Maol Chean-Dearg Route Information

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Maol Chean-Dearg

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

937 m

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

5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

15.30 km

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

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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

Moderate route with some rock and scree slopes.

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: Achnashellach

From Achnashellach (A890) travel SW 5.5km to start of path at Coulags.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 937 metres. Allow 5 hours to complete this 15.30 km 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 Coulags on the A890
		NG95784510	Distance	Altitude 30 m

1	Follow track/path by Fionn-abhainn N to branch in path
		NG94854899	Distance 4.26 km	Altitude 200 m

2	Ascend W following burn
		NG93624907	Distance 1.36 km	Altitude 450 m

3	Ascend SW to Beallach a' Choire Ghairbh
		NG93124879	Distance 0.58 km	Altitude 570 m

4	Ascend NE onto ridge
		NG92944919	Distance 0.51 km	Altitude 702 m

5	Continue NW along ridge
		NG92494955	Distance 0.60 km	Altitude 770 m

6	Ascent N to summit of Maol Chean-dearg
		NG92454988	Distance 0.34 km	Altitude 933 m

7	Reverse route to return
		NG95784510	Distance 7.65 km	Altitude 30 m

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 Maol Chean-Dearg

Maol Chean-Dearg (left) with its Corbett sibling An Ruadh-stac, seen across Loch Coultrie from the A896 Lochcarron to Shieldaig road.

Image by David S Brown

Maol Chean-Dearg seen about 7pm on a brilliant May evening from the descent track in Toll Ban (Mullach an Rathain).

Image by David S Brown

Maol Chean-dearg from Sgorr Ruadh, 22.7.05

Image by Michael Bird

Maol Chean-dearg from summit of Sgorr Ruadh

Image by Alan Wilson

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

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sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 6 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Scott Strathdee on 08 Jun 2009:

Save for good day, stunning views out to the islands. 5 to 6 hrs about right

Written by Graham Ellis on 19 Aug 2008:

I had good weather and views for this climb. Even though, I was seduced into following the path taken by others over the top of the hillock which then gives a slightly more difficult ascent over bigger boulders. The route I came down would be better for ascent: Ignore waypoint "RIDGE2" and from NG92674937 go via NG92574961 to NG92544971 and on to the summit. This has some grassy bits inbetween smaller rocks. Enjoy!

Written by Denis Donoghue on 20 Sep 2006:

We climbed this hill in drizzle and visibility was poor. Both our party and another we met had gone slightly too far west on the approach to the summit dome where there is a small hillock with a cairn on it. We soon realised our mistake and the route is easy to find once you realise. But it's worth bearing in mind in poor visibility. The cairn on the summit plateau is huge with two (very welcome) shelter walls.

Written by Paul Richardson on 23 May 2005:

The quartzite approach from the bealach to the beginning of the summit dome is purgatorial underfoot, but superbly scenic. For a hill with such easy access, it really gives you a sense of being in remote wilderness. I only regret we didn't have time to climb An Ruadh Stac as well, which is a shining quartzite gem surrounded by jewel-like lochans. Clouded summit on the Maol, sadly, but amazing views on descent, towards Beinn Damph, and Liathach & Eighe. Torridon stirs the soul!

Written by Rob Jeffries on 07 Jun 2004:

An alternative route comes from the north along the excellent path from Loch Torridon, swings around the south side of the mountain and re-joins the route as advertised. This is a longer walk in, but much quieter (I saw no-one on a wet June day). It may look tempting though to descend NE from the summit to get back to the northward path - don't, very steep and loose scree gullies!

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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