Home   Glossary
Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill & Sgurr Fiona
Quick Facts
This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
5216 ft

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time
6 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
9.6 ml
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  19   Gairloch & Ullapool, Loch Maree
Only £6.29  (£13.49 Laminated) from  

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

 Notes
An Teallach is a Scottish classic. The mountain is spectacular and the route is difficult, especially if you traverse all of the pinnacles. If you by-pass them then it is moderate with some exposure.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

 Travel Information

Head to: Ullapool

From Ullapool (A835) travel S 20km to junction. Turn right onto A832 for Gairloch and travel 18km to Corrie Hallie. This is the point where the long descent round Carn a' Bhreabadair levels out.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 5,216 feet. Allow 6 hours to complete this 9.6 mile route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

 Route Information
Waypoint Detail
  Start from Corrie Hallie on the A832 where there is roadside parking
  NH11428510 Distance
Altitude
180 ft
1
Follow track SSW to start of path, beyond Carn na Canaich, marked by small cairns
NH10028227 Distance
2.1 miles
Altitude
1246 ft
2
Follow path SW to boulder strewn slopes of Sail Liath
NH08478146 Distance
1.1 miles
Altitude
1361 ft
3
Ascend NW to summit of Sail Liath
NH07148249 Distance
1.1 miles
Altitude
3129 ft
4
Descend to col (830m) beyond Cadha Goblach
NH06708291 Distance
0.5 miles
Altitude
2723 ft
5
Scramble (few good handholds) NW over Corrag Bhuidhe, or by pass on path to west
NH06498330 Distance
0.3 miles
Altitude
3435 ft
6
Scramble onwards NNW to Sgurr Fiona
NH06418367 Distance
0.2 miles
Altitude
3477 ft
7
Descend NNE to col
NH06568403 Distance
0.2 miles
Altitude
2624 ft
8
Ascend NNE turning NE to summit of Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill
NH06908436 Distance
0.3 miles
Altitude
3484 ft
9
Descend N to ridge (875m)
NH06928488 Distance
0.3 miles
Altitude
2870 ft
10
Descend E into Glas Tholl
NH07838464 Distance
0.6 miles
Altitude
1886 ft
11
Follow watershed to reach path
NH10298532 Distance
1.5 miles
Altitude
597 ft
12
Continue NE to main road
NH11168579 Distance
0.7 miles
Altitude
160 ft
13
Head S on road to return
NH11428510 Distance
0.5 miles
Altitude
180 ft

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

 Weather
North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
West Highlands
by Met Office
Liathach
by Metcheck
Images of Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill & Sgurr Fiona
Route Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

 Where to Stay
We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

 Rating & Reviews
Rated:
 from 11 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Craig Dunderdale on 28 Aug 2007:
Climbed up from Shenavall bothy after doing the big 6 the previous day. Fantastic ridge really enjoyed it, despite the low cloud. Plenty holds & very grippy rock for climbing on the pinnacles, just take your time and you'll have no problems. Met a nice chap who had emigrated to Germany. After the Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill both of us climbed Glas Mheall Mor. Watch your bearings back to the bealach in low cloud. There is a path from the bealach which vanishes in the valley and re appears further down as per the map
 
Written by Dave Boyle on 17 May 2006:
Excellent route with stunning scenery. The climb up to Sail Liath is hard going but worth it as the views begin to open up. The descent route could be still choked with snow in May so better have a back up plan.
 
Written by David Rossi on 27 Aug 2005:
A fantastic day on the hills. Exposure does not seem too bad on the paths around the pinnacles. Views of the mountian are ever changing and ever more impressive as you traverse from Sail Laith to Bidean a Ghlas Thuill.
 
Written by Jim Bull on 11 May 2004:
Arguably my most enjoyable day out so far in 90+ Munros, the view from the top of Sgurr Fiona (climbed after Bidean a Ghlas Thuill on the route we used) alone made the day worthwhile. We even went back over Bidean a Ghlas Thuill just for the sake of it rather than contour round, once is never enough!
 
Written by Mark Blackwell on 28 Nov 2003:
One of the most popular mountains in Britain, An Teallach combines the excitiement of an exposed airy ridge and impressive cliffs with a true wilderness location on the edge of the Fisherfield Forest. The entire ridge is highly reccomended, so to peering over the top of Lord Berkely's seat and it is not too hard and all the difficulties can be bypassed. Doing just the two munro's and not the ridge would still make a superb day out with fantastic views.
 
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
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