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A short
way south of Seana Bhraigh, this fine mountain is conveniently linked
with an ascent of Cona' Mheall (978 m, 275 816). The pair lie between
Loch Glascarnoch, from where the picture is taken, and the head of Loch
Broom.
Start at
the A835 road close by the southeast end of Loch Droma, and go north over
rough moor to pick up a path. This leads over a low ridge and down to
an abandoned shieling at the northwest end of Loch a'Gharbhrain. The burn
issuing from this, the Allt a'Gharbhrain, may be impossible to cross if
in spate.
Once over
the burn, continue northwards over the moor, heading for Loch Coire Lair.
About halfway along the loch, begin the climb towards Coire Ghranda; the
burn spills down bare slabs and the climb is steep to gain the coire.
From Coire
Ghranda, the impressive rock scenery of Beinn Dearg looms over the loch.
The route continues by taking to steep rock and grass on the south ridge
of Cona' Mheall, which gradually levels out to form a narrow crest. A
few dips and rises lead to bouldery ground and the summit.
Now drop
down west to gain the bealach at the head of Coire Ghranda. A stone dyke
at its west end leads uphill, southwest towards Beinn Dearg, then south
up the plateau (quitting the dyke which turns right here) to gain the
summit cairn.
To descend,
find the ridge a few metres east of the summit, dropping steeply southeast
at first towards Coire Ghranda, then south above the steep cliffs overlooking
Loch a' Choire Ghranda.
Passing a
flat col, take in a rounded, stony top and continue southwest for a further
500 m to reach and descend an open, grassy gully. This leads southeast
to gain the south end of Loch nan Eilan. The route now continues down
the east bank of the burn issuing from the loch then along the Allt a'
Gharbhrain to reach the abandoned shieling and so back along the path
to the starting point at the road.
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