A' Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor Route Information

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A' Mhaighdean & Ruadh Stac Mor

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

1678 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

12 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

44.06 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.

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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

Long strenuous route to two remote craggy mountains. There are routes between the crags so the need for scrambling is reduced. Cycling will shorten the time, but still a very long day.

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: Poolewe

At Poolewe (A832) park to start route.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,678 metres. Allow 12 hours to complete this 44.06 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 at Poolewe Village on A832
		NG86258141	Distance	Altitude 2 m

1	Follow private road/track SE to Kernsary
		NG89347943	Distance 3.94 km	Altitude 33 m

2	Follow path SE to the N end of Strathan Buidhe
		NG94307630	Distance 7.04 km	Altitude 250 m

3	Continue SE either by fording river or by the crossing 500m S in Srathan Buidhe
		NG96827532	Distance 3.15 km	Altitude 190 m

4	Turn NE towards loch shore and the start of the causeway
		NG97517566	Distance 0.78 km	Altitude 190 m

5	Head N across causeway
		NG97497611	Distance 0.45 km	Altitude 170 m

6	Turn NE to Carnmore
		NG98007675	Distance 0.86 km	Altitude 200 m

7	Ascend E on path to an altitude of 400m
		NG99437666	Distance 1.47 km	Altitude 400 m

8	Leave path and ascend SSE on ridge past Fuar Loch Beag
		NG99887583	Distance 0.96 km	Altitude 590 m

9	Continue your ascent SE
		NH00497554	Distance 0.71 km	Altitude 785 m

10	Continue ascending SE to 948m top
		NH00947522	Distance 0.55 km	Altitude 948 m

11	Continue SSW to summit of A' Mhaigdean
		NH00787489	Distance 0.39 km	Altitude 967 m

12	Descend NE to col (750m)
		NH01627543	Distance 1.00 km	Altitude 750 m

13	Scramble NE to summit of Ruadh Stac Mor
		NH01847566	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 918 m

14	Return SW to col
		NH01627543	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 750 m

15	Descend NW to Fuar Loch Mor to join path leading NW
		NH00237750	Distance 3.19 km	Altitude 530 m

16	At branch head SW to rejoin approach route and return
		NG86258141	Distance 18.86 km	Altitude 2 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 A' Mhaighdean & Ruadh Stac Mor

To the left, Ruadh Stac Mor with A ' Mhaighdean behind. Beyond is Beinn Lair and in the distance, Liathach. Taken from Beinn Dearg Mor.

Image by Christopher Birrell

A' Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mor from Beinn Tarsuinn; 7th June 2009.

Image by Roger Vander Steen

Ruadh Stac Mor, taken from Pollan na Muice

Image by Gareth Lynn

You can cycle almost all the way from Poolewe to Carnmore now, though I suggest you stop approx 3k short of Carnmore to save the push back uphill to the higher moorland.

Image by David Harbottle

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 9 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by David Harbottle on 01 Jun 2013:

It's possible to cycle all the way from Poolewe to Carnmore, but it's best to stop 3k before Carnmore unless you want a tough uphil struggle back to the watershed. The sandstone pinnacles of A'Mhaighdean's Northwest ridge would be difficult to negotiate in thick mist, but easy enough, for a moderate scrambler, in good visibility - recommended!

Written by Donald Douglas on 15 Sep 2012:

1. The route into the forest leaves the main track soon after Kernsary - and is easily missed 2. The track goes straight through the forest - the route has changed. It's muddy but can be cycled. 3. Just as you think you are about to reach the summit ridge, the pinnacles appear - serious ones. Drop left down a steep gully just before a precipice, crawl through a crack and drop down right below the pinnacles then climb up steep gravelly slopes to regain the ridge 4. RSM looks awful from A'M summit but a good path from the bealach with a short steep pitch is fine. find te vcairsn to return.

Written by Alex Aikman on 25 Jun 2009:

At step 3 on the route there is no need to go 500m upstrem to cross the stream. The good path crosses over on stepping stones just after turning south. Don't be tempted to cross over too soon as there is an obvious path seen across the stream from further back which leads down to a group of ruined sheilings but the stops there. Keep to the good laid path.

Written by Julian Stark on 17 Jun 2008:

Parked just across River Ewe (coming from south) car park on right. Cycled past Kernsary (track vg to here) and just kept going - got to where the path drops down towards the causeway beyond Strathan Buidhe and walked from there. 2 hour cycle to there - less on way back. 9 hours for the round. On way up A'Mhaighdean if you come to a sheer drop and an impossible looking pinnacle come back a few steps and look to the gully on North side - down for a few steps then turn right to regain path. Very quick descent on good path/track.

Written by Fiona Masson on 14 Jun 2008:

Parked just over bridge near School. Fantastic path. Camped just across causeway, bothy bit far from water if camping. Took 4.5 hours to here carrying gear. Gorgeous sunset. Next morning again followed great path. Decided on Ruadh Stac Mor first but instead of climbing to 750 col headed up slight scree above Fuar Loch Mor. This was easy as ground was very dry and summit reached quickly.Be careful descending to col as path quite badly eroded in places then fine path to summit of A'M.Descended via ridge working through crags to upward path. 6.5 hrs back to tent. Views not to be missed!

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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