Spidean a' Choire Leith and Mullach an Rathain Route Information

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Spidean a' Choire Leith & Mullach an Rathain

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

1500 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

10.98 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

25	Glen Carron & Glen Affric

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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

A classicroute. Liathach is an imposing massif, the ascent is steep and the traverse requires scrambling. If you have the head to traverse the pinnacles, then it is truly wonderful route.

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: Torridon

From Torridon Village travel W to join A896, then NE 5km where limited parking can be found. There is also a large car park.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,500 metres. Allow 5 hours to complete this 10.98 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 A896 road in Glen Torridon
		NG93635665	Distance	Altitude 60 m

1	Ascend NNE by stream into high corrie
		NG93755750	Distance 1.02 km	Altitude 435 m

2	Continue NNW turning NNE to col (840m)
		NG93785807	Distance 0.69 km	Altitude 840 m

3	Follow curving ridge E to Stuchd Dhuibh Bhig
		NG94245824	Distance 0.53 km	Altitude 915 m

4	Return to 840m col
		NG93785807	Distance 0.53 km	Altitude 840 m

5	Ascend NW turning W to minor top (983m)
		NG93315810	Distance 0.50 km	Altitude 983 m

6	Follow ridge WSW to Spidean a' Choire Leith
		NG92955797	Distance 0.50 km	Altitude 1055 m

7	Follow curved exposed ridge SW to minor top (903m). Scrambling required
		NG92505754	Distance 0.64 km	Altitude 809 m

8	Continue to follow curved exposed ridge SW to minor top (903m). Scrambling required
		NG92085748	Distance 0.47 km	Altitude 903 m

9	Continue WNW on ridge to Mullach an Rathain
		NG91205768	Distance 1.01 km	Altitude 1023 m

10	Bear SSW to ridge then SE into corrie to locate descent path
		NG91745553	Distance 2.72 km	Altitude 25 m

11	Return ENE on road to start
		NG93635665	Distance 2.38 km	Altitude 60 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 Spidean a' Choire Leith & Mullach an Rathain

Liathach from Beinn Eighe Ridge. 16th March 2008

Image by Ivor Mackenzie

The prospect westwards of the traverse over pointed Bidein Toll a' Mhuic to the imposing stony pyramid of Spidean a' Choire Leith on a perfect day in late May.

Image by David S Brown

The classic view of Liathach from the glen road a couple of miles to the east, on a fine summer day

Image by David Bethune

Mullach an Rathain (of Liathach) seen across part of Upper Loch Torridon from near Shieldaig. The highest (most westerly) pinnacle of Am Fasarinen is visible on the ridge beyond.

Image by David S Brown

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 10 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Denis Donoghue on 31 Aug 2009:

A fantastic walk - best left for a good day to get the most out of the views and the fantastic scrambling. We continued down the SW ridge to come off but would not recommend it - probably more tricky than the traverse over the top was.

Written by Martin Joyce on 18 May 2008:

I did this route recently and found it excellent. However I climbed to the ridge with a variant from the SMC Munro guide at the back of my mind. This branches off to the left high up in Coire Liath Mhor and works it way up into the big corrie to the left of Spidean Corie Leith. I rejected it because it looked too difficult but the further I went the more reasonable and attractive it looked. Provided you're not collecting Tops, I think it offers a more direct and adventurous intro, more in keeping with the spirit of the rest of the day.

Written by Craig Dunderdale on 21 Mar 2008:

In your own in winter it's challenging. The path up is obvious the exit path isn't in the snow and poor viz. East to west is best. Some of the pinnacles are exposed take your time and drop down the South side but not too much. A brilliant day out. Roll on doing it in summer with views.

Written by Peter King on 28 Feb 2007:

Climbed on 21.02.07 from east to west with relatively little snow and in clement weather. The party climbed it by a mix scambling along the dry solid rocky ridge which was objectvely safe, and by using the "bypass" path which was in better condition than anticipated but care needed on three short (metre each) but erroded sections. The day was so good we extended it by walking west off Mullach a Rathain down to approximately 710m and then heading NW down across the grassy slopes to Corie Mhic Nobuil. This views of Alligin and avoided the usual knee jarring descent.

Written by Nigel Turner on 02 Sep 2005:

A superb route, climbed on a perfect June day. You will never forget the moment of arrival on the ridge top - the view North is breathtaking. Absorbing scrambling on the pinnacles, but in my view, you could make the traverse as easy or as hard as you like. One of the best days out on a British mountain.

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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