Home   Glossary
Ciste Dhubh & Am Bathach
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
1875 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
6 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
12.61 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
  33   Loch Alsh, Glen Shiel & Loch Hourn
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
Easy ascent and ridge walk to rocky top.

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: Shiel Bridge

From Shiel Bridge travel SE on A87 19km to start of track through "An Caorann Mor", 1.5km E of Cluanie Inn.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,875 metres. Allow 6 hours to complete this 12.61 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 the W side of the bridge S of An Caorann Mor on the A87 road
  NH08961208 Distance
Altitude
215 m
1
Head NW past wooded area and ascend towards ridge
NH07901316 Distance
1.60 km
Altitude
575 m
2
Continue NNW on ridge to 734m top
NH07751367 Distance
0.54 km
Altitude
734 m
3
Continue NW to summit of Am Bathach
NH07321433 Distance
0.80 km
Altitude
798 m
4
Descend WNW to Bealach
NH06341472 Distance
1.08 km
Altitude
555 m
5
Continue NNW across the Bealach a Choinich
NH06091529 Distance
0.62 km
Altitude
640 m
6
Ascend NNE to 877m top
NH06261583 Distance
0.59 km
Altitude
877 m
7
Continue N on ridge to 929m top
NH06211637 Distance
0.54 km
Altitude
929 m
8
Continue N on ridge to Ciste Dhubh summit
NH06201665 Distance
0.32 km
Altitude
979 m
9
Return S to 929m Top
NH06211637 Distance
0.32 km
Altitude
929 m
10
Continue S on ridge to 877m Top
NH06261583 Distance
0.54 km
Altitude
877 m
11
Descend SSW towards Bealach
NH06091529 Distance
0.62 km
Altitude
640 m
12
Continue your descent S towards Bealach
NH06131488 Distance
0.42 km
Altitude
590 m
13
Descend SE into An Caorann Beag
NH06911391 Distance
1.30 km
Altitude
396 m
14
Continue SE following burn
NH08321187 Distance
2.65 km
Altitude
210 m
15
Head NE on road to return to the start
NH08961208 Distance
0.67 km
Altitude
215 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

 Weather
North West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
West Highlands
by Met Office
Ladhar Bheinn
by Metcheck
Images of Ciste Dhubh & Am Bathach
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 4 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by John Gilchrist on 25 Jul 2008:
Just picking up on review below, I ascended straight up An Caorann Beag from the Inn then, instead of returning by ascent route, continued across the summit. Keep over to the left to avoid the summit crags. An obvious broad grassy shoulder drops East - steeply but without hazard - down to An Caorran Mor. The views in front to Mullach Fraoch Coire and A Chralaig are quite stunning - as are the views behind to the crags of Ciste Dhubh. Follow the well made path South East to the road a couple of kilometres east of the Inn.
 
Written by Chris Bowles on 26 Mar 2008:
Having climbed Ciste Dubh via An Caorann Mor and its near Corbett neighbour Am Batach on a seperate occasion I feel an excellent way of climbing this hill would be to climb both. The ascent of Am Bathach is via a lovely undulating grassy ridge that leads to the triangular peak. You can then drop down to the Bealach a' Choinich and on to Ciste Dubh, returning via An Caorann Mor.
 
Written by Craig Dunderdale on 05 May 2007:
I preferred to walk up the east side of Allt a' Chaorainn Bhig. After the bealach stick to the west side of the ridge where the path becomes more obvious. Retrace the ridge and complete the Saileag 3. All 4 munros in 6.5hrs
 
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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