Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan etc. (GlenAffric), Maps 33 & 414N
17th April 2004 & 19th April 2008

Route 1 (from Cluanie Inn): 2400m = 7900' ascent; 30.2 miles (first 6 & last 12 in valley; 12 avoidable); 15 hrs.
Route 2 (from Glen Affric, Strawberry Cottage): 1970m = 6470' ascent; 20.0 miles (first 1½ & last 3 in valley); 13 hrs

Choice of Route: This is a large and complex mountain system with wonderful corries on its northern slopes. Because of its size, it is important to choose a route which minimises the effort involved.
Roughly speaking, all routes start with a walk in to Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, a walk encompassing all the Munros and Munro Tops back to the YH, and then a walk out back to the start. The route round the tops has many options, the most significant one affecting distance being whether or not to return via the path under Sgurr Gaorsaic. The most significant way of reducing the amount of ascent is to traverse corries between the three main northerly ridges rather than ascending ridges each time to the summit of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. However, this introduces a greater element of danger in icy conditions, as noted below.

To minimise the ascent and/or distance, here is a list of the different options for traversing between three bealachs at NH05132501, NH06652350 and NH07952288 respectively on the north, north-east and east ridges of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. Let us call these three points ColN, ColNE and ColE.

1. ColE to ColNE via Coire nan Dearcag without Stob Coire na Cloiche: 0.9miles, 105m up, 65m down;
2. ColE to ColNE via Coire nan Dearcag with Stob Coire na Cloiche: 1.5miles, 225m up, 185m down;
3. ColE to ColNE via Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan: 2.75 miles, 530m up, 490m down;
4. ColNE to ColN via An Gorm Lochan without Stuc Mor/Beag: 1.6 miles, 125m up, 80m down;
5. ColNE to ColN via An Gorm Lochan with Stuc Mor/Beag: 1.95 miles, 290m up, 245m down;
6. ColNE to ColN via Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan: 2.45 miles, 455m up, 410m down;
7. ColE to ColN via Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan: 3.25 miles, 585m up, 500m down.

Thus, Route 5 is the shortest overall in total distance, and for all practical purposes equal least in ascent. Note that there is 9.8 miles with 220m ascent from the Glen Affric parking to Strawberry Cottage and back. This is via the south side of Loch Affric. Using the path along the north side of Loch Affric is around 0.3 miles further with maybe 10m more ascent. Also, there is 16.66 miles with 390m ascent from the Glen Affric parking to Alltbeithe Youth Hostel and back (via the south side of Loch Affric), and 12.15 miles with 395m ascent from the layby near Cluanie Inn to Alltbeithe Youth Hostel and back. The paths and tracks from Glen Affric to the Youth Hostel are of much higher quality than those from the Cluanie Inn side.

For these routes the only significant danger is contouring round the cliffs above Loch an Fhraoich-choire in icy conditions (NH05672445 to NH05332459). Less difficult is contouring west from the bealach ColNE to An Gorm-lochan (NH06652350 to NH05892355). For neither of these is there any path. Most straight-forward is the descent WNW from the bealach ColE to Loch Coire nan Dearcag (NH07952288 to NH0780822913 to NH07212313) for which there is a path. Overall, Route 3 and Route 4 are therefore safer in icy conditions than Route 5 or Route 6.

Route 1 (17/4/04) from Cluanie Inn: Poor, very wet paths (partly the weather), endless peat bogs in valleys.
There are other choices of route over the Munro tops of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. In particular, there is a path from the bealach due N of the YH into Coire nan Dearcag, enabling an ascent to Bealach nan Daoine and then Mullach na Dheiragain without going via the summit of Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan. The start of this path is marked by a small cairn around 100m west of the bealach at NH07862291.
The second route uses this alternative, and would save 2½ miles in this the first route mainly by avoiding the big (though easy) circumnavigation round the west side of Sgurr Gaorsaic.
It is well worth staying in the Glen Affric Youth Hostel the nights before and after to cut the distance on the day by about 12 miles.
Weather 17/4/04: Snow, cloud & increasingly strong wind from 9 a.m.

Route 2 (19/4/08) from Glen Affric: Although this route is nominally much shorter than that from Cluanie Inn, half of the difference is from traversing the hills in a different way rather than due to the walks in and out. Strawberry Cottage is 5 miles from the Glen Affric Car Park (mostly cyclable). Starting from the latter would make both walks about 30 miles long from the road, but here there are 3½ more miles on hill paths instead of valley tracks. However, Route 1 could have been shortened (as noted above) by 2½ miles. Route 6 (30.4 miles and 2195m ascent) is the same route starting at the parking in Glen Affric.
Equipment: For winter conditions, ice axe and crampons may be required particularly for contouring round above Loch an Fhraoich-choire.
Weather: Sunny intervals, cold but light east wind, dry, slowish snow on ground down to 2000', freezing level below 3000'.
Mobile: No Orange reception on any tops.