhuidhe	The Yellow Finger	3425ft	1036m	Top
	no Gaelic title	Lord Berkeley's Seat	3436ft	1047m	Top
	Sgurr Creag an Eich	Craggy Peak of the Horses	3335ft	1017m	Top
	Sgurr Fiona	The Fair Peak	3474ft	1059m	Munro
	Bidean a'Glas Thuill	The Sharp Peak of the Hollow	3484ft	1062m	Munro
	Glas Mheall Liath	Greyish/Green Hill	3156ft	962m	Top
	Glas Mheall Mor	Big Green Hill	3217ft	981m	Top

Maps

	Publisher	Scale	Title / No
	Ordnance Survey	1:50000	Sheet 19
	Bartholomew's	1:100000	Sheets 58

Sketch Diagram showing An Teallach route © Cameron Johnston 1997

We start this route on the A832 about 500yd from Dunndonnell house where car can be parked in a large lay by. From here we head up a path through Glen Chaorachain, this path would eventually lead us into the wilds of the Fisherfield Forest. An Teallach still beckons, however is still fails to show its true glory yet, it is seems to be one of those mountains that really only rewards those who are prepared to explore its inner reaches.

We leave the path and strike up the shoulder, on grassy slopes towards Sail Liath, from this shoulder the views begin to expand with the Fannichs being most prominent to the south. Bouldery ground is then encountered just before we reach the summit of Sail Liath, from here we gain our first real sight of the mountain in all its glory. The Pinnacles of Corrag Bhuidhe look almost impenetrable from here. A steepish descent and reascent soon leads us to the next top, from here on in the fun really begins.

Ascending The Corrag Bhuidhe Pinnacles

The ascent of the Corrag Bhuidhe can be taken directly or bypassed on the left, another alternative is to climb easier rock above the bypass, no doubt some these moves will have you pausing for inspiration but the summit of the first pinnacle is soon reached. The ridge that follows is nothing short of sensational and the drops down into the corrie are fantastic and at some point whilst crossing the pinnacles you will find yourself on sandstone blocks above the void. The last of the pinnacles is Lord Berkeleys Seat where if you feel daft enough you can sit with your legs hanging over the drop, as Lord Berkley reputedly did himself when he climbed the mountain. After all the excitement of the pinnacles the final slope leading to Sgurr Fiona is much easier. The views from Sgurr Fiona are excellent with Beinn Dearg Mor a magnificent and much neglected Corbett rising up from Loch na Sealga, behind it lies the Fisherfield Six, which can be climbed in a day by fit walkers. These six include some of the Remotest Munros such as A' Mhaighean, it also includes another fine Munro called Beinn Tarsuinn.

From Sgurr Fiona we can run out to one of the outlying tops if all the tops are to be done. Those content with the main ridge can descend steeply to the col between the two Munros. A path can be followed or some nice scrambling down sandstone ledges can be had. The pull up onto Bidean a Glas Thuill is fairly stiff but once reached we are rewarded with some excellent views of the ridge we have just crossed. An even better vantage point lies out on Glas Mheall Liath but this does require some time consuming descent and reascent. Another steep drop leads to a col that resembles a paved street and now we can cross Glas Mheall Mor, our final top of the day, before descending back down to the A832 road and the walk back to the lay by.